Hot Rocks

where you had a sexual marathon with the investigator assigned to the case.”
    She tapped the vacuum against her palm. “Is that supposed to be funny? Is that supposed to be some warped attempt to amuse me?”
    “Pretty much. Don’t hit me with that thing, Laine. I’ve already got a mild concussion. Probably. And relax. Changing your name and editing your background isn’t a criminal offense.”
    “That’s not the point. I lied to them every day. Do you know why so many scams work? Because after the marks realize they’ve been taken, they’re too embarrassed to do anything about it. Someone’s made a fool out of them, and that’s just as tough a hit as losing money. More, a lot of the time.”
    He took the hand vac and set it on the table, so he could touch her. So he could cup his hands on her shoulders, slide them up until his thumbs brushed her cheeks.
    “You weren’t looking to make fools out of them, and they’re not your friends because of your all-American-girl background.”
    “I could run a bait and switch by the time I was seven. Some all-American girl. I should change.” She looked down at the sweats she’d pulled on when the deputy had come by the house to wake her. “Should I change?”
    “No.” Now he laid his hands on her shoulders, rubbing until she lifted her head and met his eyes. “You should stay just the way you are.”
    “What do you think you’re falling for, Max? The small-town shopkeeper, the reformed grifter, the damsel in distress? Which one of those trips up a guy like you?”
    “I think it’s the sharp redhead who knows how to handle herself, and gives in to the occasional impulse.” He lowered his head to press his lips to her forehead. He felt her breath hitch, a sob that threatened and was controlled. “There are a lot of sides to her. She loves her dog, worries about her friends, she’s a little anal on the organization front, and I’ve heard she cooks. She’s practical, efficient and tough-minded—and she’s amazing in bed.”
    “Those are a lot of opinions on short acquaintance.”
    “I’m a quick study. My mama always said, ‘Max, when you meet the woman, you’ll go down like you’ve been poleaxed.’ ”
    A smile twitched at her lips. “What the hell does that mean?”
    “Hell if I know, but Marlene’s never wrong. I met the woman.”
    He drew her in, and she let herself take the warmth and comfort of him, the sturdiness of being held against a strong man. Then she made herself pull away.
    She didn’t know if love meant leaning on someone else, but in her experience, that sort of indulgence often sent the leaner and the leanee down to the mat.
    “I can’t think about it. I can’t think about it, or what I feel about it. I just need to take the next step and see where I land.”
    “That’s okay.”
    She heard Henry’s crazed barking, and a moment later the sound of tires crushing gravel. There was a quick dip in her belly, but she kept her shoulders straight. “They’re here.” She shook her head before Max could speak. “No, I have to gear up. I have to handle this.”
    She walked to the door, opened it and watched Jenny play with Henry.
    Jenny looked over. “Must be true love,” she called out, then started toward the house. “Getting me out of bed and over here before eight in the morning must be a sign of true friendship.”
    “I’m sorry it’s so early.”
    “Just tell me you have food.”
    “I . . . I have a coffee cake, but—”
    “Sounds great. What are you having?” She gave her big, barking laugh, then shut it down when she saw Max. “I don’t know what I think about you being here. If you’re some big-city detective, why didn’t you say so?”
    “Jenny.” Laine laid a hand on her friend’s arm. “It’s complicated. Why don’t you and Vince go in the living room and sit down?”
    “Why don’t we just sit in the kitchen? It’s closer to the food.” And rubbing circles on her belly, Jenny started back.
    “Okay then.” Laine took a deep breath, closed the door behind Vince. “Okay.”
    She followed them back. “This might be a little confusing,” she began, talking as she set out the pot of herbal tea she’d made for Jenny. “I want to apologize first off. Just say I’m sorry, right off the bat.”
    She poured coffee, cut slices of cake. “I haven’t been honest with you, with anyone.”
    “Sweetie.” Jenny stepped over to where Laine stood meticulously arranging the cake on a garnet