Close Proximity Read Online Free Page B

knew.
    â€œLet’s just say,” he went on, “that my gut tells me he is innocent.”
    Caution seemed to pulse from him. And he said no more.
    Memories of Stephen flooded her mind, bringing with them a wave of pain and emotional agony that became nearly more than she could bear. Before the thoughts andfeelings could get a foothold, though, she shoved them away from her, far to the back of her brain.
    She didn’t need another secretive man in her life. Personal or professional.
    Libby had been hurt in the past by a man who refused to reveal all, and she was determined not to be duped by another. But then the scene on the courthouse steps came rushing vividly into her mind. So many people seemed against her father. So many people wanted his head on a platter. And Springer and the authorities seemed happy to supply the length of her dad’s neck for the offering. The case seemed mountainous. And she felt terribly alone.
    Maybe, she thought, an uneasy alliance with Rafe James was better than no alliance at all.
    She tipped up her chin, her decision made. “Okay,” she said, reaching her hand out to him, “so we’re in this together.”
    Without hesitation, he slid his hand in hers.

Three
    â€œI can’t believe the judge denied bail.”
    Rafe remained quiet as he watched Libby pace the length of the room. She was livid. And seeing her caught up in all that fury, he was struck by the sheer glory of her.
    â€œA flight risk? How could they believe my father would run? Everyone in this town knows him. Well, most everyone, anyway.”
    Turning around, she strode back toward him, her gaze dipping and roving wildly, seeing nothing, as thoughts so obviously careered through her head at lightning speed.
    â€œHe’d never run. Never. His only intention is to clear his good name.”
    Her aquamarine eyes blazed with heated emotion, her long auburn curls bounced with the anger fairly pulsing from her waving arms and jutting shoulders. She was surely a sight to behold.
    Finally, he felt compelled to quietly ask, “Did you know he’d planned the trip?”
    He remembered how shocked she’d looked when the D.A. had requested that bail be denied due to the risk of David’s fleeing the country.
    â€œ He didn’t plan the trip,” she told him. “ I did. Before Christmas. He loves to ski and the skiing in Canada is great this time of year.”
    Her gaze latched on to Rafe’s, and the shadows that clouded her eyes tore at the very heart of him. She was feeling guilty. That much was plain.
    â€œI’ve been begging him for years to do something fun. I pushed extra hard this year. I even booked the flight and hotel myself. I wanted him to get away and have a good time. Even if I had to bully him into doing it.” She sighed. “I fully expected him to cancel the reservations. But he didn’t.” Softly, she added, “And I remember how happy I was about that.”
    The deep crease etching her brow marred her beautiful face.
    â€œThis was going to be the first trip he’d taken…”
    A lump of emotion seemed to swell in her throat. She attempted to swallow around it, and the effort seemed painful.
    â€œâ€¦since Mom died.” Her gaze glittered with moisture. “Rafe, they’ve confiscated his passport, the airline tickets, everything. They really do believe Dad’s a flight risk. They really believe he’s guilty of these charges.”
    So, the reality of things was setting in, Rafe saw.
    Yes, she was an attorney. In her San Francisco practice, she represented myriad clients who faced allegations just like these every single day. Rafe was sure she had understood the seriousness of her father’s predicament all along; however, when it came to one’s family, it was hard for aperson to really imagine anything bad happening. But it seemed that the direness of her father’s situation was finally