Icy Control by Elizabeth Lapthorne Read Free Book Online Page A

She filed the information away to review later.
    “This is James Waters and Sally Langtry. They’ve also been helping Rob and me with the investigation,” El spoke over Rob, effectively shutting him up.
    Handshakes were exchanged and El continued. “We were actually just on our way to the laboratory. Ben’s had the piece almost twenty minutes now and we feel Sally might be able to offer some insight.”
    “Fantastic. I just wanted to congratulate you all. I’m sorry I can’t stay, but I’m already late for a teleconference with the mayor and a few others who have been breathing fire throughout the day. At least the recovery of the Cezanne will put out a lot of complaints and angst. I’ll expect your reports soon.”
    When Waldron was out of ear shot, Rob shot a firm glance to El. “El, I can’t write a report for something I wasn’t a party to,” he insisted.
    “Of course not, I know better than to fudge something like that,” she replied sharply in a low tone. “But neither do you have to admit to his face you weren’t there. I could see you about to fall on your sword. You’ve been working just as hard as I have and we’re a team. Besides, we have the painting, that’s all that matters.”
    “Ben Demmens and his team have the painting,” Rob corrected his partner.
    Sally could see the tension around his eyes and mouth, tiny muscles that tightened only when he wasn’t happy. She guessed he felt upset, or perhaps guilty, but he seemed willing to let it go for now.
    “Come on, let’s all go have a look before the Gallery or a bunch of dignitaries from the mayor try to beat down our door and take it back,” El said.
    Sally jumped very slightly when Rob rested his hand on her shoulder. She tilted her head up to look at him. He gave her a small smile, barely a shadow of the one she’d awoken with just a short time ago. Trying to reassure him with her gaze, she smiled at him. A faint tingle of happiness and sexual chemistry shivered through her as Bobby gently guided her down a corridor. El and James walked ahead of them, having left as soon as Rob finished his sentence.
    The simmering, electric attraction seemed to only grow between herself and Rob, even while they moved down the hallway. She wondered if subconsciously the tension of knowing how important this work would be, of how many lives might potentially be affected, was only adding to the weight of the moment and intensifying her feelings. Sally knew without a doubt she loved Rob, and had done so for a very long time. But never had the light press of his hand on her clothed body, and a casual walk hit her so strongly, either.
    She cleared her throat, forced her mind to remain on what was happening and not the emotional rollercoaster she appeared to have climbed upon.
    “Do you really have laboratory facilities here?” Sally questioned. She tried to focus on their surroundings, her mind and attention soon distracted by the sedate, very professional and particularly soulless offices they seemed to be striding past. Looking around, she drank in the sights of Bobby’s work. Inspiration often struck her from the oddest things.
    Exposed beams painted mission brown and a drab shade of taupe covered the walls. Everything seemed to be ‘old skool’ and practically dripping in many decades-old interior design. At first she hadn’t liked it much at all, but she realized there was a calm feel to it, a solidarity in the knowledge that the people within this place were here, protecting her country, for decades. It led to the belief that even decades in the future they would still be here—or somewhere similar to here—performing their duty.
    Rob indicated the frosted glass double doors at the end of the hall.
    “Ah,” Sally murmured to herself.
    Internal security cameras were mounted above the doors, three that she could see. Sally tried to gauge whether there’d be any blind spots, but it was difficult for her to judge. To her, they seemed to cover