Page 72 of The Search

She studied him. “And you’ve been doing a heck of a lot more than I ask. I don’t like that.”

“I’m just a self-starter.”

“You’re also a prime manipulator. You knew it would bother me to see a wounded man overextend himself.”

He gazed at her innocently. “Did I?”

“Knock it off.”

“I’m surprised it took you this long to call me on it.”

“I’m not that soft.” She made a face. “And I thought you’d stop. I knew you were hurting.”

“Just doing my job, ma’am.”

“And getting a little of your own back.”

“I admit I have a problem with total subjugation.”

“Any subjugation.”

“I do prefer partnerships. I think we’ve proved we work pretty well together, don’t you?”

She didn’t speak for a moment. “Yes.”

“Then why not call a truce? You don’t have to force me to do anything. I’d go nuts if I didn’t have something to do. Even nursing your wolf is better than twiddling my thumbs. We’re living together, let’s do it as painlessly as possible.”

“I’m not in any pain. I could go—” She broke off as the phone rang. “And we’re not living together,” she said as she crossed the room and picked up the phone. “Hello.”

“You didn’t call me,” Todd Madden said. “How did the Logan job go?”

“What do you care, Madden? It’s over. That’s all that’s important.”

“Good. Then you can come up to Washington for the weekend. I’ve set up a press conference about the Barat earthquake, and what about this Taiwan mudslide? That will be excellent copy.”

“Go to hell.”

“Don’t be ugly, Sarah.” Madden’s voice was silky smooth. “You know it doesn’t do you any good to be nasty to me. Shall I make your reservations or will you?”

“I’m not coming to Washington. I’m busy.”

“You know how I hate to pressure you, but I can’t tolerate—”

“Screw you.” She hung up the phone.

“You should have let me talk to him,” Logan said.

“I got too much satisfaction out of telling him to go chase himself.”

“That wasn’t exactly the term you used,” he said lightly.

The phone rang again.

She didn’t answer it. “It’s him again. He can’t believe I’m not jumping through his hoop.”

“Are you going to answer it?”

“No. I’m burning my bridges. If you don’t keep your promise, I’m going to go down in flames.”