Diamond Legacy (23 page)

Only she hadn’t counted on the staggering impact it would have on her. She was falling for him. Hard and fast. And it would only lead to heartbreak. That was where the doubts came in. If she didn’t get control of her heart soon, very soon, it would be too late.

Focus on Katanga, use it as a lifeline
. That was the mantra she needed to repeat. And often.

The castle seemed quiet this morning, not unusual, but given last night’s events, the silence set her on edge. She headed for the relative safety of the clinic, knowing Graham wouldn’t dare challenge her in front of other doctors and interns. He needed to keep his dirty little secret under wraps. If he caught her alone, however, all bets were off.

One thing Miranda knew for certain. No flea-bitten stable dweller like Graham would get in the way of her doing her job. To hell with jittery nerves. Two lion cubs came in yesterday afternoon, and she wanted a look at them.

Stepping into the clinic office to check in, Myra, secretary extraordinaire, smiled in greeting just like she had every day for the last three weeks. Miranda’s name still showed on the roster, and the computer accepted her log-on.

So far, so good. But then, it was early.

She grabbed a white lab coat and stuffed her arms in the sleeves as she crossed the main reception area toward the exam rooms. She’d barely made a dozen steps when the veterinary garage door opened and Graham stepped through, Diana right behind him.

Miranda stopped cold, heart racing as she faced the double threat, but Graham only stared at her with his usual gruff frown. She waited, the seconds ticking away like hours, but no accusation came. Just a resentful glare from Diana, the unfriendly librarian.

“What are you doing here so early?” An edge of spite laced Diana’s tone.

Suspense turned to exasperation. The librarian’s claws came out every time they happened to meet, and it was getting downright old. For about a fraction of a second, Miranda savored the prospect of asking Diana what her friend Neil would think of her lust for the janitor.

“Are you always this pleasant in the morning, Diana? Or do I somehow annoy you?”

Diana’s slight stiffening and semi-narrowed eyes were almost worth the cost Miranda knew she’d pay later. Unfortunately, it also activated Graham’s curiosity.

“Do we have a problem, ladies? Something I should know about?”

“This one’s interfering where she don’t belong.” A sullen glare accompanied Diana’s retort.

That arrow hit too close to home. Afraid of how Graham might interpret Diana’s remark, Miranda sought to diffuse the situation with feminine bluntness. “Honestly, Diana, if you have such a thing for Mr. Bennett, why don’t you take it up with him and leave me out of it? I’m just not interested.”

It did the trick. Graham snorted in disgust. “The day’s too short for this kind of nonsense. Let’s get to work.”

He steam-rolled Diana out of the clinic, but not before she delivered a warning glare that clearly said “game on.”

“Watch out for that one,” Myra warned. “She likes to bite.”

“So I’m learning,” Miranda replied with a shake of her head and pushed her way through the double doors that led to the exam rooms.

“Good morning!” Letta’s friendly greeting came in sharp contrast.

“It’s improving,” Miranda replied.

“Where’s your sidekick?”

“Down at the café, grabbing a breakfast muffin.” Miranda hefted her knapsack onto the counter. “I think he’s sulking. I was in such a hurry to get here he didn’t get to enjoy Tavi’s special cooking at the lodge.”

“You came between Jason and food?” Letta’s eyes widened in mock horror as she folded a load of freshly washed towels. “Very risky. What’s your hurry?”

“I couldn’t sleep.” Miranda shrugged and rummaged in her sack for a pen, notepad, and her stethoscope. “Besides, I’m anxious to see the two new cubs.”

“Is that so?” Letta plopped another towel on her stack. “I’m thinking perhaps you are more anxious to see Matt Bennett.”

Miranda paused and glanced at her friend. Amazing how that man stirred things up without even trying. “You’re talking crazy.”

“Am I? You and he light up a room with your sparks. I say fascination grows.”

She nailed that one. Miranda just wished it weren’t so well known. “I’d hardly call it fascination. More like—”

“Lust?”

“Letta, please!”

Heaven help her, it was the truth. Never in her life had she experienced such a strong physical reaction toward someone. She wanted more, yet feared the regret of jumping in recklessly, of having to say goodbye in less than three weeks while her heart was breaking.

Turning away from her laundry, Letta faced her with skepticism. “You do not fool me. I may be clumsy, but I see clearly. The attraction between you two is obvious. Which reminds me, you never did tell me about that kiss.”

Miranda suddenly got busy zipping up her knapsack and stashing it in the cabinet. That kiss was before yesterday’s festival, an eon ago. Last night, however, was still fresh, and things had progressed far beyond a mere kiss. It created complications she’d never intended.

“How very interesting,” Letta said. “You deny the attraction, you can’t sleep, and the mention of that kiss colors your cheeks.” She tapped a long finger against her chin. “To me, this says it was a very good kiss.”

Miranda refused to respond.

It didn’t matter to Letta. She kept talking. “He must be the type to make a girl feel desired. He’d shelter you with those broad shoulders and soothe you with firm hands. And those lips…” She sighed for impact. “They would nibble a path to—”

“Enough!” Heat burned Miranda’s cheeks for real now. “He’s a fabulous kisser, if you must know. But I really don’t want to talk about it.”

“Oooh, too late for that!” Letta rubbed her hands with anticipation. “Do you plan on kissing him again?”

“I shouldn’t. He’s not relationship material.”

“Not rela—” Letta threw up her hands. “Why? Because he’s a janitor?”

Oh, it was work, all right. The phrase “hazardous duty” defined Matt’s job. And after last night’s revelation, that risk flew off the charts. Yesterday, it was ordinary diamond smugglers. Today, it was personal vendettas, a ruthless warlord, and enough guns to annihilate a small country.

A girl would be crazy to allow a guy like that access to her heart.

“Honestly, Letta. Your opinion of me must run pretty low.” Miranda slung her stethoscope around her neck and pocketed the pad and pen. “I’ve got less than three weeks left in Africa. Matt lives on the other side of the world from me. What would be the point of beginning a relationship that’s doomed from the start?”

“Are you kidding me?” Jason walked into the room carrying Roz on his hip and trying to salvage what was left of his muffin from the monkey’s eager hands. “A little fun doesn’t require serious commitment, you know. Why not enjoy what time you have?”

Miranda sighed with exasperation. “Why are you people so interested in my love life?”

“Because you never have one,” Jason said.

“That’s not true!” Miranda denied.

“Hank don’t count.” Jason gave up his battle with Roz, handed her the muffin, and set her down on the floor. “That guy doesn’t have enough fire to light a match.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Come on, it’s not rocket science. Hank is so subdued he’d put a sloth to sleep. Besides, I have foolproof radar in gauging another’s love meter.”

“Love meter?” Letta giggled. “What is this?”

“Don’t laugh,” Jason said, “it’s a handy talent. I watch people, their body language, and style. It’s what makes me a good matchmaker.”

Letta went back to folding towels, but her glance was disbelieving. “Pardon me for saying so, but I find this hard to believe.”

Miranda agreed. Jason always harped at her about the sorry state of her dating life, but she assumed it was just part of his natural bluster and ignored it.

“It’s true.” Jason began helping Letta fold towels. “Take Roz, for instance. She’s a classic charmer. No one can resist her, and she knows it.”

In perfect timing to illustrate his point, Roz chirped with glee over her prize. She sniffed the muffin and rolled her lips back in a contented smile before tearing off a chunk and stuffing it in her mouth.

“See what I mean?” Jason continued. “Yet our dear Roz has ulterior motives. She uses her charm to steal you blind. Her advantage is she’s irresistible, so you don’t seem to care.”

Miranda angled her head at Letta. “He scored a point there.”

Letta shrugged. “So his love meter works with monkeys.” She lifted a folded stack of towels and stored them in a cabinet. “People are more difficult.”

“Not really. Let’s take you for example.” Jason handed her another stack to put away. “You’re friendly, sensitive, and a touch impulsive. Others may see you as accident prone, but I see enthusiasm and passion. Any man would be lucky to spark with you.”

Letta’s eyes rounded in surprise, an action Miranda repeated. It appeared time to reassess everything she’d previously believed about Jason.

“And you,” he said, pointing an accusing finger her way, “lighten up on yourself. You take everything much too serious. It wouldn’t hurt to cut loose once in a while.”

Her annoyance returned at the suggestion. She’d cut loose last night and look where that had gotten her. She’d helped Matt’s investigation, saved his ungrateful hide from a major bruising, and then gloriously drowned in his lovemaking under a starlit sky. All that served to spark was an argument. And being unceremoniously dumped back at the lodge.

So much for Jason’s intuition.

He was right about Letta, but he was wrong about what she needed from Matt. A good time was fleeting, and not what she wanted. Unfortunately, Matt was in no position to offer anything else.

Leave things alone
, Matt had said.
Stay out of danger
. Well, he was mistaken if he expected her to blindly comply with those commands. Miranda straightened her backbone. She wasn’t the type to sit idly by when there was work to be done.

“A good time.” Miranda fell back on her take-charge attitude. “That’s excellent advice, Jason. In fact, let’s do it tonight.”

Jason’s eyebrows shot skyward, and Letta fanned her face in shock.

Miranda rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on, you two. All I’m saying is that I missed out the last time you went to paint the town. How about we go out tonight and visit some local spots?”

“Well, that’s a relief.” Jason wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. “For a minute I thought you were proposing something indecent.”

Miranda frowned, and Letta laughed out loud.

“Oh, this will be great fun,” Letta said. “You in, Jason?”

“I’m always in.” His smile looked suspiciously satisfied. “Any place in mind?”

Both of them looked straight at Miranda. “There’s a place downtown I’m curious about, Half Jacks. Do you know of it, Letta?”

Her friend pursed her lips a moment, then nodded her head. “I think so. I believe it’s a favorite of government types and businessmen.”

“Excellent. It’s settled, then.” Miranda smiled wide. “Us three amigos, tonight, at Half Jacks.”

Things were beginning to look up after all.

* * * *

Matt parked the Rover a couple blocks down from Half Jacks and leaned back in his seat, scouting the bodies moving up and down the street. His mind only half on the job, the other half strayed to his newest obsession, Miranda. He shook his head and inhaled deep, holding it before releasing in a long, slow exhale, a well-practiced technique that always worked to switch his brain into detective mode.

Not this time. Try as he might, shifting his mind off last night proved impossible. All day he’d constantly found himself thinking of Miranda, seeking her out, then avoiding her. He struggled to focus on the job and not the temptation she offered, yet the memory of how she’d responded to his touch had ruined his concentration completely.

Last night he’d been disoriented, burning with need. He wanted her again today, slower, with a thoroughness that would take hours. It was all he could think of, and that didn’t bode well. If he had half a brain, he’d stop the insanity right now, walk away, eliminate the complications.

Only it was far too late for setting unrealistic goals. Keeping a safe distance from her wasn’t happening. He wanted her too badly. In fact, he’d much rather be spending tonight exploring every sultry curve she owned instead of exploring the prospects at Half Jacks.

Reaching into the glove box, Matt grabbed a small derringer and strapped it to his ankle, insurance for trekking downtown after dark. With one last look around, he slid out of the Rover.

Night settled into the nooks and crannies as the city shifted from hustling workday to a slower evening tempo. The crowd changed, too. Business suits thinned out to leave those seeking pleasure or oblivion.

Both could be had for a price down here any night of the week.

Matt shook the tension out of his clenched fists and looked forward to downing a cold beer. He needed to clear his head and extinguish both the inflamed lust and white hot anger that alternately seared his nerve endings all day. In a perverse way, he’d half hoped Graham played the fool today and called out Matt’s cover. At least then, he could’ve expelled anger by pounding a few bruises into the lying pig. And in the process, he’d get the name of the murdering bastard buying guns at Glory Hill.

Matt felt ridiculously disappointed it hadn’t happened. Not once had Graham indicated he knew who’d spied on his band of thugs last night. Given his double life, he was no doubt superb at lying. Odds were far better that Graham just took his time, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Matt needed to heat this investigation up a notch. The balance of a major bust took precision timing, and he intended this net to be wide. He must be exact. Right on target. Maintaining focus was more important than ever before. And that meant spending less time chasing Miranda and more time chasing bad guys.

Easier said than done.

The woman insisted on helping him win the war. In fact, odds were far better for an asteroid strike than her leaving the investigation to the professionals. And staying away from Miranda so he could concentrate on the job only caused stress-induced worry over the trouble she could find playing amateur detective.