Merry and Bright(67)

Belinda looked at it, flushed, but didn’t lower it. “You scared me. I thought you were a burglar. I was just protecting myself.”

“Well, it’s just us,” Matt said. “So you can put it down.”

The gun wavered slightly, but remained cocked and aimed, now at Matt’s face. “Why are you snooping in Ned’s computer?”

Matt didn’t so much as look at Cami as he slowly turned toward the computer in question. Belinda’s aim followed.

“We were looking through everyone’s e-mail files,” Matt said.

Belinda didn’t look happy as she followed him to the computer. “Why?”

“We were looking for the person leaking those vicious rumors.”

“They aren’t rumors if they’re true,” Belinda said, leaning in to read the screen. “And it was all true, no matter what anyone says.”

“Really?” Matt’s fingers flew over the keyboard as he turned his body completely away from Cami now.

So did Belinda.

He was turning Belinda away from Cami. Trying to keep her safe. Oh, my God.

“How do you know it was all true?” Matt asked Belinda.

Belinda stared at him.

He stared right back, calm and cool, despite the gun only inches from his face.

“You already know,” Belinda guessed softly. “Don’t you?”

“What, that you were the one who did the e-mailing from all those different computers?” Matt nodded. “Yeah. Just figured that out. So now what, Belinda? Because up until right now, you haven’t committed a crime that would land you some serious jail time. The gun changes that.”

Belinda looked at the gun.

“Don’t be stupid,” Matt said softly.

Cami felt frantic. The foolish man was baiting her! Heart in her throat, she took a step toward the wall, where Ned had plans of his latest pet project, a bike trail along the river. They were rolled up in a canister and weighed a good ten pounds. Hoisting them up, she took a slow step toward Belinda’s back.

“What were you trying to do?” Matt asked Belinda. “You got your own father kicked out of here.”

“He deserved it! He was cheating on my mom. With a guy.” Belinda shuddered. “And everyone here acted so self-righteous about it.”

“So you hurt them, too?”

“Yes! And maybe you were next.”

Matt shook his head. “You couldn’t have gotten me, Belinda.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m smarter than you are.”

Cami couldn’t believe it! Didn’t he see the gun right in his face? She could scarcely breathe for fear it’d go off by accident.

Belinda’s hand wavered, probably with rage. Jesus. Cami took another step and raised the tube of plans. Matt looked up, and so did Belinda, at the same time lifting the gun, just as Cami closed her eyes and brought the plans down on Belinda’s forearm, hard.

The gun flew into the air, then hit the floor, and with a frustrated, rage-filled howl, Belinda whipped around to face Cami.

“I figure I just saved you a long prison visit,” Cami said. “You can thank me later.”

Belinda let out an enraged scream and took a step toward her, but instead of strangling her, as Cami half-braced for, Belinda ran out of the office.

Matt strode to Cami and hauled her against him. Tense with fear and fury, he ran his searing eyes over her. “Are you all right?”

He was looking at her as if she was his entire world. She loved that. She loved him. “Of course I’m all right. You were the one with the gun in your face, you stupid, stupid man!” She tugged his face down and kissed him. “Hell of a time to realize I love you. We have to go after her.”

He gripped her arms, lifted her up to her toes. “What?”

“I said we have to go after her—”

“The other thing.”

“Later.” She was shaking. “We have to—”

“Say it,” he demanded.

“I love you.”

He leaned in and kissed her, one hard, warm connection. “I love you, too. So damn much.”

The words filled her, warmed her. She was in shock. And she was in love. Heady combination.

“I wanted to be your hero,” he said. “But you saved yourself.”

She ran her hands up his chest, feeling his heart pounding beneath her fingers. It steadied her. He steadied her. “It’s okay. It’s all part of that New Year’s resolution. I’m going for it, remember? At all times.”

“But you always go for it.”

“At work, yes. But I’m expanding to other areas. Like my personal life.”

His eyes shined with emotion. “You going for me, Cami?”

“Yeah, I guess I am. How does that feel, Mr. Mayor?”

He glanced at his watch. Two minutes past midnight. “Like the best Christmas present I’ve ever had.” And he pulled her close.





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