Beer in hand, Rand rummaged around in the drawers behind the counter, eventually producing a scrap of paper with a triumphant air. „I knew it was here!“

„Congratulations,“ Kalinda couldn’t resist saying a little tartly. What a way to run a business! Any business!

He ignored the comment as if accustomed to the rudeness of visitors and gave her the price of the painting.

It was a bit higher than Kalinda had expected and automatically she glanced around to take another look at the watercolor landscape. As she did a charming pottery bowl caught her eye.

„Oh, I like that!“ she exclaimed with genuine enthusiasm, walking across the room to lift the well-molded object It fit nicely in her hands and the earthen colors were perfect for her dining room. „I can see this now filled with a lovely curry and rice dish or maybe a huge green salad.“

She raised her head and found Rand watching her intently. „I’ll take this, too,“ she said easily, carrying it back to the counter. „And you needn’t worry about it. If s going to a good home.“

„Yours?“ he smiled.

„Mine,“ she confirmed, digging out her checkbook.

She hid a small frown as Rand calmly accepted her check without bothering to check her identification and then told herself it was his business. If he chose to take such risks who was she to tell him different?

„I’ll wrap those in paper for you before you leave,“ he announced cheerfully, coming around from behind the counter.

„As a matter of fact,“ Kalinda said pointedly, „I was just about to go. Perhaps you could put the paper around them now?“

„Finish your beer first. Unless someone’s waiting for you?“ he added innocently.

„Well, no, but…“ Too late she realized she’d just answered his earlier question about whether or not she was in town alone. Half-irritated and half-amused over the small trap, she met his laughing eyes.

„Believe me,“ he soothed, „there’s not much else to do in town once you’ve been through the shops. Unless, of course, you’re into fishing…“

„Not particularly,“ she sighed.

„I thought not Come on outside and sit under a tree while I finish cleaning the fish. You might as well relax while you finish the beer…“

„Mr. Alastair,“ Kalinda began firmly, still unable to decide if she should laugh or treat him to one of her more repressive tones. But she was finding his unabashed persistence almost entertaining. And heaven knew she needed a bit of entertainment to take her mind off her own plans!

„Be nice,“ he pleaded with a beguiling smile that weakened her further. „Everyone likes to show off his catch. And I can tell by looking at you that you’re bored and restless.“

„Is it that obvious?“ she groaned, following him back out into the yard.

„Let’s just say you look a little out of your element,“ he said softly, waving her to a redwood chair under a tree. „But don’t fret, I’m relatively harmless. I can produce any number of local references.“ He picked up a fish and threw her a quick leer.

Kalinda took a long sip of beer and silently lifted one, faintly quelling eyebrow. Rand didn’t appear to notice. Instead he chatted amiably, his knife moving expertly on the trout.

Afterward, Kalinda had to admit she wasn’t quite sure how it had happened, but she wound up sitting under a tree with a can of beer and watching a man clean fish until nearly one o’clock in the afternoon. No one who knew her back in Denver would have believed it But then no one back in Denver could possibly know how desperately she was trying to kill the rest of this day and the next.

The light, easy conversation proved a tonic for her, succeeding in taking her mind off her inner, churning thoughts and giving her a temporary respite from the case of nerves she was in danger of contracting.

„What do you do in Denver?“ Rand demanded casually at one point after giving her a humorous description of the life he led running a gallery in a tourist town.

„I run a company called Brady Data Processing,“ she admitted mildly, her cool confidence implicit in her voice. It was, after all, something she did very well.

„I’ve heard of it,“ he astonished her by admitting calmly. „You’re in charge?“ There was a speculative gleam in the quick glance he tossed over at her.

„I was elected chief executive officer a couple of years ago after my father was killed in a plane crash. I sort of inherited the reins. The board of directors was used to having a Brady at the helm,“ she shrugged. „I’m surprised you’ve heard of the company.“

„We’re not totally isolated up here,“ he informed her dryly.

„Could have fooled me,“ Kalinda laughed.

He swung around. „You are bored, aren’t you? What are you doing here in our little burg, Kalinda Brady?“

„I think you already asked me that,“ she retorted blandly, feeling as if he’d almost caught her off guard with the question.

„And you didn’t answer. Don’t you know you’re making me curious?“

„It will liven up your rather placid lifestyle.“

He laughed, clearly enjoying the day and her. Kalinda felt herself relax and put her problem temporarily aside. More time slipped past until, conscious of having missed lunch, she finally stood up reluctantly and tossed the beer can into a nearby container.

„Well, thanks for the beer, Rand. I think it’s time I was on my way. If you’ll wrap the painting and the pottery, I’ll…“

„I’ll have them ready this evening,“ he drawled smoothly as he finished with the fish.

„This evening!“

„When you help me eat the evidence of my murder spree.“

„Rand, I don’t think…“

„Fresh trout? Grilled corn? How can you resist? And you’ve already admitted you’re bored,“ he coaxed, hazel eyes fastening on her with determination.

Kalinda mentally ran through all the reasons she couldn’t have dinner with him and found it a very short list Why shouldn’t she accept? She had a long evening to get through by herself if she refused and that thought wasn’t very appealing. Alone with her plans and worries…

He met her eyes and smiled. Kalinda drew in her breath, aware that he’d seen the hesitation in her. Once again it struck her that this man might have been a formidable figure in the business world if he’d chosen that path in life. He knew how to manipulate others. Or was it just that she was willing to be manipulated that afternoon?

„All right,“ she agreed gently. „Thank you.“

„I’ll pick you up at six. My home is down by the lake,“ he said.

It wasn’t until she had left the shop to return to her motel that Kalinda wondered which of them was intent on fighting off a boring evening. Could it be that Rand Alastair was a little restless, too? But that didn’t make any sense. He had obviously chosen to live in this out-of-the-way town of his own accord. And he clearly enjoyed his fishing. Well, it wasn’t her problem. She had her own!

She chose the perfect little summer dress she had brought with her, a wrapped and ruffled silk crepe de chine print It was bare, breezy and, combined with strappy little sandals, even flirty in a sophisticated way. She left her hair in the sleek twist behind her ear and added a gold wire of a bracelet to her bare arm. She wasn’t going out of her way to dress for Rand Alastair. Kalinda liked clothes and she dressed to please herself.

She was prepared to find Rand in a clean pair of jeans and a shirt when she opened the door to him a little before six, but the subtle, pin-striped shirt and dark slacks looked expensive and well-tailored. The thick, chestnut hair was combed back in a broad wave and there was a clean, masculine scent of aftershave clinging tantalizingly around him. Still, it was the white Lotus behind him in the parking lot which took Kalinda aback.

„Yours?“ she murmured unnecessarily as he guided her toward it with a casually possessive hand at the small of her back.

„It was either this or the motorcycle,“ he grinned engagingly, „and somehow I had a hunch you’d object to the bike.“ His eyes ran approvingly over the little flirty dress. „Although it might have been interesting…“

„The Lotus is fine,“ she told him dryly as he slipped her into the cockpit of the low-slung car. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she watched him walk around the hood. The gallery must be doing better than it looked, she decided. But that didn’t make any sense…

„Why do I have this feeling that I’m turning out to be a source of amusement for you?“ Rand asked sometime later as he pan-fried the fresh trout over the open flame of a barbecue pit The corn he was grilling alongside gave off an enticing aroma.

„Don’t you want me to enjoy myself?“ she retorted, crossing her slender ankles as she reclined on the outdoor lounger. The shaded patio was situated to take full advantage of the tree-rimmed lake and privately Kalinda knew the glass-walled house with its elegant, rustic lines had been another surprise to her.

It went with the Lotus, however. The wood-and-glass structure was obviously designed just for the particular, wooded, hillside lot on which it had been placed. The walk through the entryway and living room out to the patio had revealed a plush, cream carpet, low, sleekly styled caramel and brown furniture and a scattering of beautiful, earth-toned pottery pieces. Rand had merely smiled when she’d commented on them.

„Don’t get me wrong,“ he said in response to her flippant question. „I’m delighted to have you enjoy yourself. It’s just that I’d prefer the amusement to be a shared experience!“

Kalinda gave him a slow, teasing smile as she sipped at the tartly delicious concoction of apricot brandy, lemon and orange juice he’d prepared for them. „Are you artistic types always so sensitive?“