MANIPULATED BY A KILLER

“I know that I sure as hell didn’t write that letter to you, but circumstantial evidence points to me,” Reed said. “Maybe whoever sent it wants you to think I’m the person who wrote it.”

“But why?”

“To get me in trouble.”

Ella rose to her feet but quickly realized her mistake. Reed didn’t move out of her way, so only inches separated her body from his. She felt his heat, smelled his sweat, heard his in-drawn breath when his leg accidentally brushed against hers. Or had it been accidental?

“Why—why would someone want to get you in trouble?”

“If I get in big enough trouble, I go back to the pen.” Did Reed sway slightly toward her or did she lean into him? Only a hairbreadth separated them now. “Whoever really killed Junior Blalock doesn’t want me to stay free, doesn’t want me snooping around trying to find out the truth.”

For a split second, she thought he was going to kiss her. She froze to the spot, unable to move, unable to breathe. You don’t want him to kiss you, do you? The shock of realizing that yes, she did want him to kiss her, motivated her self-preservation instincts. Maybe Reed Conway fascinated her in a way no other man ever had. Maybe the aura of danger and machismo that was such an intrinsic part of him aroused some primitive female need within her. But she was an intelligent, cautious woman who knew better than to succumb to baser instincts….