“Me, too.” He flicked the remote and turned off the television. “I’ll just make sure everything’s locked up first.”
Her gaze slid to him. “Well, good night. See you in the morning.”
There. That was a warning.
Do not disturb.
A moment crept by, then, “See you tomorrow.”
There was a clipped sound to his voice and she breathed a sigh of relief as she hurried to her room to take a shower. Not that she expected Matt would come after her. The danger had been back there in the living room.
Half an hour later she lay in bed wide-awake. She couldn’t settle. Her room felt claustrophobic and her pulse was still jumpy from being in Matt’s company all evening. She needed to get up and move around, do anything but lie here and think of things best left alone.
She didn’t bother putting her bathrobe on over her short, satiny chemise; she figured Matt would have gone to bed.
All was quiet as she opened her door and padded along the plush carpet to the living room, moonlight guiding the way. She could see the lights from the swimming pool casting shadows ahead and—
“What are you doing?”
She gasped and whirled around. Matt had come up behind her in the doorway. “Oh, you frightened me!”
There was a tiny pause. “You’re supposed to be in bed,” he said, making it sound as if she’d gone back on her word.
“Er…I couldn’t sleep.” She noticed he was still in the same clothes. “You’re supposed to be in bed, too,” she said, almost accusingly.
“I’m on my way there now.”
It sounded like an invitation.
She moistened her mouth. “Well, I must go.” She went to hurry past him. She’d been unwise to come out here in her night wear.
He caught her by the arm. “Next time put on a robe,” he rasped, holding her still, his touch sending little zings of full awareness through her bare skin.
He let her go.
She hurried to her room and leaned back against the door, her heart thudding beneath her breast. Oh Lord. The danger wasn’t so much back there in the living room.
The danger was in herself.
Six
T he next day Lana decided it was time to do some investigating. Now that she was part of the furniture, she could blend in more easily and be a bit more adventurous in her search for the truth.
But she waited until Matt came into her office to take her home before saying anything. “I’m going to stay back here for a couple of hours tonight.”
He sent her an exasperated look. “It’s a waste of time if you ask me.”
“I’m not asking you, Matt.” She was getting nowhere with clearing her name. She had to do something. “If you could put Megan to bed, I’d appreciate it.” This once she would have to miss seeing her daughter. Heck, the main reasons she was doing this was for Megan.
He scowled. “What time will you be home?”
“I don’t know. Eight, perhaps. I’ll catch a taxi.”
“I don’t like it.”
“Really.”
“I’ll come back and get you at seven. Ruth can look after Megan.”
“But—”
“No buts. I’ll be here at seven.”
She took one look at his hard features and knew he wasn’t going to budge. “Okay, but not before seven. I want a chance to actually get some work done.” She didn’t mention anything else out loud, in case the walls had ears.
Matt turned and left, and Lana took a deep breath. Right. Now she could concentrate without his skepticism in her face.
An hour later the whole floor was quiet, and after doing a check that everyone had gone, she was focusing intensely on the reports on her computer screen when Evan popped his head around the door.
“What are you doing here so late?” he asked, making her jump.
“Oh, Evan! You frightened me.” She caught her breath. “Anyway, I could ask you the same question.”
“I had to go see someone on the next floor.” He stepped into the office. “Can I help you with anything?”
Inside she was panicking, but outside she casually clicked on her screen saver, then leaned back on her chair. “Not, not really. I’m just catching up.”
He frowned. “You were always on top of things before.”
“These days I’m a married woman with a child.”
He looked at her strangely, then he smiled a false smile. “Let me know if you need any help.”
“I will.”
Like hell.
“I’m going home now. Good night, Lana.”
“Good night.”
He left, but she didn’t move for long moments. It wasn’t until she heard the whisper of the elevator door closing that she let herself relax. Then she unlocked her computer screen and started searching the reports again.
At seven, Matt returned. “Find anything?” he said from the doorway.
“No.” She hated to admit it.
“I told you.”
She couldn’t let herself be beaten. “I’m close to finding something. I can feel it.”
He eyes said he didn’t believe it. “Grab your things and I’ll take you home.”
His attitude shouldn’t have disappointed her, but it did. She tidied her desk and picked up her handbag. “By the way,” she said on the way to the elevator. “I’ve decided to work tomorrow. Ruth won’t mind looking after Megan for the day, too.”
He raised a brow, his eyes hardening. “Don’t you think this is going too far?”
“No.”
He shrugged. “Your choice.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Can you send this out by courier please, Irene?” Lana said, holding out some paperwork.
Irene picked up her ringing telephone, but nodded at one of the trays on her desk. “Just put it in that pile so Matt can check it first.”
Lana frowned as the other woman turned away to deal with the person on the other end of the line. Her heart sank. Was this procedure something new? Or was this just for her?
She waited for Irene to finish her call.
“Does Matt check everyone’s work now?” she asked as casually as she could.
Irene bit her lip. “Oh dear. Lana, he’s just looking out for you. I told him he was being overprotective, but I guess it comes with being married now.”