Waters Run Deep by Liz Talley Page A

juncture.”
    “I don’t think violating someone’s privacy is ever justified. It’s in the Bill of Rights. I think. Besides, I know your mother taught you good manners, so use them and stop eavesdropping on phone calls.” She crossed her arms and gave him a hard stare. “But, if you must know, I was talking about my laptop. Mine’s on the fritz and a guy I know in New Orleans is bringing me a new hard drive. Thanks for asking.” She stomped toward the door, stepping past him.
    His hand clamped down on her arm. “What friend?”
    “Seriously?” She looked up at him. “What do you care?”
    He dropped her arm, looking startled at his action. “I don’t. Just trying to keep track of who comes and goes around here. We have an ongoing investigation and I don’t know anything about you other than you’re particularly defensive right now.”
    Annie could still feel the warmth of his touch on her arm. Somewhere in the recesses of her mind, she wanted his action to be about her, not the investigation. Which was alarming in a way she didn’t want to admit, even to herself. “Don’t worry. I’m as interested in protecting Spencer as you. Now I need to get upstairs.”
    “But first I have some questions for you.”
    “Fine, but can I get Spencer first?”
    His mouth twisted. “We’ll talk later. With this new threat, you need to keep tabs on him at all times. Nothing like yesterday can happen again.”
    Annie bristled, even though she’d have given the same advice in his shoes. Even though she’d told herself the same thing right after they found the bird and note. “It won’t.”
    He nodded. “Good.”
    Annie started toward the door. “Oh, I meant to ask—what was in the note?”
    He narrowed his beautiful eyes, kicking up one side of him mouth. “I can’t disclose that information.”
    “So you watch Law and Order, too, huh?” She’d get the contents from Carter Keene later anyway. Besides, she reminded herself, she had to start being nice to Detective Dufrene. Gain his trust. Try to be friendly.
    His brow furrowed. “What?”
    “All that cop talk,” she said, allowing the irritation leftover at his spying to melt away. She wasn’t a former FBI agent. Or a current undercover investigator. She was a nanny. A single nanny. Dear Lord, he was about to see right through her. She couldn’t flirt for shit. “I care for Spencer, so I’ll help any way I can. We’ll meet later?”
    Something flickered in his eyes. Suspicion. Then interest.
    “To do what?” he asked, his gaze dropping to her lips.
    She sucked in her bottom lip before she could think about it. “Whatever you want. I mean, um, don’t you have to ask me some questions about Spencer and stuff?”
    He pulled out his phone. “Give me your number.”
    She quirked a brow. A surprised brow.
    But his internal resolve seemed to slide back into place. “Never mind, I’ll interview you here.”
    Hmm. The feminine-wiles thing almost worked.
    “Fine. I’ve got to shower then give Spencer his breakfast. I’ll be around.” Annie nearly choked on the last line as she shut the door.
    Okay, she knew she couldn’t proceed in this manner, mostly because attempting to flirt with Nate felt dangerous—career-crusher dangerous. Ace hired her with a probationary clause. Even an old FBI associate couldn’t disregard the foolishness of tossing over a career for the temporary insanity that had seized Annie, leading her to quit her job, play mommy to a girl who despised her and fiancée to a man who only wanted to use her as a babysitter.
    Yeah, when it had come to Seth and Mallory, Annie’s skills as an investigator had failed her.
    All because she thought she’d found something she’d secretly dreamed about in the small darkness of her bedroom in the apartment she’d leased in Philly.
    A man.
    A child.
    A family.

    To feel as though her heart could actually work like a normal person’s.
    But she’d been wrong.
    So she couldn’t fail in this