'Bullshit.'
'Your confidence is inspiring.'
'You're a stubborn asshole and you're scaring me to death.'
'Not enough to get you out of here.'
'I need to finish this-'
'Is everything okay?' Montalvo had come into the library and was staring warily at Joe. 'Miguel was concerned when he saw you come into the library, Quinn. You didn't look well.'
'But he didn't try to stop me. I understand from Galen that he's the guardian at the gates.'
'Naturally he wouldn't attempt to do anything that would hurt you.'
'Because I'm not able to defend myself?'
Montalvo smiled. 'He wouldn't make that mistake. As I said, he was just concerned.' He turned to Eve. 'You look worried. Is there anything I can do to help?'
'No.'
'Then I'll leave.' He met and held her gaze. 'But you know that you only have to tell me and it will be done.'
She nodded jerkily. 'I know that.' Her glance shifted back to Joe and she found his narrowed eyes going from her to Montalvo and back again. 'Joe and I will work out our own problems.'
'Certainly. I only thought I'd offer.' Montalvo turned and headed for the door. 'Call me if you change your mind.'
'Yes, I'm sure she will,' Joe murmured as the door closed behind Montalvo. He moved toward the door. 'I'll let you get back to work. I wouldn't want to disturb you.'
'You did disturb me. How could I help but be disturbed? You scare me, Joe.'
'Good. At least, you don't pity me. That would drive me nuts.'
She flinched as the door slammed behind him. His response had been every bit as volatile as she'd known it would be. He was walking on the edge and might fall off at any step. She had ached to help him, soothe him, but the price was too high. She would have had to give up her chance for Bonnie.
She turned and went back to the dais. The only way she could help either one of them was to finish the reconstruction and move on. If she worked fast enough, she might be able to save them both before their relationship became tattered beyond repair.
'We're going to go for the big prize soon, Nalia,' she whispered. 'I'm getting ready for it and I hope you are. I'm going to need your help…'
'Need a shoulder to lean on?' Galen was standing at the bottom of the staircase when Joe came out of the library. 'That's a lot of stairs for a crotchety bloke like-' He broke off and gave a low whistle. 'Just joking, man.'
'It wasn't funny,' Joe said through his teeth. 'I
'Whatever.' Galen was slowly climbing the stairs beside him. 'But if you don't mind, I think I'll come along to pick up the pieces if your legs give out.'
'They won't give out.'
'I believe you. Whatever happened in that library gave you a massive shot of adrenaline.'
'You bet it did.'
'I saw Montalvo come out before you. Did you argue with him?'
'Hell, no. He's too clever to quarrel with an injured man.' He didn't look at Galen as he said between his teeth, 'Why didn't you tell me he was trying to get Eve into bed?'
'Is he?'
'Don't give me that bullshit. You notice everything. There's something going on between them that a blind man could see.'
'I haven't seen them together very much.'
And Joe wished he hadn't seen that last interchange of glances between Montalvo and Eve. It had not only been full of understanding but also intimacy. No, it was good that he had seen what was happening even if it hurt. Eve would never be unfaithful to him because of a sexual attraction. With Eve it would have to involve all the emotions and it hadn't reached that point with Montalvo yet.
But, my God, they were on their way.
She might not even realize that she was circling toward Montalvo like a moth to a flame. They shared a common tragedy and the desire to find a way to bring closure to their lives. It was a strong bond and would open other facets, other doors of a relationship. Christ, he thought with disgust, he had it all figured out. Except how to stop it.
He had reached the top of the stairs. As Galen had said, the adrenaline had been coursing and he'd scarcely paid attention to the weakness and pain. That's how he had to function from now on. Ignore the weakness. Ignore the pain. Montalvo was strong and well and Joe had to be on equal ground. Pity might temporarily hold Eve, but that wasn't going to happen. He wouldn't be able to go on patching a relationship with that kind of Band-Aid.
'Do you need help to get to bed?' Galen asked.
'No, I'll do it myself.' He paused at the door. 'But I might need help from you later. Can I count on you?'
Galen was silent a moment. 'If you can prove to me that you have a plan that will work. I'm not into suicide missions.'
'Neither am I.' He opened the door. 'I'm not trying to make a grandiose statement. I want to take Diaz out and not give Eve any reason to stay here one minute longer.'
'I brought your dinner.' Montalvo came into the library and set the tray down on the desk. 'If you choose to take the time.'
'I'll take the time.' Eve wiped her hands on a damp alcohol towel. Choice. Joe would have dug in his heels and insisted she break for a meal. Montalvo had put the decision in her court. Perhaps because he really wanted her to continue to work and the meal was a token goodwill gesture. 'I don't know long it will be until I get around to eating again.'
He sat down across from her. 'The reconstruction doesn't look much closer to completion than the last time I saw it.'
'She's closer.' Eve bit into her sandwich. 'And what's even more important, I'm closer. I'm almost ready to begin.'
He glanced away from her. 'I was afraid that disturbing visit from Quinn might slow you down. Did I interrupt anything?'
'Nothing important. We weren't covering any new ground.' She made a face. 'I was almost glad you came.'
'You wanted to get rid of him.'
'No,' she said instantly. 'Never. I just had to get back to work and I was beginning to-' She sighed. 'I can't get through to him. He thinks I've gone off the deep end and wants to save me from myself.'
'Perfectly logical.' He smiled. 'You have gone off the deep end. I pushed you there. But I'll also be the one to save you if you need saving.'
'Joe wouldn't like that.'
'How regrettable. Try that lemon pastry. You'll need the sugar for energy. It may be a long night.'
She chuckled as she took a bite of the pastry. 'Lord, you and Joe are different. He'd tell me to eat a hearty meal and go off to bed. You want me wide awake and alert so that I can finish your
