The instant the last sentence left her lips she gave herself a mental head-slap. The reminder that they would be sleeping in close proximity sent a tide of heat through her veins. She could only hope that Harlan was still his usual socially oblivious self and had missed what some men might view as a not-so-subtle innuendo. Maybe even an invitation.

She needn’t have worried. Harlan ignored the comment. As far as she could tell it hadn’t even ruffled his hair as it went past. She told herself she had absolutely no business feeling disappointed. Their association was of a professional nature. Full stop.

He glanced at her. “Sounds like you’ve been caught in the fog on this road before.”

“Pretty sure everyone who lives in Fogg Lake has had the experience at one time or another. No matter how careful you are, you can never be certain the mist won’t roll in unexpectedly early. One minute the road is clear. Then you come out of a curve and there’s a fog bank waiting for you. The locals say it’s been getting more unpredictable lately. One theory is that it’s linked to global warming.”

“Or maybe something has been stirred up by the Foundation researchers who are investigating what’s left of that old lab.”

“Yep, that’s the other theory.”

“Who came up with that one?”

“Take a wild guess.”

“Victor Arganbright.”

“Right the first time.” She smiled. “You two do tend to think alike, don’t you?”

CHAPTER 24

Why that one question?” Harlan asked.

Olivia turned on her side and tugged the blanket up over her shoulder. She hadn’t expected to get any real sleep, not after the adrenaline jag she had been on most of the day. She and Harlan had nearly died in the explosion at the Sefton house and now they were on the run from a bunch of scary people who wore a lot of black—not her favorite fashion color. On top of that, they were camped out in the creepy fog-bound mountains.

So, no, she would not get any real rest. She had, however, expected Harlan to fall asleep immediately. Any man who could manipulate his own aura had to possess astonishing powers of self-control.

She had been wrong. He was awake. Probably because he wanted to be awake, she decided, not because of the unsettling sense of intimacy that had descended when they locked the doors and lowered the back seat.

He was on his back beside her, inches away, one arm folded behind his head. She was intensely aware of his body heat and his scent, an elemental mix of his unique essence and dried sweat. It made for a compellingly masculine combination that sent thrilling little frissons of awareness through her.