Sweet Surrender (Sweet #1)(11)

At noon, she pulled out the lunch she’d brought from home and ate it while fielding phone calls from potential clients. Micah called to say he and Nathan wouldn’t be back into the office and would be working late. Then Pop called to tell her to go home early and that he’d lock up when he came through later in the afternoon.

She smiled as she hung up. Pop always seemed to know when she wasn’t her best. He never asked intrusive questions, but he worried over her just the same. That kind of unconditional love was comforting.

The phone rang again, and she picked it up, expecting to hear Pop again. He usually got sidetracked when he called and would forget what he’d called for in the first place. Which precipitated an immediate call back ninety percent of the time.

“Malone’s,” she said cheerfully, prepared to tease Pop.

“Faith, baby, we need to talk.”

Faith closed her eyes, and her lunch burned a hole in her stomach.

“Faith, are you there? I need to talk to you.”

“I’m here,” Faith said faintly.

“I need some money,” her mother said, forgoing her usual cajoling. “I’m in a bind, baby.”

“I can’t help you this time,” Faith gritted out. “I’d appreciate it if you would quit calling.”

A shocked silence fell between them. “Faith, you don’t mean that. I’m your mother. You can’t just cut me out of your life. I need your help. You can’t turn away from me. After all I’ve done for you.”

Rage curdled Faith’s system. Her vision blurred as the anger built. “All you’ve done for me? You’ve got a hell of a lot of nerve, Celia. What have you ever done for me? I’m happy now. I have a nice life. Without you. I can’t help you. I won’t help you. Not this time. Not ever again. Please don’t call me again.”

She slammed the phone down, her breath coming in ragged spurts. Her hands trembled, and she felt dangerously close to vomiting. She closed her mouth and sucked in deep breaths through her nose, willing the nausea to pass.

When her stomach settled, she surged up from her chair, making a grab for her keys and purse. She needed some air. Needed to get away before she succumbed to the urge to start throwing things.

CHAPTER 5

Gray stepped into Cattleman’s Bar and Grill and headed for the bar area, intent on throwing back a cold beer. Connor had introduced him to the local pub, a place he and the other guys gathered at after work several days a week.

When he walked around the divider that separated the bar from the eating area, he was surprised to see Faith sitting on the far side, her legs dangling off the high barstool. One elbow rested on the bar top, and her other hand stirred a drink with the straw.

He walked forward, but she never looked up. She seemed lost in her own world, not a happy one either. He slid onto the stool next to hers and motioned for the bartender.

She glanced up at him in surprise as he ordered his beer.

“You and I seemed to have developed a habit of bumping into each other,” she murmured.

He smiled. “I’m not following you, if that’s what you’re implying. I’ve been here every day after work. First time I’ve seen you here.”

She flushed, and he watched in fascination as pink spread into her cheeks. “I didn’t mean to imply anything of the sort. I know Connor and the others come here a lot. But I thought you were all working late today.”

He shrugged. “We finished up. Pop headed to the office to lock up, and Connor headed home.” He cocked his head and looked probingly at her. “What brings you here?”

Distress flickered in her eyes, and she quickly looked away. “Just didn’t feel like going home yet,” she said vaguely.

Gray cursed himself. He’d lay odds her mother had called again, and he hadn’t yet been able to get into the office to do the tap.

“Have you eaten anything?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Don’t really feel like eating.”

“Care if I eat then?”

She looked back at him, and a small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. He watched in fascination as her tongue swept over her top lip, catching a droplet of her drink.

“Suit yourself. Far be it for me to get between a man and his meal.”

“Spoken like a woman who is well acquainted with a man’s needs,” he said, letting her make what she wanted of that statement.

To his delight she blushed again and ducked her head. She really was too cute with her rampant blushing. He’d begun to harbor the most vivid fantasies of seeing just how far down her body she flushed. Would she be timid in bed? Would her lover have to coax each piece of clothing from her body?

His entire body tightened. He was as willing as the next guy to have a firebrand in bed, a woman who took charge and rocked his world, but the idea of calling the shots, of maintaining every moment of Faith’s seduction sent a thunderclap of desire shooting straight through his groin.

Seduction? Jesus. He wasn’t here to seduce her, though God knew he’d enjoy each and every moment. He was here to pump her for information. To use her, by any means necessary, to catch his partner’s killer.

He motioned for a passing waitress and asked for a burger and fries before turning his attention back to Faith.

“So how was your day at the office? You look…stressed.”