In the meantime, she was sharing an afternoon with a handsome, interesting man. It was time to start paying attention to that instead of the sad mystery that had spiked her curiosity.

  “How long would something like that take?” she asked. “Building an entire resort?”

  “Why don’t we get out and we can walk along the shoreline? I promise not to be so boring you’re tempted to jump in the lake to escape my incessant droning.”

  The wry humor combined with his captivating green gaze was all the encouragement she needed. Sloan scrambled out of the car, eager to hear all he wanted to share.

  Although she was honest enough with herself to admit she was a bit besotted with Chase, a half hour later all she could see was the vision of his resort. It was coming to life in her imagination, rising from the land surrounding the lake.

  “So really,” he said. “It’s not about just creating everything all at once. You could do it in phases.”

  “I’m not a real-estate expert, but I am a human being who enjoys a vacation. What you’re describing is incredible. From the spa to the outdoor activities to the hotel itself?” Sloan ticked off just a few of the images Chase had described for her.

  She stopped, circling a full turn before coming back to where she started so that she could look up at him. “It’s special, Chase. This place is special. Welcoming and bright and deeply restorative.”

  “I was thinking the same thing about you.”

  “Chase, I—”

  He shook his head before holding up a hand. “Please. Let me say this.”

  The change in his demeanor was so swift, so immediate, she could only nod.

  “I’m a bad bet when it comes to relationships.”

  “Chase, I’m sure that’s not true.”

  “It actually is. And I’ve not only been content with that truth, but I’ve actively reveled in it.” He laughed but the sound fell hollow before floating away on a light breeze. “It’s why we’ve been so successful at the office with our little show we’ve been putting on.”

  Since she heard the brush-off coming, Sloan felt her spine stiffen, already bracing for it.

  Which made his next words so earth-shattering.

  “You’re the first woman I’ve met since my divorce that has made me realize I’ve shut myself off from living.”

  “I...” She stopped, realizing a truth of her own. “I don’t know what to say. But I do have a sense of what you’re feeling.”

  “Oh?”

  “I’ve put everything I am into building SecuritKey. And I don’t regret it, in any way, but I’ve come to realize that I have used it as an excuse at times.”

  “Why?”

  “Lack of successful relationships. A personality that’s innately more comfortable behind a computer hunting for data than going out and engaging with others. Take your pick.”

  “You did well with my family last night.”

  “And that time made me realize that I’ve been hiding a bit. Perhaps more than a bit these last few years as my business has really taken off. It’s easy to say there isn’t time for a relationship, or that I’ll work on it later when there’s something else occupying my time. But I think I’ve been marking time instead.”

  It was a stark realization, but it was true all the same. It had been easier than she ever could have expected to use her job as the reason she wasn’t in a relationship. Or, worse, why she’d slowly given up on trying, especially these past few years.

  The number of dates she’d been on had dwindled. The number of second dates, after those few first dates she did have, had become nonexistent.

  “What do you want to do about it?” he asked softly.

  “I’m not sure. But I do know I’ve enjoyed the time this past week in your company.”

  She considered all that stood in their way, a few key details still glaringly obvious.

  She lived in Chicago and he lived in Idaho.

  She was here on a job only.

  And most of all, despite his confession that he’d been running from relationships, he wasn’t exactly seeking one out with her.

  “I’ve enjoyed this time with you, too.”

  Chase reached out and brushed a wayward curl behind her ear. His hand lingered briefly against her jaw before he pulled away.

  It wasn’t much, Sloan admitted to herself. Not a declaration of interest or a request to see where things could go.

  By either of them.

  But it was a step forward.

  An admission, really.

  And despite her confused sadness at the reality that she was leaving as soon as she wrapped up the work for Colton Properties, she couldn’t deny how sweet it felt to actually say the words.

  It was even sweeter to hear them.

  Chapter 10

  Sloan spent the rest of the weekend with work.

  Yes, it was a bit of slinking back to her corner where she was most comfortable, but it was also the work she’d contracted to do. SecuritKey maintained its commitments, no matter how moony its owner was.

  And she did manage to carve out a bit of time to herself. Time that wasn’t spent obsessing over Chase Colton, thank you very much.

  She’d driven around Owl Creek a bit more, retracing some of the roads they’d taken the day before while also finding a few more herself. And she’d taken a relaxing run around the lake she and Chase had visited.

  She might not have been in the best frame of mind Monday morning as she opened a package of food for Waffles before making herself some scrambled eggs, but she wasn’t in a bad place, either.

  And, damn it, she was so close to figuring out the thief inside Colton Properties.

  She’d dug hard the day before, forgetting to eat dinner until Waffles had squawked at her from his perch beside the makeshift desk she’d set up at the small kitchen table.

  The irregularities in the books were subtle and very well done, but there was a pattern she’d nearly figured out.

  It wasn’t the same day every month, or the same week each quarter. Nor was it a specific amount, but more of a vague skim that never exceeded more than about two percent off a transaction. But she sensed there was something specific to the timing all the same.

  She’d made a mental note to ask Chase if there was any specific payment schedule for his properties. Perhaps the way they collected on income or when they removed monies for tax assessments would give her a clue.

  Regardless, she was close to the answer. And she’d effectively ruled out both the sales and marketing teams from any nefarious doings. Although that encompassed quite a few employees, she was hesitant to question those who were left.

  Although few understood what she really did for a living or how she did it, Sloan had always been careful to rule people out, but avoid casting aspersions on those she hadn’t yet eliminated. Proof was the only way to approach potential criminal activity and she was acutely aware she could ruin someone’s life and reputation if she was wrong.

  So she’d keep digging.

  It was the only way.

  She’d worked until about midnight before deeming herself suitably tired enough to sleep. Even then, she’d still tossed and turned a bit before finally drifting off.

  Why hadn’t he called?

  Wasn’t she glad he hadn’t called? How else was she supposed to make a clean break when she went home to Chicago?

  And why hadn’t he kissed her, right there beside the lake?

  I do know I’ve enjoyed the time this past week in your company.

  Chase’s comment had lodged in her thoughts, lighting up her senses with each and every restless turn in bed.

  She enjoyed his company, too.

  And Sloan instinctively knew they had moved into dangerous territory admitting that.

  She didn’t live here. And he didn’t do relationships. It would be a really bad idea to form some sort of attachment under any circumstances, but especially when she was so close to cracking the culprit at Colton Properties.

  She told herself all these things and had finally drifted off to sleep,

  And then her eyes had popped open bright and early, and no amount of telling herself to go back to bed had worked. She finally got up, put in another hour and a half on the financial files and then cleaned up to head over to Chase’s office.

  It might have only been a week, but the Colton Properties offices never failed to inspire her, Sloan thought as she pulled into the parking lot. Chase’s SUV was already there, and her heart gave a hard thump knowing she’d see him soon.

  Frowning as she got out—really, was she a fourteen-year-old with a crush?—Sloan pulled her work bag from where she’d stowed it behind the driver’s seat and put both the image and the anticipation of seeing Chase in his dress shirt and sharply pressed slacks firmly out of her mind.

  And stared up at the building that housed Colton Properties.

  For all the negative thoughts she’d had about Robert Colton and his actions to his families, both the one he publicly acknowledged and the one he didn’t, she had to give the man credit for his vision. What had begun as the Colton hardware store when Robert first started his business had grown, expanded and flat-out evolved into what was now the family enterprise.

  They’d managed to leave the original hardware-store layout as the first floor of the building, while adding to the place by going up. Colton Properties sat above, as modern and business-focused as the old store felt small-town and folksy in the very best sense of the words. The shelving and cash registers were still on the first floor, but the merchandise had long been removed. In its place were various stations full of photographs of properties in the surrounding areas, both for sale as well as those that had already been developed.

  It was impressive, Sloan acknowledged as she headed for the elevators.

  Vision was something she always respected.

  And it was awe-inspiring to see how that vision had found a place in Robert’s son, unwavering and true.

  Althea was already standing in front of the elevator and Sloan smiled at the office manager as she moved up beside her. “Good morning.”

  “Oh.” Althea shook her head, obviously startled by the greeting. But she quickly regrouped, even as she pressed a hand against her chest. “I’m sorry, dear, you scared me. I was wool-gathering about all I need to get done today.”

  “I’m confident you can do it all,” Sloan said as she gestured the older woman into the open elevator. “You’re certainly getting a good head start on your Monday.”

  “I could say the same for you,” Althea said, and though there was a light tease in her words, Sloan didn’t miss the clear signs she really was frazzled.

  “I wanted to see if I could drag Chase out for a quick cup of coffee and maybe a little breakfast. Then I need to get some work of my own done.”

  “What is it you do again, dear?” Althea asked as she stepped off to the main floor of the business.

  “I’m a consultant.”

  “Which is?”

  The first question had seemed a bit off, the words strangely sharp even as Althea’s tone held a flat quality. But Sloan quickly deciphered the real question underneath the continued probing as they walked into the open lobby of Colton Properties.

  And in that moment she had a flash of those dates and stealthy withdrawals she’d reviewed, over and over, all weekend.

  It hadn’t been the dates in each month.

  It had been the time stamp.

  Each and every one had happened before eight a.m.

  She glanced down at her watch before aiming a big wide smile, full of teeth, at Althea. “I take on clients who have need of digital-forensics services.”

  “What are those?” The light titter that skimmed beneath the question only reinforced the sudden shot of awareness and certainty flooding Sloan’s veins.

  “It’s an ability to dig into digital files and understand that all elements are managed properly. Finances. Profit-and-loss statements.”

  “Why ever would anyone need that?”

  “A variety of reasons, but it’s the quickest way to suss out embezzlers.”

  Chase chose that moment to come into the outer office and Althea smiled at him, all cheerfulness and sunshine. “Chase, good morning! Your girlfriend and I rode up the elevator together.”

  Chase’s smile was equally broad, his “good morning” winging back through the lobby area.

  Sloan didn’t know why she moved, but something about the entire tableau playing out in the lobby keyed her into one very important point.

  Althea was about to run.

  Without questioning it, Sloan moved into position between the older woman and the door.

  And cleanly intercepted her when she made a run for it.

  * * *

  “Get off me, you bitch!”

  Chase stared at the scene unfolding before him and lost about three seconds simply trying to process what was happening.

  And then he moved.

  Sloan had captured Althea in a tight hold, locking the woman’s arms at her side.

  Although Althea had Sloan by a solid thirty pounds, Sloan had youth and strength on her side and kept a firm hold on the woman, refusing to let go of her quarry.

  “What’s going on?”

  “This is your embezzler,” Sloan grit out around the struggling woman.

  Chase stepped forward, reaching for Althea by the shoulders in hopes of calming her down.

  Or that’s what he’d tell himself later when the woman freed an arm and decked him solidly in the left eye.

  “What the hell!”

  A lifetime spent with brothers and male cousins had taught him how to fight. And an equal amount of time with two wily sisters and a female cousin had taught him how to use finesse while still taking hold of a dangerous situation.

  He’d never hit a woman, regardless of Althea’s attack. But he had no compunction about placing a stronger hold around her arms to keep her in place.

  He didn’t have to hold her long when the hissing and spitting devolved into hard sobs as she curled into his chest.

  “I’m sorry, Chase. I’m so sorry.”

  He glanced at Sloan over the woman’s head. She only nodded, affirming what he’d quickly pieced together.

  “Why, Althea?”

  “Ben. It’s my Ben.”

  As Sloan called the police, Chase escorted Althea into the conference room off the lobby, closing the door behind them. She continued to sob while Chase crossed to the small fridge beneath the side counter Althea always kept stacked full and pulled out a water.

  He unscrewed the cap and handed over the water, then took a seat next to her. “Tell me what’s going on.”

  Through fits and starts, and quite a few more tears, Althea told him of Ben’s health problems and the increasing cost of his treatments and his medicines.

  Chase didn’t want to feel compassion, but he recognized the pain and couldn’t quite help himself. He’d known Althea most of his life and he knew her family.

  And he’d known Ben had “off days,” as she’d mention from time to time, but he had no real understanding of just how bad things were.

  His employees’ personal situations were their business, but he could have helped. Could have found some way to help her manage this burden.

  Or he believed he could have. But ten years? He’d been growing his influence but ten years ago his father was firmly involved in Colton Properties.

  Would Robert Colton have been so understanding?

  Would he have helped?

  “Why didn’t you come to me?”

  “I—” She stared down at the hands folded in her lap. “You’ve had a lot going on.”

  “Not for ten years.”

  “Your father before you did.” Althea hiccupped, then added in a low voice, “That’s what made it so easy.”

  “Made it easy?”

  “I knew, Chase. About your father’s secret life. His other family. And I used his distraction and his willingness to keep piling responsibility and system access on me to my advantage. I figured if the great Robert Colton could keep two families, I could at least take a little bit to help care for my own family.”

  It wasn’t logical, but as he sat there, staring at the woman he’d believed he knew, Chase had to admit he could see how it had happened.

  Fifteen minutes later he’d made his statement to his brother Fletcher and his partner from the Owl Creek PD. Fletcher’s partner left to take Althea down to the station, and Chase dropped his head in his hands.

  “Ten years, Fletcher. Ten.”

  “It’s a long damn time.” His brother’s green eyes, so like his own, were filled with a mix of compassion and anger.

  A look, Chase suspected, he’d find in his own if he only had a mirror.

  “Do you believe it? That Dad’s secret life was why she did it? And it was those secrets that made it all so easy.”

  Fletcher nodded, tapping at the small notebook he’d written in while Althea had told her story. “I heard it. And for what it’s worth, she’s backpedaling an awful lot. She found an excuse she’s comfortable with to make her own sins not seem so bad.”

  “Her husband is sick.”

  “And we’d have helped her. Somehow, we’d have found a way. But she stole from us instead. Don’t forget that.”

  “I guess.”

  Fletcher moved closer, his hand settling on Chase’s shoulder. “She made a choice, Chase. A bad one. Don’t lose sight of that.”

  They said their goodbyes and Chase watched his brother leave. He was not at all surprised when Sloan showed up at the door, slipping in and closing it behind her.

  “People must be wondering what’s going on?”

  “Yeah, they are. I told everyone to get settled in the big conference room in about a half hour and you’d let them know you’d be out to talk to them.”