Free Monroe, Melody S. - Verdict (Siren Publishing Classic) by Melody S. Monroe Page A

sobered. “How do you explain the lack of batteries in the smoke detector in our place?”
    “I can’t, and that worries me. I don’t believe in coincidences. Someone has a way of finding us, and I plan to put a stop to that.”
    “How?”
    “Stay where I decide. Tell the Bureau one thing, do another.”
    She cocked a brow. “I thought you were a big rule follower.”
    “Not when you could get hurt.”
    The determination in his tone made her question her initial assumption that he wanted to do her harm. “Thank you.”
    “Just doing my job.”
    Oh, so his actions had nothing to do with liking her? Not that she wanted him to like her, per se, but she didn’t want him to want to see her dead either.
    “This place looks good,” she said, pointing to a brick hotel, one story tall. At least the room doors opened out to a large parking lot.
    “Fine by me.”
    He turned in and drove around the parking lot before stopping. Her mood plummeted. “You do think someone followed us?”
    “I thought I noticed someone pull out of the mall right behind us. They kept only a few car lengths behind until I turned in here.”
    “The gray sedan?”
    “Actually, it was a black van.”
    She hadn’t seen that vehicle. Why couldn’t they get away from this person? “What should we do?”
    He pulled in front of the office. “Wait here while I book us a room.” He jumped out before she had a chance to suggest she go with him.
    When he used the remote to lock the door and didn’t chain her to the steering wheel, she leaned her head back against the seat and exhaled, pleased he finally trusted her.
    The three minute wait seemed to take forever. She half expected someone to pound on the window or come racing at her with a gun. No vehicle entered the lot, and her nerves relaxed.
    The door creaked open. “All taken care of.” Stone drove to their room. “Get inside before anyone sees you. Here’s the key. I’ll be in in a sec.”
    She was about to argue, but the tight lines around his eyes and mouth told her not to put up a fight. She grabbed her purchases and dashed inside.
    The small room had one bed. Thank goodness they only planned to shower and not spend the night.
    She’d just spread out her purchases to organize them when Stone strode in. He dumped his stuff on the small table in the corner. “I didn’t find anyone who looked suspicious.”
    “Great.” Or had he been outside for a quick rendezvous? Stop it. He saved your life. “Why don’t you shower first? I need a few minutes to take off these tags and figure out what to wear.”
    He shrugged. “Don’t have to tell me twice.”
    Stone drew the drapes close, locked the door and propped up a chair under the knob. He didn’t bother with the flimsy chain. “That should keep any unwanted person outside for a while.”
    He stepped next to the bed, pulled his shirt over his head and dumped it in the trash. Then he unsnapped his jeans. Her gaze stayed riveted on the way his pecs flexed with each movement. She swallowed hard. “What are you doing?” Once he’d locked them in, her anxiety level dropped until he started his strip tease.
    “The trashcan in the bathroom won’t hold all my ruined smoky clothes.”
    He shucked off his shoes and dropped trou.
    “That’s not what I meant and you know it.” Look away . Dammit, she couldn’t. Guilt at her lustful leering forced her to flip around.
    Stone chuckled.
    “What’s so funny?” She had to ask.
    “I know you were married. You must have seen a man in his underwear before.”
    “You aren’t my husband.” A quick vision of her and Stone together flashed in her mind, and she cleared her throat. “Would you mind getting naked in the bathroom?”
    “I wasn’t going to strip completely.”
    Oh.
    Packages rustled and his bare feet padded across the room to the bathroom. She dropped onto the bed, exhausted from the exchange. She’d never been a prude, but with Stone, she didn’t know how to react. The last