For the Love of Sin(19)

Her smile vanished and her eyes rounded.

“I—uh—just a minute. I left it a mess this morning.” She whipped away from him.

Troy lifted his hand in protest, but she’d already disappeared again. Within a minute, she popped back out with a bucket she toted toward her bedroom. “All yours,” she called.

Walking into the pale pink bathroom, Troy glanced around, wondering what had made Senada scream. He closed the door and saw her silk robe on the hook. Cosmetics and perfume lined a shelf. The flowery bath curtain was pulled closed. He peeked past it into the tub. He knew he was being nosy, and felt a little guilty about it. Swearing, he took care of his business and washed his hands. Just as he was about to leave the bathroom, he spotted a wrapper beside the trash can. Bending down to pick it up, he read the label. Syringe.

Needles. Why would Sin need a medical syringe? His heart clenched in his chest. “What’s she doing with needles?” No good reasons came to mind. He thought of the visit to the clinic and the pharmacy.

Senada Calhoun was full of secrets, and he was one step closer to uncovering one. He just wasn’t sure he was going to like what he learned. He strolled back down the hall and shoved his hands in his pockets.

“Sorry to have to kick you out,” she said, glancing at the clock, “but I’ve got to get to work.”

“Okay,” he said reluctantly. He had too many unanswered questions. “Thanks for helping me pick out a present for Ethan.”

“No problem. I was born to shop.”

“Yeah.” He walked closer to her and looked at her. “Tell me something, Sin. Are you okay? Healthwise?”

“Why?” Suspicion narrowed her eyes for a second, then she flitted toward the front door.

“Believe me, Troy,” she said. “My lifestyle is healthier than it’s ever been.”

Healthier by choice or necessity? he wondered, but he sensed he didn’t have a chance in hell of getting a straight answer to that one. Especially with her standing there holding the door open, waiting for him to leave. He walked past her and barely brushed his mouth over hers. “See ya in a little bit, Sin.”

When Troy got in his car, he swore under his breath. He didn’t like what he didn’t know about Sin, but he did like that softly stunned look on her face after he’d kissed her.



Senada took a break after her third lap to catch her breath. Lord, how she hated exercise. Her dietician had insisted it was time for her to begin a regular exercise program. “An essential part of your health maintenance.” Senada had chosen swimming because that way, at least, she wouldn’t sweat. She’d forgotten, however, how tiring it was after even a few laps.

“Didn’t know you swam.”

Senada looked up past a pair of big feet, muscular calves, powerful thighs, dark blue swim trunks that didn’t conceal the bulge of his masculinity, to a washboard-flat abdomen. At that point, Sin closed her eyes and sank down into the cool water up to her neck.

Enough was enough.

“I just started. What a surprise meeting you here,” she said in complete irony. It was obvious Troy had started following her. She just wasn’t sure how long he’d been doing it.

“Yep.” He jumped in beside her. “Great idea for getting away from the heat and out of that sorry excuse for a motel.”

Senada fought a smile. “It’s been very difficult for you to adjust to the high temperatures since you’ve been down here, hasn’t it, Troy? Bet you’d give just about anything for a cool Tennessee breeze, wouldn’t you?”

He sighed. “Yeah. Just about anything.”

“So,” she said, infusing her next words with all her persuasion, “why don’t you go back to Beulah County for a little visit?”

He popped her with a little splash of water. Senada glared at him, trying not to admire his well-developed chest and incredibly broad shoulders.

“I can’t go home until my mission here is accomplished,” he said in a wooing voice, and wrapped her in his violet gaze.

Senada sighed. It really was a shame she couldn’t just regard him as an object of lust.

He put his hands on her shoulders and his gaze narrowed. “Since you’re not helping me, God knows when that will be. Besides, I wouldn’t dare give up the privilege of escorting you to the Circle K Barbecue.”

Senada ignored the burning sensation where his hands touched her bare skin. She shrugged away from him. “You know, Troy, I like you a lot better when you don’t talk so much.”

Then she put her face in the water and swam.

Troy watched her, wishing he could see past those sexy brown eyes and read the truth beyond her flirty manner. Maybe if he held her long enough and kissed the easy lies from her lips; maybe if he made her body burn like she made his burn, the need for deceit would turn to ashes. Maybe if he laid himself bare, she would feel safe enough to drop her own facade, and Troy could see the real Senada.