Logan's Bride by Elizabeth August

Abruptly, he pushed that last thought from his mind.
    The honesty in his voice caused a warm rush of pleasure in Katrina.
    â€œYou obviously haven’t noticed that my niece has the potential for being a very pretty woman,” Leona chided.
    â€œI’ve noticed that she is one.” Boyd mentally kicked himself, but the impulse to come to Katrina’s defense had been too strong to resist. “However, her-looks are of no concern. I would think that you would want me to be concentrating on keeping you alive,” he added in curt tones.
    Leona shrugged. “I was simply making conversation.”
    Katrina’s body temperature returned to normal. Boyd was obviously angry with himself for even admitting he thought she was pretty. And, he was right. What he thought of her looks wasn’t important. He still didn’t trust her.
    A few minutes later when they began to eat, Leona grimaced apologetically toward Katrina. “You’re not part of his organization so Vince shouldn’t hold your helping me against you. But if I were you I’d consider moving to a new town, anyway. He has a temper and your presence could weigh on his nerves. After all, you were his godchild. Your defection was a blow to his pride. The only reason he forgave you was because I was able to convince him that your grief over losing both your parents and your brother was too much for you to bear.”
    Boyd’s gaze narrowed on Katrina. “Vince Garduchi is your godfather?”
    â€œBabies don’t have a say in who their godparents are,” she replied.
    â€œVince disavowed her,” Leona said, then returned her attention to her niece. “Anyway, I think it would be best if you don’t stick around St. Louis.”
    Katrina nodded. “I’ve been thinking the same thing myself. Even after five years on the force, my captain doesn’t trust me.”
    Leona smiled knowingly. “I warned you the outside world would be rough.”
    â€œLooks like you didn’t take your own advice,” Katrina noted.
    Leona sighed. “Handling all that money was just too tempting. Or maybe it was my midlife crisis. I considered trying to convince Vince that it was menopause that had caused me to act irrationally. But he’d have wanted the money back and I just couldn’t do that.” Abruptly, she turned to Boyd. “And I’m not turning it over to the government either. What’s mine is mine and it stays that way.”
    â€œThat’s between you and the attorney,” Boyd replied, marvelling at her greed. This was a woman who would die for money.
    Leona smiled confidently. “My little pittance will be nothing compared to what they can get out of Vince on back taxes alone.”
    Katrina would have liked to have blamed her aunt’s behavior on the change of life but she knew Leona was simply living up to her true colors. She saw the disdain in Boyd’s eyes and that she was related to Leona caused a flush of embarrassment.
    Boyd noticed her cheeks redden and again he was tempted to trust her. Caution, man, he reminded himself. He’d like to believe it was embarrassment but that flush could be anger that her aunt was being so openly mercenary while Ms. Polenari wanted to win his confidence or at least his sympathy for them.
    The rest of the meal was accomplished in silence. When it was over, Leona watched television while Katrina cleaned the dishes and Boyd, taking the precaution of taking the distributor cap from the vehicle with him, made a sweep of the woods around the cabin to make certain they were alone.
    â€œI’d suggest we all get some sleep,” he said when he returned. It was an order.
    For a moment, Leona looked as if she were going to protest, then with a shrug, she obeyed.
    An hour later Katrina gave up trying to get any sleep in the same bed with her aunt. Leona was not only a restless sleeper, she snored. Getting a spare blanket out of