Free Her Man in Manhattan by Trish Wylie Page B

threshold and closed the door behind him. ‘You can’t come in here.’
    ‘You told me to come in.’
    ‘I thought you were Grace. ’
    Holding up the file, he stepped across to the small seating area on one side of the room, pointedly ignoring the presence of her large bed. ‘Little light reading for you...’ Slapping it down on one of the small tables beside a deeply cushioned armchair, he folded his arms and widened his stance to claim the ground he was standing on. ‘I’ll wait for questions.’
    ‘You can’t be here,’ she argued as she moved away from the windows. ‘What if someone finds you?’
    ‘So long as you don’t start another fashion parade we should be fine.’
    She scowled at him as she stepped over to pick up the file. ‘What is this?’
    While she opened the cover and bowed her head to look at the contents he studied her reaction through hooded eyes. Her gaze lifted and sought his before she sat down on the chair farthest away from him. Laying the file on her lap, she turned to the next page.
    When she spoke her voice was lower and surprisingly calm. ‘How many of these are there?’
    ‘They’re the ones we take a closer look at.’
    ‘Because you consider them a potential threat?’
    ‘It’s the tone as much as the content. After they’re fingerprinted and tested for DNA, a psychologist looks them over and builds a profile.’ He shrugged. ‘Vast majority of them are sent by fruitcakes still living in the basement of their parents’ house when they’re forty.’
    She flicked a brief glance his way. ‘Is that true or are you just saying it to make me feel better?’
    ‘I’d be willing to bet your picture is pinned to more than one of those walls in this city.’
    ‘Eww.’ She grimaced.
    He didn’t mention there’d be less of them if people got to know her the way he had in the last forty-eight hours. When he questioned why he hadn’t mentioned it, Tyler realized his rage had dissipated. Claiming back a little control probably had something to do with it. Added to the fact they were discussing something that felt closer to police work than babysitting, it was understandable he felt more at ease.
    When he noticed the almost imperceptible tremor in her hand as she turned another page Tyler assumed she’d got to one of the more twisted letters.
    ‘Why have I never been shown this file before?’
    ‘They probably thought it was better you didn’t know.’
    ‘You obviously disagree.’
    As her gaze flickered towards him again the hint of vulnerability he could see in her eyes made him question if he’d done the right thing. He took a short breath. ‘Figured if you knew what was out there it might help you understand why things have to change around here.’
    ‘So why not show it to me on the first day?’
    Determined he could control her without it would have been the honest answer. But since showing it to her would then be somewhat akin to admitting defeat...
    ‘Wasn’t time,’ he lied.
    She turned her head a little, her gaze searching the air while she gathered her thoughts. As something occurred to her there was a blink of long lashes and she looked him in the eyes again. ‘You think the person you saw in the crowd this morning might have sent one of these letters?’
    Tyler nodded. ‘It’s possible. I’ll know if I see him again. I’m good with faces.’
    She frowned for a moment before confessing, ‘I can’t believe there are people out there who would write these letters to me. Let alone mail them. ’
    ‘I told you, famous brings out the crazy.’
    ‘I don’t know how I’m supposed to react to this.’
    ‘Calm is good. A lot of folks would be nailing boards over the windows and bulk buying pepper spray by now.’
    The comment earned a brief if somewhat half-hearted attempt at a smile before she closed the file and stood up. One of her hands rubbed her hip while she stretched out the other. ‘Can you take this with you?’ She avoided his gaze. ‘I