He scrolled through the tabs and columns. “The only reason you know this is wrong is because you had access to the statements, right? But without them, you have no proof of wrongdoing.”
“Pretty much.” She took another sip of wine. “But if nothing’s wrong, who was the guy trying to break into my condo? Why bother with me at all if I can’t prove anything?”
“They know you’ve seen it. That seems to be enough.”
It made sense, but the whole thing seemed like a crazy Hollywood movie. “How do they know I haven’t shown it to everyone at BB&B by now?”
“They don’t. But you’re the one who had access. You asked to clarify information so they know you saw something puzzling.”
“Ugh, I should have been lazier on this one. I should have finished my own accounts first. But I just had to go and look, didn’t I?”
“Too late to change it now. All we can do is deal with the consequences.”
“If I could get my hands on Charles, I’d wring his neck. Assuming he’s still alive.” She hated adding that last part. She hadn’t wanted to go out with Charles Martinelli, thought he was a bit of a creep, but she wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to him.
“I can’t guarantee he is, but nothing indicates otherwise yet.”
“Would you tell me if it did?”
“Would you want me to?”
Angie pulled in a breath. “I think so. Yes.”
“Think. Or know?”
She had to think about that for a second. But she knew the answer. She was done with letting others take control of her life or make decisions that affected her without her input.
“I know I would. If Charles turns up floating in the Chesapeake, I want to know.”
“Okay then. If it comes to that, I’ll tell you.”
It struck her that he meant it. He wasn’t just saying it to make her feel better, or make her think he valued her choice. It was her choice and he would honor it.
“What do we do now?” she asked.
“We finish our wine and get some sleep. Tomorrow morning, my team will arrive to analyze this spreadsheet and war-game our options.”
“War-game?”
“Sorry. It’s a military thing. We run war-game scenarios.”
“Got it. Were you in the military?”
“Eight years in the Marine Corps.”
It made sense. He carried himself like a military person. So did Jace, and she knew Jace had been in. She didn’t know which branch though.
“Why did you leave?”
She thought he tensed. Or maybe she imagined it.
“I was on assignment in Iraq. I was the only one left alive in my squad after we got ambushed by militants. I decided that was my sign and it was time to go.”
“Oh, Colt.”
“It was a long time ago. I made it out. A lot of good men didn’t.”
He’d lived through it and decided to work for Ian Black anyway. She didn’t understand his thought process, but she didn’t ask for more information. She felt like he’d shared more than he might have wanted to.
“My team will also report on anything else they’ve discovered, provided it’s not classified,” he said, getting back to the topic of her spreadsheet and the situation at BB&B.
Angie nodded. “Thank you. For everything. For helping me, believing in me, and involving me. I know we’ll discover the truth with you and Jace involved. And maybe we’ll find Charles and stop the Cardinal Group from committing fraud. Though why he didn’t report it to the authorities, I don’t know.”
Colt looked thoughtful. “Maybe he couldn’t. Somebody must have known he’d found something or he wouldn’t have run the way he did. He probably didn’t have time to report anything.”
She frowned. “Charles brought the Cardinal Group to the firm in the first place. They were his clients. Maybe he knew the owners before. I never asked. But if he knew them personally and felt responsible, maybe he tried to talk to them about the problem before he reported it.”
“Not a wise move then.”
“No, I guess not.”
Colt finished his wine. Angie followed suit. “Another glass?” he asked.
She only hesitated a moment. “I’d love one.”
He poured them both more wine. “Why don’t we sit on the couch and catch some news? Or maybe there’s something you’d like to watch?”
She thought about it. She could actually picture herself curled up beside him on the couch, sipping wine and watching television.
Why was she comfortable with him now? It wasn’t that long ago that being near him tied her up in knots, and now she felt like they were old friends. Oh, he still tied her up in knots, but they weren’t uncomfortable knots.
Being with him was like putting on a comfy pair of sweats you couldn’t get rid of because nothing made you feel as relaxed as they did.
He shot her a puzzled frown. “What’s making you grin like that, babe?”
Angie tried to wipe the look from her face. She didn’t think she was successful. “Sorry. I was thinking about comfy clothes.”
“Do I want to know?”
She waved a hand. “Nah, it wouldn’t make sense. And watching the news is fine.”
They headed to the living room. There was only the couch—not a terrible 1960s couch, thankfully—and they sat on opposite ends. Colt put his feet on the coffee table and turned on the television. Angie sipped her wine and watched the news, but her thoughts were on Colt.
She watched him out of the corner of her eye, the way he handled the remote whenever he picked it up to mute commercials. The way his muscles rippled beneath his shirt when he lifted his glass and took a drink. The glide of his throat as he swallowed. She thought about him in a Marine uniform, his hair cut super short in a high-and-tight.
Shock jolted her as she realized she was getting turned on by watching him. Her nipples tightened, and she grew wet. Her body started to ache.
They’d shared exactly two kisses, and only one of those had been the kind of kiss that curled toes, but her body reacted like
