Caught on Camera by Meg Maguire Page A

growing exasperated. “I’m afraid I just don’t see this working out, Miss…Somersby.”
    â€œKate. And I do,” she added, assertive. Hungry. “Why don’t you give me a shot? A free trial?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œNo one else could possibly do a better job for you than me,” she said with an almost contemptuous confidence. “I can offer you round-the-clock assistance.”
    â€œIt’s not your availability I’m concerned about. This could be quite a dangerous job.”
    Kate leaned in, an intriguing gleam underscoring her stare. “Sounds thrilling.”
    Ty swallowed. “I must admit, you’re very keen.”
    â€œI am.”
    He sighed, not sure what to do. She wasn’t letting him turn her down gracefully, and he had no legitimate reason to deny her. Not yet, at least. And to be honest, the other candidates he’d met or talked to on the phone had seemed far less… passionate than this one.
    He blew out a breath and rolled his shoulders. “Listen… Okay. What are you doing this weekend?”
    â€œYou tell me,” she said, a glimmer of triumph already sparkling in her dark blue eyes.
    â€œRight, then. Meet me here on Friday at two, and I’ll give you a trial run through Sunday, okay? Then we’ll see if this is a good fit.”
    â€œExcellent. Should I bring anything in particular?”
    Ty thought for a moment and decided on a bit of strategic cruelty. “No, Kate, just come as you are… Maybe change your shoes. Something a bit more practical.”
    â€œRight.” She drew a folio from an expensive-looking briefcase and made a note. “Two o’clock on Friday, then. I’m very much looking forward to it.”
    â€œSo am I,” Ty lied.
    Two days later Kate had arrived at his door at one fiftynine, knocking briskly. He answered it with his shirt still unbuttoned—he wasn’t half as punctual as she was. She gave his bare chest a quick and businesslike once-over and launched into the matter at hand.
    â€œGood afternoon, Dominic.”
    â€œâ€˜Ty,’ please,” he corrected, doing up the last of his buttons. “So I take it you haven’t been snapped up by some young starlet, then?”
    â€œOf course not. I’m very excited to get to work. What may I do for you?” she asked, glowing from her perfectly styled hair down past her argyle cardigan, right to the tiny buckles of her shiny black flats. Ty frowned. Those were a step closer to comfort than the gougers she’d had on the other day, but he’d assumed she’d turn up in sneakers…no matter. That was the evidence he’d been waiting for. Those would make it that much easier to get rid of her. Ty had planned this trip to last three days if need be, but he was sure now that they’d be done by sundown. Hell, oncehe outlined the particulars she’d probably be sprinting to her car, racing back downtown in ten seconds flat.
    â€œWe’re going camping, actually, Miss Somersby.” He grinned, waiting for her horror.
    â€œKate,” she said, and he watched her steely face falter. “Camping?” She paused just a moment and said, “Okay then. Let’s go.”
    While Ty drove, Kate sat half turned in the passenger seat, facing him. He found it unnerving. He glanced over and saw that her eyes were trained on the road.
    â€œDoesn’t that hurt your neck?” he asked.
    â€œPardon?” The windows were open, hot air rushing by. Kate had requested the AC at the start of the trip, but Ty had lied and said he preferred the heat. In reality he just wanted to make her as miserable as possible.
    â€œYour neck,” he said. “That looks uncomfortable, the way you’re sitting.”
    He caught Kate squirm. “It’s fine.”
    â€œYou aren’t carsick, are you?”
    â€œNo…I don’t hear very well on my left