Drake Sisters 03 - Oceans of Fire

research didn’t have fast food or food carts.”
    “Hey, you two.” Hannah came partway into the kitchen, leaning one slim hip against the door.
    Abigail studied her sister and for the first time could see signs of exhaustion. She was thinner than usual, although Abbey had to admit, it didn’t seem to matter. Hannah was so striking and exotic she looked beautiful no matter what. “You hungry? I’m cooking.”
    “Just tea for me.” Hannah waved toward the kettle and it whistled instantly.
    Jonas grinned. “I love how you do that.”
    Hannah’s eyebrow shot up. “I didn’t think you loved anything I did.”
    “You’re all dressed up. Where are you going?” Jonas asked.
    “I’m wearing jeans and a very comfortable shirt,” Hannah pointed out. “Abbey’s the one dressed up.”
    Jonas turned to look at her. “Wow! You look great.”
    “Thanks for noticing,” Abbey said wryly.
    “She’s going on a date with Aleksandr,” Hannah announced.
    “He didn’t ask me where I was going.”
    “I’m asking now.” Jonas glared at Abigail.
    “Someone’s at the door,” Hannah said with a small smirk.
    “You just stay right there and I’ll get it,” Jonas said and marched through the house to yank open the front door.

Chapter 10
    “HARRINGTON,” Aleksandr greeted, his features expressionless as he stepped through the door, forcing Jonas to give way. “Is Abbey ready?”
    “Yes, I am,” Abigail said hastily and attempted to push past Jonas, who stood squarely in her way. She exchanged a look with Hannah, rolling her eyes as she did so. Did men have to posture all the time?
    Aleksandr reached around Jonas and caught her hand. “You look truly beautiful, baushki-bau .” His palm swept her hair as he pulled her in close to him.

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    His accent was very much in evidence and Abigail immediately felt guilty for having told Jonas about Aleksandr’s superb language skills. She felt his fingers curl around hers, his body heat enveloping her, the strength in his muscles as he fit her beneath his shoulder. It was all so familiar. He even smelled like she remembered, clean and masculine and far too sexy for her liking.
    His body moved against hers almost protectively as they walked out into the night air. In the distance the ocean boomed and she could smell salt in the air. The sky was clear and the stars sparkled. A perfect night, just what she needed.
    “You’re pulling away from me, Abbey.” His voice was low, his lips against her ear. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
    She waved her hand to encompass her surroundings. “This. You. Me. I’m always so lost around you, Sasha.”
    He drew her hand to his mouth. “Not around me, not as long as I’m with you, you’ll never be lost, Abbey.”
    Her skin tingled where his lips brushed her knuckles. In all the time she’d known Aleksandr, there had never been awkward silences between them. Now, she felt nervous and edgy. With supreme self-discipline, Abigail drew her hand away from him. “How’s the investigation coming?”
    There was another small silence and then he sighed with resignation. “It’s coming along. I have some leads. The necklace on first examination appears to be authentic, but of course we’ve sent it to the real experts.” He opened the passenger door of his car for her.
    “We?” She tilted her head, hesitating before slipping onto the seat. “Do you have someone else working with you?”
    “It was a figure of speech.”
    “Was it?” He closed the door and Abigail felt trapped. That feeling intensified when he entered on the driver’s side. His shoulders nearly touched hers. His hands were large, fingers wrapping around the steering wheel and reminding her of too many things. She turned her head away from him to stare out the window. Why was she thinking about his touch, his kiss, the taste and feel of him instead of betrayal and lies? She inhaled, breathing him in, taking him into her body when she should have been stiff and resistant.
    Immediately she held her breath, trying to avoid the scent and feel of him. Trying not to notice her hands were shaking and, inside, her stomach was curling into tight knots of anticipation.
    As the vehicle pulled onto the main highway, Aleksandr reached for her hand again, lacing his fingers through hers. “You’re not breathing. If you keep that up, I’ll have to give you mouth-to-mouth and you know where that