Deadly Intuition(32)

“I’m not technically working today,” Grady shot back.

“You always show up, though,” Finn replied. “I figured you’d want to see how the searches were progressing.”

The fact that Finn was focused on the computer and not him was only adding to Grady’s frustration. “Why are you here?”

“James wanted to make sure the house was secure,” Finn replied, his tone bland. “He told me to stay here until we had a plan of action.”

“We have a plan,” Grady replied, glancing over at Sophie. She was hovering in the hallway – wringing her hands nervously – watching him.

“What’s the plan?” Finn was still fixated on the computer. “Has James gotten anything from Maverick on the email backtrack?”

“Who is Maverick?” Sophie asked.

“He’s our computer guy,” Finn said. “He’s amazing.”

“His name is Maverick? Like from Top Gun?”

“It’s his hacker name,” Finn explained, smiling up at her. “That’s not his real name.”

For some reason, Grady wanted to wipe that smile right off his brother’s face. He was considering using his fists. “I think Maverick is still looking.”

Finn finally moved his gaze to Grady. “So, what’s the plan?”

“The plan is for you to go back to the office,” Grady said. “I’ll be finishing the day out here.”

Finn shrugged. “That’s not necessary. I’m already set up here. You can go do whatever it is you want to do. I’m happy here.”

“I said you can go.”

Finn’s eyes narrowed as he finally realized the depth of Grady’s bad mood. He glanced over at Sophie, who looked about as nervous as any one person could get. “What’s up?”

“I told you,” Grady said through gritted teeth. “I’m taking over security duty here. You can take the laptop back to the office and continue the searches there.”

“It’s Saturday,” Finn said.

“So?”

“So? So Mandy and James are going to be all smoochy and crap all day,” Finn said. “They’re cute, but they wear on me. I’ll be glad when she goes back to work. Then they’ll just smoochy at night – and I can avoid them at night.”

“I think they’re sweet,” Sophie said. “I like how comfortable they are with each other.”

“They’re definitely comfortable,” Finn agreed.

Grady stepped toward his brother. “Go to a coffee shop to work then. You can’t work here.”

“Why?”

“Because I said so.”

Finn glanced between Grady and Sophie, realization dawning. “Oh.”

“Oh, what?” Sophie asked.

Finn shut the top of the laptop. “Sorry. I’ll get out of your way.”

“You don’t have to go,” Sophie said, shooting Grady a dark look. “I have no idea why your brother is being so rude. You’re welcome here.”

“Grady is right,” Finn hedged. “I have work to do. I’ll leave you to … whatever it is you have to do here.”

Sophie was clearly confused. “What are we doing here?”

Finn smiled. “I’ll um … catch up with you later, bro.”

“Bye.”



SOPHIE turned on Grady as soon as Finn was gone. “What was all that about?”

Grady avoided her gaze. “He just had no business being here.”

“He was being nice.”

Grady couldn’t stop himself. He stalked toward her, his gaze predatory. “Maybe I don’t want him to be nice to you.”

Sophie took an involuntary step back. “What are you doing?”

Grady had closed the distance between them. “I’m finishing what we started last night.”

Sophie licked her lips nervously. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

That wasn’t a no. “Shh.”

“Don’t shush me,” Sophie argued.

Grady ignored her as he backed her into the hallway wall, placing a hand on either side of her head, and pressing his body against hers. “Shh.”

Sophie’s eyes were filled with a bevy of emotions: Doubt. Need. Longing. “I don’t … .”

Grady lowered his mouth to hers, pressing their lips together. Last night’s kiss had been fraught with need. He wanted this kiss to be something else.

Sophie sank into the kiss, marveling at the taste of him as his tongue slipped into her mouth, probing. She sighed, giving in. Fighting him was harder than dealing with the consequences. It was just one time. She wanted that one time. She needed that one time.