Man with a past by Jayne Ann Krentz Page A

couldn’t have got off the ship. They had been underway all night and weren’t due to dock in a port until tomorrow morning.
    Again she thought of his actions during the previous evening. She had been too ill to be terribly astonished at the sight of him. Instead she had decided that his presence was inevitable. At least that was the way it had seemed to her weary brain last night.
    Now she had to ask herself just why Cole had followed her and why he had taken care of her. And most of all why he had broken into the attache case.
    The conclusions she was forced to arrive at in the shower were nerve-racking. Walt had said the information in that case was extremely valuable but that only a handful of people could understand it. He certainly hadn’t implied that anyone might resort to stealing it.
    Cole had never seemed particularly interested in computers in general, but they had spent a lot of time talking about her job, Kelsey reminded herself anxiously.
    But she had met him so casually! There had been nothing suspiciously coincidental about it. Or so she assumed.
    He had simply been a reclusive man who had eventually made friends with his next-door neighbors and, ultimately, with their daughter.
    He hadn’t even known she worked for Hex-Glad until after he had met her. Unless her stepfather had mentioned it, she added in silent anguish.
    God, she was going crazy this morning, trying to figure out the whole mess. She had to get control of herself and the situation. The first order of business was to get back that attache case. Walt had entrusted her with it. She couldn’
    t bear to confess she had been stupid enough to get seduced by an industrial spy who had now stolen the data she was supposed to deliver to Valentine.
    Nor could she bear to believe that Cole would do such a thing to her. Kelsey shuddered as she slipped into a white collarless linen shirt and matching wide-legged linen pants. Sliding her feet into a pair of bright-red sandals, she paused to run a brush through her hair and clip the tawny stuff back behind her ears.
    She had to keep things in perspective. With those words of caution echoing in her head, Kelsey left her stateroom and headed for the dining room. For the first time since she had arrived on board she found herself thinking about food.
    Perhaps after a cup of coffee she would be able to sort out the truth of the situation. Then she would confront Cole and demand some explanations. This time he wasn’t going to get away with simply refusing to discuss certain subjects, she promised herself.
    The sea air was fresh and invigorating. This morning the endless blue waters were a delight to the eye. Sunlight danced on the waves and the gentle motion of the ship no longer bothered her. The day was already turning warm.
    Kelsey took a brisk walk on deck before seeking out the dining room. It was still early, and only a handful of people were at breakfast. She saw Cole almost immediately.
    Kelsey hesitated at the realization that she was going to have to deal with him before she’d had the promised coffee and more time to think. Then her natural spirit surged to the surface. Lifting her chin, she walked straight toward the table where he sat alone. Cole watched her come toward him, a politely unreadable expression on his hard face.
    „Good morning, Kelsey. We have the table to ourselves. The Camdens appear to be late risers. How are you feeling?“ He got to his feet to hold her chair.
    „Much better, thank you,“ she declared with a breez-iness she was far from feeling as she accepted the chair.
    „Where’s the attache case?“

    He blinked lazily under her steady, demanding gaze. But he made no move to sidetrack her. „It’s safe enough for the moment.“
    Kelsey took a deep breath. „I want it back, Cole. And I also want back all the papers that were inside.“
    He handed her the breakfast menu and said casually, „You act as though you think I might have stolen something, Kelsey. Be