“Sara?” A frown furrowed James’s brow. “You were just joking, weren’t you?”
Dear God, what choice do I have but to lie?
You always have choices, a tiny voice deep inside whispered. Sara silenced it immediately. James didn’t want the truth. That was obvious. Some things were best left unsaid. Some secrets were best left buried.
Her hand slipped into her pocket and she fingered the note. Why couldn’t Gary have stayed in the past where he belonged? Why didn’t he get to the point, saying what he wanted instead of making veiled threats? Even as she asked the question, Sara knew the answer. Gary didn’t want to just make her pay; he wanted her to bleed.
A cold chill ran down her spine but she forced a reassuring smile.
“Oh, James, don’t be silly. Of course I was joking.” The calmness of her voice amazed even Sara. “I have nothing to hide. Nothing at all.”
Chapter Ten
Crow stared across the dining room table. Sara was hiding something, he decided. All day long she’d been nervous as a cat.
If they’d been alone, he would have tried to draw her out, ask a few questions and discover what was bothering her. But Meg and James had both stayed for dinner and James had monopolized the conversation, raving about some fabulous promotional campaign that he’d planned to coincide with the release of the new CD.
Not even Crow could fault James’s work ethic. The guy gave one hundred ten percent to his job. The thing that bothered Crow was when James talked about Sara’s career, it was as if the career were his client, not Sara herself.
“Would anyone care for dessert?” Sara glanced around the table. “I think there’s cherry pie.”
“Dinner was wonderful.” Meg dropped her napkin to her plate. “But I’m afraid I’ll have to pass. I’ve still got emails to return and it’s getting late.”
“None for me, either.” James shook his head. “Just talking about this promotion spawned a few new ideas. I’m going back to the office.”
“I’m fine, too,” Crow said. “But if you want some…?”
“I’m way too full,” Sara said quickly.
Crow’s gaze shifted to her plate. Though chicken cordon bleu was one of her favorites, she hadn’t eaten more than a few bites of it and had only picked at the rest of her food. Something was definitely up. Crow slanted a look at James. Could there be trouble in paradise?
The thought lifted his spirits momentarily before reality intervened. Although Sara had been quieter than normal during the meal, there had been no signs of tension between her and James.
It had been business as usual. Meg and Crow had eaten silently while Sara’s attention had remained focused on James.
Crow hadn’t heard a word. He’d tuned James out and had focused all his attention on Sara. On how pretty she looked with her blond hair falling in soft curls past her shoulders and a dab of glossy pink color on her mouth. His lips still burned with the memory of the kiss they’d shared.
“I’m going to walk James to the door,” Sara announced. She pushed back her chair and stood.
Meg and Crow exchanged glances. Only when the two were out of earshot, did Meg speak. “What she sees in that man is beyond me.”
“He seems to have a good head on his shoulders,” Crow said finally.
“He’s done positive things for her image, I’ll grant you that,” Meg said. “But I’m talking on a more personal level.”
“That’s not my business.” Crow mouthed the appropriate, though insincere, reply. “My business is protecting her and finding out who’s behind the note.”
“Speaking of the note, how did the fingerprint thing go?” Meg said softly.
“No luck.” Crow dropped his own voice a notch. “I just—”
“What are you two whispering about?” Sara stood in the archway, hands on her hips with her blue eyes flashing.
The look in Meg’s eyes told Crow Sara’s sudden reappearance had caught the woman by surprise. For Crow, one of the advantages to working undercover was that very few things escaped his notice. Or caught him off guard.
“Whispering?” Crow raised a brow. “I don’t whisper.”
“Sara, we were just talking.” Meg’s voice resonated with the right amount of indignation.
“Sorry.” Sara raked a hand through her hair. Even though it was barely past eight, tiny lines of fatigue edged her eyes. “Your voices just sounded really low, and when I—” She stopped herself. “Forget it. I was wrong. I apologize.”
Meg peered at Sara intently, a look of concern on her face. “You seem stressed. Bad day?”
Apparently Meg had noticed, too.
Sara shook her head. “Not really. The recording session went great. I think I’m just a little tired.”
“I know what you need.” Meg’s tone was more motherly than that of a manager. “A nice long soak in the tub. You could use some of those expensive bath oils we picked up in New York.”
“I may do that later.” Sara rubbed her neck with the back of her hand. “Right now I think I’ll go down to the gazebo for a while.”
“I’m ready.” Crow pushed back his chair and rose.
“I prefer to go alone,” Sara said. “I have a song in my head that I need to get down on paper.”
“I didn’t realize you wrote your own music,” Crow said.
“There’s more to Sara than meets the eye.” Meg’s smile was filled with pride.
Sara glanced at the door. “I’m sorry to cut this short. But I’ve got to get this song down. I’m sure you understand.”
Crow studied her for a moment. He understood all right. He understood completely. She was hiding something.
“I won’t bother you,” he said. “You won’t even know I’m there.”
“No.” Sara spoke so sharply, even Meg raised a brow. “I mean, that won’t work.”
“I won’t say a word.” Crow held up both hands palm out. “Promise.”
She shook her head firmly. “Just having you there will be a distraction.”
“It’s not safe.” Though he wanted to be with her, her safety was his primary concern. Although well lit, the gazebo stood a good thirty feet from the house, surrounded by tall bushes and trees. “You shouldn’t be out there by yourself.”
His tone broached no argument.
“Crow,” Meg said soothingly, her gaze shifting between him and Sara, “She’ll be okay. The backyard has a security fence and the gazebo is just a stone’s throw from the house.”
“I don’t like it.” Crow crossed his arms across his chest. “Too many—”
“The subject is closed.” Sara’s blue eyes flashed. “You work for me, remember? I will go to the gazebo and I will go alone. If something happens to me, I take full responsibility.”
There were a thousand arguments he could have given her but he didn’t waste his breath. He could see the effort would be futile. On the outside Sara might look like an angel, but inside she was pure mule, stubborn and hardheaded.