Copper Beach

set aside for dogs.

    Sam pulled up the collar of his jacket. At least it wasn’t raining, he thought. Abby was bundled up in a long trench coat. She had on a pair of shoes that his sister, Emma, would have called slides, but they looked a lot like slippers to him.

    He watched her stoop down to unclip Newton’s leash. As soon as he was free, Newton hurried through the gate and began to investigate a row of bushes, selecting just the right spot. Choices , choices, Sam thought. It seemed like there were always choices to be made in life. And once a man had made his decision, he was committed.

    He moved to stand beside Abby, savoring her scent and her unique vibes. She did not try to put any distance between them.

    “Sorry I zapped your friend tonight,” he said.

    “Nick had it coming. He had no business sneaking into my home tonight to go through my mail. As long as there was no permanent harm done.”

    “He’ll be fine. At least I think he will.”

    “I beg your pardon?”

    “Relax. According to my design calculations, there won’t be any permanent damage.”

    She looked up at him, her eyes pools of mystery in the darkness. “Have you ever used that gadget on anyone else?”

    “No. Haven’t had the opportunity. But I’ve had some experience with a prototype.”

    “Great. Wonderful. I’m so relieved to hear that.”

    He exhaled slowly. “Nick asked me if I was qualified to act as a bodyguard.”

    “You’re not my bodyguard,” she said quickly. “You’re my hired investigator.”

    “Comes down to the same thing. And you have a right to know my qualifications.”

    “As a bodyguard or as an investigator?”

    “Both. I told Nick that I’ve done some consulting for a private contractor that does some work for a government agency.”

    She smiled. “The post office?”

    “You know, you and your friend have a warped sense of humor.”

    “Nick already made that joke?”

    “Yeah.”

    “Sorry. Couldn’t resist. Go on.”

    “I’m trying to explain that I do have some experience in this kind of work. Thought it would make you feel better.”

    “You don’t need to tell me your credentials,” she said. “Although I admit I’m curious. But the bottom line is that I know you can handle my situation. I wouldn’t have let you spend the night under my roof if I thought otherwise.”

    “What makes you so sure I’m qualified for the job?”

    “My intuition, of course. Hey, I’m psychic, remember? You give off all the right vibes.”

    He turned to face her. “What kind of vibes would those be?”

    “I knew the moment I met you that you’re the kind of man who does what he says he’s going to do. No excuses. In some ways, you’re as hard as any of those rocks in your collection, but you can be counted on to complete the job or go down trying, and it would take a lot to bring you down. You’ve committed yourself to protecting me while we hunt for the blackmailer and the lab book. You would not have made that commitment unless you thought you could carry it out. I realize you have your own agenda, but that doesn’t mean you won’t honor your commitments.”

    “You’ve known me for less than twenty-four hours. How can you be so damn sure of me?”

    “I don’t know,” she admitted. “Just something about your energy. But I’m not basing my conclusions entirely on my own intuition. Thaddeus Webber thinks you’re the right man for the job. But more to the point, Gwen and Newton approve of you. And Nick, for all his faults, is a pretty good judge of character, too. He has to be, because he deals with some very shady clients. He wouldn’t have left without a struggle tonight if he thought you couldn’t be trusted to do your job.”

    “In other words, you trust me because your friends and your dog signed off on me.”

    “They’re my family, Sam. I’ve got another, picture-perfect family, but it’s not the same thing. Gwen, Nick and Newton are my real family. Do you understand?”

    “Yes.” He reached out and framed her face between his hands. “But there’s something you need to understand. The lab book is important, but you are my number-one priority in this thing. I give you my word on that.”

    Her eyes burned with a little heat. “That’s good to know.”

    “Is there any other man who might climb through your window tonight?” he asked. “Some other guy who might feel he has a claim on you?”

    “No,” she said. She rose slowly on her