Zeph Undercover by Jenny Andersen Page A

I don’t know you very well at all, Allie.” He didn’t seem to hurry, but somehow had reached the passenger door and opened it for her. She watched with narrowed eyes while he closed the door, walked around the truck, and climbed into the driver’s seat.
    He reached for the key, started the truck, and drove to the main house without a word. When she started up the steps, he caught her hand and leaned to nip a lush, full-blown white rose from the nearest bush. He handed it to her. “You accused me of trying to dazzle you. Instead, I’m the one who’s dazzled. You’re one hell of a woman, Allie.”
    She stared at the flower, not wanting to let go of her anger. Not wanting to believe him. Not wanting to want him. Oh, man. She was so out of her league here.
    ****
    Zeph stood with his hands behind him. The helicopter got smaller and smaller as it flew toward Stone’s Crossing. He sighed and turned back to the house. He should be grateful. Her departure left him free to concentrate on his job.
    Mentrine had suggested he stay for dinner to meet a couple of the big guns in the local building trade. Perfect. And he had the whole afternoon to poke around in Mentrine’s office and the rooms of the other two guests if he could only get the chance.
    The three men, Mentrine and the two builders, Anderville and Crandall, came out the door just as he reached it, all in riding clothes. “We’re going to take a little ride, Granger,” Mentrine said. “You interested in coming along? These Pasos are a riding experience like you’ve never had before.”
    That wouldn’t take much since he’d never been on a horse before. “Afraid I’m not up to the present company,” he said. “And I’m such a beginner, I don’t think you want me on one of your fine animals. I might hurt his mouth.” He hoped he had that right. Allie had said something once about a clumsy rider. “Give me a rain check?”
    Mentrine nodded. “Very thoughtful. Appreciate it. I guess Allie really meant it when she said you’re a beginner.” He slapped Zeph on the shoulder. “Make yourself at home. We’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
    He’d make himself at home, all right. Just as much as he could get away with. “Not worried I’ll make off with the Stubbs?”
    “Not a chance,” Mentrine snorted. “I have the best security money can buy.”
    Zeph believed it. He wandered around the house, looking overtly at paintings and covertly at everything else, and ending up in Mentrine’s office in front of the Stubbs. That morning, Mentrine had pointed to it and talked at length about Stubbs and horse conformation and fashions in painting and riding style.
    Taking another look at the painting couldn’t be construed as snooping. Zeph planted himself in front of it, taking in as much of the office as he could without moving anything but his eyes and wondering where the cameras were. Not a single piece of paper could be seen. Everything must be tucked securely into those locked file cabinets, and he’d bet a million dollars the computer required more passwords than Fort Knox.
    A dozen photographs hung on the wall by the door, and he paused to check them out. Mentrine with Schwartzenegger, Mentrine with Hunnewill, Mentrine and the two guests from today. One, Mentrine and Derek Blanton with a man Zeph had never seen before, caused a tingle. He fingered the very James Bond-ish pen/camera in his jacket pocket to photograph it.
    When the riders returned, Zeph did his best to look appreciative as he listened to tales of horse wonderfulness. When the men ran out of stories, Mentrine asked, “I feel guilty about abandoning you. What did you do with yourself?”
    Zeph figured Mentrine would look at the security discs before dinner, so he said with his most innocent expression, “Took another look at the paintings you showed me this morning. That Stubbs—I had no idea. Well, as Allie told you, I’m a real beginner at horses. Quite an eye opener, that