“You’re wrong, I’m exactly what I appear to be. My public record is open for anyone to read. I couldn’t have been elected to this office if I were hiding a shady past.”

“Really? Everyone hides something. At least, everyone interesting. Animals are different. They’re much simpler. Except felines.”

His gaze narrowed on her face. “I don’t believe we’ll change species in this particular conversation. Just what do you think I’m hiding?”

Probe a little. “I don’t know. Not your military career, you were a hero. Not during your college days. You were too intelligent to get involved with drugs or all that nonsense.”

“Then do you think I’m a crooked cop?”

She slowly shook her head. “I don’t think so. That would be an opportunity for corruption, but you grew up with a father who had strict values and believed in the law. That would have rubbed off. I’d bet you’re well thought of by your officers as well as the people who elected you.”

“Then it appears you’re running out of scenarios for me to indulge in my wicked nature,” he said mockingly. “Where did you find out all this about me?”

“The Internet. And I have a few friends who have buddies in high places. Not to mention those who wallow in low places.” She stopped as she reached his car. “I don’t have your advantage with access to all those databases and stuff.”

“They haven’t done me much good … yet.”

“But you’re still hopeful. I like that about you, Nalchek. Hope is a wonderful thing.”

He opened the car door. “So we’ve both drawn a blank.”

“Not me.” She got into the car. “When I become confused about direction, all I do is go back to the beginning.”

“And where is that?”

She looked out the window at the forest. “Back there. Whatever you’re hiding is back there.”

He got into the driver’s seat but didn’t turn on the ignition.

Had she gone too far?

He looked straight ahead. “I’d like to know how you made a guess like that.”

She could feel his tension. Very dangerous moment. She should be afraid. But she wasn’t: excitement, anticipation, curiosity—no fear. Did that mean that he was no threat?

No. The threat was there, but it didn’t mean that she couldn’t handle it.

“How do you think?” she said lightly. “My friends aren’t only the two-legged variety. But that shouldn’t worry you since you have a healthy skepticism for any connection I have with them. And how could Sajan possibly tell me anything that might hurt you?”

“Skepticism doesn’t preclude curiosity.” He still hadn’t started the car. “Why don’t you want to tell me what you think I’m hiding?”

“Because you’re very intense. If I struck too close to home, you might have to make a decision.”

“And as long as I don’t know, I can just coast along and not worry?” He shook his head, and said roughly, “Margaret, you’re a fool. You can’t be that naïve. You shouldn’t have said anything at all if you thought I was a possible threat. Instead, you put yourself in a vulnerable position, then decide to tell me that I might have reason to remove you.”

“I’m always vulnerable,” she said simply. “Though I’ve been trying to correct that lately. But I have to work with what I have. I have intelligence and instincts and judgment. I never let myself get in a situation that my judgment says I can’t get out of. Of course, there are triggers that can change everything.”

“Like an unexpected decision that might cause an explosion.”

“Or might not. I like to avoid having to worry about it.” She looked him in the eye. “May we go now?”

“Nervous?”

He mustn’t go down that path. Nervousness was too close to fear. And fear could be looked upon with suspicion. Red herring. Distraction. “A little, but it’s more excitement, I think. It’s just that Eve said that she had to get back to the hospital and wanted to see me.”

He didn’t move. “Excitement?”

“You know. Sex.” She smiled. “I feel very sexual whenever I’m around you. They call it chemistry, but I’ve always thought of sex as basic and primitive.”

“I … see.”

“Oh, did I make you feel awkward? It’s not as if I’m making a move on you. I know I’m not your type.”

“Oh, do you? Dark, leggy, and sophisticated. Isn’t that what you said?”

She nodded. “That’s right, and anyway, the sex urge isn’t always reciprocal regardless of appeal. And the initial excitement can vanish as quickly as it comes.”

“Stop talking about sex.”

“Of course. I only wanted to explain that—”

“You only wanted to throw me a curve and take control,” he said bluntly. “Because you thought that it was a safe ploy. It’s not safe.” His voice lowered, and the words came fast and hard. “And you don’t have any idea what kind of women I like to screw. You do appeal to me. And if you weren’t such a weird nutcase, I’d have had you in the backseat, tearing your clothes off, and coming into you three minutes ago.”

“Really?” She cleared her throat. She hadn’t expected that response, and she suddenly felt out of her depth. “Then I guess it’s lucky that I am that weird. You’d be having all kinds of second thoughts that would—”

“Shut up.” His hands were on her breasts, kneading, pulling, stroking.

Heat.

Tingling electricity.

Fullness.

She couldn’t breathe.

She couldn’t move.

His mouth was on her throat, his tongue moved down to the hollow of her breasts. Her shirt was suddenly open, and his mouth was on her nipple.

She arched up to him with a low cry.

“Yes.” His teeth were pulling, his mouth …

She instinctively moved closer, offering more.

He froze.

“Nalchek…”

He took a deep breath, then he pushed her away. “Keep away from me.”

“I don’t want to keep—”

“I don’t care what you want.” He leaned over the steering wheel. “I care what I want. And it’s not to screw some kid who wants a quick thrill and a little experimentation. For God’s sake, the first time I saw you, I thought you were a teenager.”

“I’m … twenty-one.” She was trying to get her breath. “And I’m sure that you’ve done your share of experimentation. Though that wasn’t what I meant—” She stopped. “And you were right, I only intended to take you off guard. I could see that you only thought of me as a kid, and I believed it was a safe way to distract you.” She steadied her voice. “It kind of … blew up.”

“You bet it did,” he said grimly. “You had me so hot that I wasn’t going to stop.”

“But you did.” Her fingers were shaking as she buttoned her shirt. “And now the best thing is clearly to forget it happened.”

“Is it?” He was watching her fingers on the buttons. “Why? Didn’t you say I excited you?” He made a violent dismissive gesture. “Forget I said that. But it’s not that easy. I came close to raping you.”

“No, you didn’t.” She looked away from him. “You wouldn’t have done that. I know about rape.”

He went still. “Do you?”

“See? You’re getting all protective. You wouldn’t have used force.”

“When did it happen?”

“When I was twelve. It was when I was hiding in the woods from my father. Two hunters found me and decided to have a little fun.”

Nalchek cursed.

She shook her head. “It’s over. It took a long time to get over it, but I was lucky that I was in the best place in the world to learn that rape sometimes happens, but so does survival. It was all around me. It’s all part of nature. You just have to turn your back on the pain and accept the joy.” She tucked her shirt in her jeans. “Now I think you should take me to Eve.”

He sat looking at her. “Yeah.”

Then he turned on the ignition. “Did you know their names?”

“The men who raped me? Yes, it seemed important at the time.”

“Who were they?”

She shook her head. “It’s not important now.”

“I want their names.”

“What are you going to do? Arrest them?”

“Maybe.”

She shook her head. “After all this time? More pain than gain.”