All Night Long

town. But the realization that Phil had come armed today sent an odd chill through her. Luke was definitely worried, she thought. “About time you checked in, Irene,” Addy said.
    “Talk to me.”
    “I’ve got the story that is going to make the
Glaston Cove Beacon
the most famous newspaper in th tate within forty-eight hours. But we need to make some plans.”

----
    Sometime after eight o’clock that night, Irene heard Luke’s SUV pull into the drive of the Carpenter house.
p. “There he is,” she announced to Tess and Phil. “About time he got here.” She tossed her cards dow nto the table and jumped to her feet.
    Phil and Tess exchanged amused expressions as they gathered up the cards. It dawned on Irene tha he was acting like a lover or a wife who has been waiting impatiently for her man to come back to her after a lengthy absence in foreign climes.
    You’ve only known him for a few days
, she lectured herself sternly.
Try to be cool
[_here. _]
    But she flung open the door with a sense of expectation and spiraling relief. Luke stood there, looking hard and cold-eyed and a little bleak.
    “I was about to call you again to find out where you were,” she said.
    “Long drive,” he said. “Long day. You okay?”
    “Yes,” she said. “Oh, heck with being cool.” She launched herself against his chest.
    He seemed startled but he recovered instantly. His arms closed tightly around her.
    “Ready to go home?” he asked. “Yes.”

Forty-Three
    “I can’t believe you went to that house alone.” Luke crossed the small living room of the cabin wit ong, restless strides, tossing his jacket over the back of a chair along the way. He went into the tiny kitchenette. “You should have waited until I got back.”
    “Once I knew the key fit the locks on those doors, I didn’t have much choice,” Irene said quietly. She folded her arms tightly around herself and watched him take a bottle of water out of the refrigerator.
    “I couldn’t put it off. I had to know.”
    He looked at her. “Must have been bad.”
    “Someone had redecorated. New carpet, paint and furnishings.” She hesitated. “I couldn’t bring mysel o walk into the kitchen, though.”
    “No surprise there.” He drank some of the water and then set the bottle down on the counter. His eyes were steady and knowing. “Are you okay with what you found out today?”
    “I’m not sure how I feel,” she admitted. “I’ve known for so long that there had to be an answer. No hat I’ve got it I feel a little—” She broke off, groping for the right word.

    “Disoriented or something.”
    She fell silent, unable to think of anything else to say. The first rush of savage satisfaction that she had experienced when she heard the truth from Pamela’s own lips had faded, leaving behind an odd sense of disconnect. She had her answers, she thought. Why was she feeling so unsettled?
    “Answers aren’t everything,” Luke said, as if he had read her mind. “You need time to process them.”
    She nodded. “I think you’re right.”
    “You shouldn’t have gone to that house alone.”
    “You’re repeating yourself.”
    “Probably because I’m pissed and I’m trying to process my anger. That’s how men deal with emotions, didn’t you know? We either get mad or we have sex.”
    She frowned. “Why are you mad at me?”
    “Because someone else got killed today.” His eyes darkened. “All I could think about on the way back here was that you and Tess were sitting there with enough evidence to destroy a U.S. senator and that said senator was obviously willing to murder people to keep his secrets.”
    “So you’re angry because you were worried, is that what you’re saying?”
    “It’s not that simple, damnit.” He walked toward her. “We haven’t had a lot of time together, but hought we were involved in a relationship. This isn’t just a fling or a one-night stand.” He stopped in front of her. “Or is it?”
    “No.”
    “I admit I’m not the world’s leading expert on relationships, but it was my understanding that people i ur situation are supposed to talk to each other. You should have waited until I got back here befor ou went to that house today.”
    “I’m used to doing things on my own, Luke.”
    “I know that. But you’re not alone anymore.” He gripped her shoulders. “Try to remember that, okay?”

    She realized that she was about to burst into tears. “I think I’m going to cry. This is