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Her eyes flared a bit wider in surprise.
“I’m going to ask you questions the way he will tomorrow. Helping you prepare will give you more confidence that everything will be okay.”
She nodded, squaring her shoulders as if gearing up for an exam.
He held her gaze until he saw her shoulders relax another measure.
“Walk me through the night you went to Lance Dillard’s place of business.” He kept his voice neutral.
“I overheard men talking.”
“What did you hear first?”
She answered in a methodical manner, the way someone answered a doctor about symptoms.
“And when you realized what you were hearing,” he continued, “what did you do?”
She answered that too, her voice a little less steady, but she got through it.
He studied her face the entire time she spoke, watching for her discomposure.
“Fix your face.”
Outrage rippled over her beautiful features. “What’s wrong with my face?”
He leaned in and stroked a finger along her cheek. “Your face is perfect. That’s not the problem. It’s your expression. I can see you’re getting upset.”
She drew up straighter and sucked in a deep breath. “You’re right. If I can control my emotions, then fear can’t take over.”
He beamed at her. “Exactly. Stay in control and you own the situation.”
She nodded. “Keep going.”
He asked another question about her relationship with Lance and her involvement with his group that made her brow climb halfway to her hairline.
He pointed it out, and she scowled.
“Tomorrow you’re going to need to be composed.”
She rearranged her face.
“Better.” He stood to hover over her. For three more questions, she was cool and poised. On the fourth, she threw him a glare.
His lips quirked at one corner as he leaned in and ran his fingertip along her collarbone. “Maybe I need to incentivize this session.”
As he let his finger linger over her pulse, she sucked in a breath.
“Keep your expression even, Whitley.”
Her lashes fluttered, but she didn’t close her eyes.
“Keep your emotions off your face,” he encouraged even as he strummed his finger up the most sensitive spot on her throat.
She just fixed her gaze on his face, giving him a flat look.
“Good.” Almost too good. When it came to knowing everything she was thinking and feeling, he didn’t want her hiding anything from him.
“I’m ready for more questions.”
