"You know what I'm talking about," she answered in a voice more certain than she felt. Could she have been wrong about it all?
He regarded her suspiciously and then spoke hesitantly. "No, I don't think I do. As a matter of fact, I think we're on completely different planets."
She could feel her face getting hot. If she was wrong about him . . . but how could she be? She heard him talking to his mother and she heard his conversation with the man in the black car. They wanted her out of the way, or at least silent.
The doorbell rang and she felt a rush of panic when she heard Sarah answer the door. Maybe he was making something up for their benefit.
She reached for her luggage. Yancey made no move to stop her, but he met her gaze desperately.
"Lisa, I don't want you to go."
"Why? Because you want to marry me?"
He opened his mouth to speak but she interrupted him. "I heard you talking to Sarah tonight. You'd do anything to keep me silent - even marry me. Tell me, Yancey," her voice broke with emotion. "Would you kill me to keep me silent?"
"Lisa!" The word was a singular impression of anguish and surprise. "Is that what this is all about? Do you think I would ever harm you?" He looked hurt and angry at the same time.
She swallowed down a sob. Someone was walking down the hall toward them. Yancey glanced that way and then back at her.
"Something is frightening you. What is it? You belong here."
"Babysitting? I think you made it clear last night. You're not interested in commitment. You couldn't even say I love you."
"Maybe I would have if you hadn't retracted it as soon as you said it." They stared at each other for a moment. "I do, you know."
Her heart leaped and then plunged with his next words. "But not enough to give up my business. It's a part of me, and if we're going to have anything together, you're going to have to accept it."
"How can you love a business that could get your family killed. Is it the danger you like so much?"
He frowned. "Get my family killed?"
Multiple pairs of feet hurried down the hall and Connie was the first one through the door. "Lisa, don't you know who he is?"
Lisa glanced at Yancey, who silently divided his attention between Connie and Lisa. The cogs were working behind those blue eyes. What was he planning? Was he some drug lord? No, Connie wouldn't be smiling. Then what? She turned questioning eyes on Connie, who shook her head in disbelief.