Free Wilder Than the Rest: MacLarens of Fire Mountain by Shirleen Davies

businessmen are being investigated, quietly of course, regarding steady withdrawals of cash from a bank where most were original investors. There are several men involved in the withdrawals, all wealthy and successful. The team on the east is attempting to get someone placed inside the circle, close to at least one of the men, to see if they can discover what is happening. It may all be quite innocent, but that’s not the sense Lee or Noah gets. Both believe something isn’t right, but they just can’t identify what. From experience, I would trust their instincts.”
     “And the same investors are involved in a bank here in San Francisco,” Pierce muttered, more to himself than Eva. “They could simply be shoring up the new bank through profits from the one on the East Coast. That doesn’t seem odd to me, but I have little knowledge of banking and money transfers.”
    “That’s my thought as well, that Treasury may be jumping to conclusions. There is something else pushing the agency to learn more about the actions of these men. All have been quite vocal in their negative reactions to President Cleveland’s stand on certain issues and his vetoes of legislation they believe to be in the best interests of the country. From what I know, their comments have been no more vociferous than those who support the president’s actions. We could find that this whole assignment is a waste of our time.” Eva began to fold the various messages and place them in a file that Pierce would place within a wall safe.
    “What do you suggest? Wait for more information? Try to dig something up on the bank investors at this end?” Pierce wanted some firm directive.
    “Chaz is on his way and is expected to arrive within two to three days. Let’s wait until he arrives then meet again.”
    ******
    Pierce walked to the window and stared out at the street below. Frustrated at the lack of information on their assignment, he wondered if they were wasting their time in San Francisco, and pondered the one person he’d been trying to force from his mind—Mollie. Memories of their brief encounter a few nights before played over and over in his mind, tormenting him in a way he’d never experienced. He was through telling himself she wasn’t what he wanted. He now knew better.
    The touch of her mouth on his had a strange effect on him, quite unlike anything he’d felt with other women from his past. He’d felt a tightness deep in his chest, a heating of his blood that made him feel as if he were on fire. If sanity hadn’t returned to save them, Pierce felt certain he would’ve seduced Mollie and taken her that night in her room, destroying their already tenuous partnership in the process.
    They’d met a few brief times to discuss the progress of their assignment, awkward and strained encounters. He’d left each meeting frustrated with their lack of progress on the assignment and hollow inside from the tension between them. He had no idea what to do at this point except close the current job, find a way to diffuse his growing attraction to Mollie, collect his money, and head back to Fire Mountain as soon as possible. The one other option was to bed her, get this burning desire for her out of his system, and get on with his life. Neither choice felt right.
    ******
    Chaz Yarbrough left the train station, climbed into the waiting carriage, and instructed the driver to take him to the San Franciscan Hotel, the same hotel where Eva was staying. He wanted to arrange a meeting with her, Mollie, and Pierce soon, today if possible. Chaz had a growing suspicion that there was significance to what the agents were investigating. He had nothing to prove his belief except the burning sensation in his gut that something major was looming.
    It didn’t take him long to get settled. He’d sent a message to Eva and was now impatiently awaiting her response. He didn’t wait long, evidence that she and the others were just as eager to learn what was going