Attracted to Fire by DiAnn Mills

forehead. “Give me some examples.”
    â€œSunshine. The Shield. The status of the front gate’s camera. President Claredon’s current health status. And his dad calls me by a name only my dad used. Of course, that could be nothing.” Meghan drummed her fingers against the tabletop. “It’s as though he has all of us bugged. He could be simply perceptive, but I’d like to be sure.” She omitted the time Ethan referred to Ash as A2Z. No point going there.
    â€œI’ll talk to the agents, but those men are trained to keep information confidential.” He frowned. “My team doesn’t step out of protocol.”
    â€œMy point.” Meghan scrutinized the lines on Ash’s face that she’d quickly learned to interpret as the way he conducted his thought process. “I’ve heard stories about men abandoning their careers to get back to nature, but those men had families—a deep-rooted need to raise their kids away from city life. Chip’s a statistician. I want to know why he gave up a hundred and fifty grand a year for room and board out in the middle of nowhere. I know our profession boasts of 70-percent accuracy in detecting lies, but I honestly can’t tell with him, and it’s driving me crazy. All I have to go on is his unusual background.”
    â€œMeghan, he talks to you as much as he does to Wade. Chip’s job here doesn’t offer mental stimulation, unless other things are occupying his mind. Why don’t you see if he’ll open up?”
    â€œI think I will. He’s expressed interest, but I don’t want him to think we’re using him.”
    â€œKeep on it.”
    â€œThe Leonards have invited me to dinner a few times. I’ll see if the invitation is still open.”
    â€œTake it slow. I know you grew up with people like this.”
    She laughed. “Do you mean rednecks?”
    â€œI didn’t mean you.”
    â€œThey are country people—hardworking, respect traditional values, and fiercely patriotic. But back to me talking to Chip, I’ll report in tonight if I learn anything.”
    â€œThanks. I tell you this: sticking around here with all the goings-on in DC is making me antsy.”
    â€œWhat happens when Lindsay discovers Chip? My guess is it will open a can of worms.”
    Ash paced the room. “You can count on it. I’ve seen her in action, and she could charm an Uzi from a terrorist. Wade’s warned Chip about her. But she won’t view him as off-limits. It’ll take him telling her he’s not interested and sticking to it.”
    A jagged flash of lightning broke the horizon. “They need to find this stalker so we can get back to DC. Dave can treat Lindsay there, and we can get back to real living. Last night’s storms were the only excitement we’ve seen since we got here, and it’s been a week.”
    Most of the time, Meghan found the ranch refreshing, a time to reconnect with her roots. But Ash acted like a caged animal. “Did you get much sleep, sir?”
    He shook his head. “Between thinking about the bombing and the storms, I might have gotten three hours. By the way, I don’t want Lindsay to know about her car. Dr. Sanchez actually agrees with me on that one.”
    At the sound of his voice’s low timbre, she was drawn to him in a peculiar sort of way. “I’m going to grab a bottle of water and visit a few minutes with the Leonards.”
    â€œBe my guest. Considering my indigestion from Pepper’s meals, I’d be tempted to join you.”
    They laughed, and she sensed the walls crumbling between them. “I hope I’m not being unrealistic by hoping Lindsay will come to her senses. She’ll always struggle with addictive behaviors, but I’d like to see her come out on top.”
    â€œHope is what keeps us alive.”
    â€œA good topic for a sermon.”
    He strode to the window as