Im doing a good deed here, angel. At best, Ill break even. Any profit I might end up with will be reinvested in future projects to improve the neighborhood.
Undaunted by his face-saving attack, she tipped her chin and looked straight up into his eyes. You seem to have several projects in mind, Mr. Taylor. Youre quite the philanthropist. How much money have you raised so far?
Damn, she was a cool customer. Instead of taking offense, the blood surged through Bretts veins at her show of strength. Why the hell did he have to get twisted up inside over this pint-size bundle of woman who was all backbone and beautiful eyes? He was a healthy male, more than decently attractive, according to the women hed dated. He knew his manners and how to make a woman laugh.
And yet this one, Ginny Rafferty, with the Nordic looks and Arctic demeanor, got under his skin. The one woman whose only interest in him applied to whatever information he could give her in a murder investigation, fascinated the hell out of him.
He liked the challenge of sparring with her. Hed like it even better if he knew this battle of wills was leading someplace interesting. Were halfway there. Weve pledged about one million in donations. And I put up half a million of my own money.
Really.
One elegant eyebrow, a darker shade of blond than her silvery hair, arched above her skeptical gaze. He felt her scrutiny from the shoulders of his worn flannel shirt to the toes of his scuffed work boots. He seemed to fall short, in her opinion, judging by the doubt etched on her face, an observation that rankled his male ego. Hed butted heads with beautiful women before, and had never failed to charm his way into their good graces.
But Ginny was different. She didnt play the game at which he excelled. With her, the battle of wills was for real.
Brett couldnt help but defend himself. My business is successful.
I wasnt accusing you of lying.
Then what are you accusing me of?
His taunt seemed to strike a nerve in her. She averted her face and blew out her breath on a long sigh. In the space of a heartbeat, Bretts adversarial instincts switched to an uncomfortable mix of guilt and concern. She rose to her feet, a coordinated series of movements blending grace and control.
Regretting his self-serving need to strike back, to assert himself, Brett chose to remain seated. She stood beside him, not quite face-to-face, and he could see the ultrafine spider-web of bluish veins beneath the pale porcelain of her skin.
He curled his fingers into his palms, combatting the urge to touch her, to see if her cheek was as smooth and soft and fragile as it looked. Hed forgotten her job for the moment, given vent to his frustration. Hed simply reacted. Without much thought or consideration of the consequences.
How much do you stand to lose if the Ludlow project fails? She didnt look at him until shed finished the question.
When he turned his face to her, he nearly sank to the floor. Eye-to-eye, mere inches away, he felt the gentle heat of her reaching out to him like a tentative caress.
He must be tired and imagining things, he thought. Hed seen those eyes cool and blank. Hed seen them wide and dark with fear.
But hed never seen them as he did now. The tiniest of frowns made a shallow dent between her eyebrows, and her eyes gleamed with a warmth that reminded him of sunshine streaming in through a stained-glass window.
The uncustomary openness in her expression triggered an unexpected response inside him, a desire to be equally frank, without sugarcoating the truth with a smile or a clever joke.
I could lose my shirt, if Im not careful. If this project fails and I have to repay my investors on top of the accumulated debt, Ill go bankrupt. Taylor Construction would be no more.
What about your personal assets?
His family suspected he was in this building campaign up to his eyeballs, but hed never shared the extent of what he had laid on the table to make this reclamation project happen. But alone in his office with the bright-eyed detective, the words spilled out. I could lose everything.
She uttered a sound like a gasp of disbelief, then turned and paced to the far end of the room. When she spun around, Brett sat up straighter. That brief glimpse of compassion hed imagined had vanished. She was primed for battle again.
Then why do this? Why not take the renovation one building at a time?
He took the offensive, standing and bracing his hands on his hips. Are you investigating me or the murder?
This is personal for you, isnt it? She walked closer, each step a brick of suspicion building against him on some unknown case. Does this have anything to do with Mark Bishops death?
Brett turned his face to the ceiling and swore. When he looked at her again, he didnt bother softening the blow. She hadnt pulled any punches, and neither would he. You got a lot of nerve, lady.
I understand Mark Bishop was a friend of yours.
He shook his head, admiring her gall, if not her choice of topic. That woman you just met was his sister. The Bishops were like family to me. A defensive edge slipped into his voice. He didnt try to mask it. I met Mark through the Big Brother program. He was a good kid who needed a break. I tried to give him one.
What can you tell me about his death?
Somebody beat the hell out of him, then left him without any medical attention. Why do you want to know?
That body in the basement could be Mark and Sophies father, Alvin Bishop.
Hell. He collapsed back onto the desk. Are you sure?
I dont have the forensics yet, but the timeline fits. Its a possibility.
It seemed impossible. To hear that name again. Twelve years after the man got away with murderor maybe he hadnt, after all. Brett looked Ginny square in the eye. Her phone message had said she wanted to discuss the case. But which one?
He schooled what was left of his patience and asked, Just what is it you want from me?
Do you have any idea whod want to kill Alvin Bishop?
Me, for one.
Brett.
He liked the sound of his name in her crisp, clean voice, even if it was couched in a reprimand. But shed made it more than clear that he was just a means to an end of a case for her. Keeping that sobering thought in mind, he answered, Just about anybody in town back then. He wasnt a nice guy.
She moved a step closer, folding her hands together and beseeching him in an unconscious gesture that he found difficult to ignore. Mac says you know more about the neighborhoods history than anyone. Records about the Ludlow tenants are sketchy and outdated. Do you think you could give me some specifics?
The intelligent gleam in those dark blue eyes never wavered. Youre serious, arent you?
Im investigating a murder. Im always serious.
He could see that. All right, then. But not on an empty stomach. Her challenge galvanized him. Shoving himself to his feet, he grabbed his keys from the desk and strode toward the door. I havent eaten since breakfast, and its past nine oclock. I need to fuel up if Im going to do this right.
Ginny hurried after him in quicker, shorter strides. What do you mean?
He shrugged his shoulders. I mean Im hungry. Im going to go eat.