Sight Unseen(63)

A few minutes later, they approached a large gated home at the end of a row of luxury estates.

Kendra’s eyes widened. “Impressive. You bought this on a government salary?”

“No. When I was with the FBI, my place was considerably more modest. My agent-for-hire income allows for a much grander lifestyle.”

“Obviously. This is what, ten thousand square feet?”

“Oh, not that much.” He shot her a sideways glance. “Nine.”

She shook her head. “Aw, man. You didn’t tell me I’d be slumming it.”

“You’ll just have to suffer.” Lynch pressed a remote on his sun visor, and the electronic gate swung open. His house was a classic Tudor, surrounded by an eight-foot wall. Although it was night, artfully placed outdoor lighting showcased the landscaping and intricate stonework on the structure’s face.

Kendra pointed up toward the house. “You’re not worried about someone’s just breaking in through a window?”

“No. At the first sign of a perimeter breach on the property, steel shutters drop down over each and every one. They’re built into the walls.”

She glanced at his face, then said slowly, “You’re not joking.”

“No, I promised you a fortress, didn’t I? You were right about one thing. I’ve made a lot of enemies in my time. Everyone from crime bosses to gunrunners and terrorists. Most of them I take care of before the job is done, but there are always a few who linger in the shadows … waiting. I can never be sure when they’ll strike.” He shrugged. “So I like having a place where I can come back and relax. Out there on the street, I may have to be on guard. Not here.” He parked the car in the garage, and the door automatically closed behind them. He leaned close to her and spoke softly. “I hope I can give you the same peace of mind.”

Heat.

Sexuality.

Intimacy.

She looked away and tried to say carelessly, “You’re off to a very good start.”

“I’m glad you think so.” His face was only inches away from hers, close enough for her to feel the warmth, the vitality. A few minutes before, she had been thinking that Lynch was right, that she could relax here. He knew what she needed almost before she knew it herself. But she was not at all relaxed right now. Every muscle was tense, and her heart was pounding hard.

Don’t let him see it.

She gripped the door handle. “Give me a tour?”

He studied her expression for an instant. “Sure.”

They pulled Kendra’s suitcase from the trunk and moved toward the door. Lynch raised a fob and pressed it to throw the lock.

He showed her the fob. “The code changes every seven seconds. This fob and the door-lock codes stay in perfect synchronization.” He gripped the doorknob, then froze. “Oh, shit.”

“What is it?”

“Nothing serious,” he said, sensing the tension in her voice. “I just remembered something.”

“Remembered what?” Adam Lynch was actually looking sheepish, she realized with wonder. She hadn’t been aware he was even capable of that expression.

“Look,” he said. “You’re going to see something kind of unusual in my living room. Promise not to judge, okay?”

She smiled with anticipation. “I’ll promise nothing of the sort. What is it?”

“Damn. I can’t believe this. Okay.” He pushed open the front door.

Kendra entered the house. The place was still dark except for a few accent lights. At first, she was impressed by the modernistic furniture, travertine floor tile, and black galaxy granite countertops.

Then she saw it.

She stopped short, eyes widening. “Oh, my God.”

In the large living room, one single windowless wall was covered by a twenty-foot-long enlarged print of his latest girlfriend’s bus ad. Beautiful bikini-clad Ashley overwhelmed the room.

“Uh … Wow,” was all Kendra could say.

“Yeah.”

“Why…?”

Lynch was looking more sheepish than ever. “A couple weeks ago, I came back from a trip out of the country and … there she was on my doorstep with that poster, several movers, and an interior decorator. She whisked them inside, and an hour later, it was done.”

“She had this wall-sized picture of herself made for you?”

“This was actually hanging from the ceiling at the campaign’s launch party. She asked for it and had it mounted and framed for me.” His expression was baffled as he stared at the poster. “I guess she thought … it should occupy an entire wall in my home?”

Kendra started laughing and found she couldn’t stop. She pointed to a row of eyeball-recessed light fixtures aimed at the print. “Did she have the spotlights put in, too?”