Because he never trusted anyone he didn’t know. Not until after he got to know them better and the team had the chance to do some digging to prove the client was as innocent as they claimed.
Sometimes not even then.
He turned that same smile in the other blonde’s direction. “Thanks, Hannah,” he politely dismissed her back to her other duties. “I’ll take it from here.”
“Of course. If you need anything else, just holler.” Hannah’s rosy lips curved even more with a parting smile as she spun on her heels and disappeared back down the long hallway.
Spine straight, Cassandra…Cassie…Montgomery stood silently beside him. The woman appeared to be calm and collected as she waited patiently for his direction, but Archer could see the desperation hiding behind those entrancing eyes as they stared up into his.
Desperation.
Uncertainty.
Fear.
I could erase that fear if you’d let me.
Archer cleared his throat, barely resisting a physical shake of his head. Where thefuckthat thought had that come, he had no idea. But he pushed the crazy notion away and motioned toward the two chairs facing his desk.
“Please,” he offered, clearing his throat again. “Have a seat.”
“Thank you.” She walked past with a polite smile that didn’t reach those entrancing eyes. “I appreciate you seeing me on such short notice. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to speak to anyone since I didn’t have an appointment.”
The scent of strawberries and vanilla filled his nostrils, and damn if he wasn’t tempted to sniff her like a dog in heat.
Pretty sure sniffing clients is against company policy. Especially ones suspected of murder.
“Dangerous situations aren’t always something we can pencil into our schedules. We try to keep someone in-house for that very reason.” Archer made his way around his desk, the two of them sitting in their prospective seats at almost the exact same time. “So tell me, Cassie. What brings you to Eagle’s Nest today?”
“Do you watch the news, Mr. Nash? If you do, I’m assuming you know that I’ve been charged with murdering my husband.”
“I do.”
Her head tilted slightly, that blue stare of hers turning inquisitive as it remained locked with his. “I’m surprised you agreed to meet with me. Considering everyone thinks I’m some sort of sadistic killer who goes around poisoning unsuspecting men, that is.”
“Men?” Archer purposely arched a brow while still watching her closely. “There have been more than one?”
That titled head of hers straightened instantly, the look in her eyes set without the slightest hint of deception as she responded with a sharp, “There hasn’t even beenone, Mr. Nash.”
Good answer.
The woman was smart, he’d give her that. But she was also a successful attorney, and intelligence and quick, succinct responses played a huge part in that world.
Keeping his tone steady and unthreatening, Archer studied every inch of her breathtakingly beautiful face and asked her point blank,“Are you saying you didn’t kill your husband?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” Once again, no hesitation. “I didn’t kill Russ, nor do I have any idea how the cyanide got into my wine. That’s the poison that was used, though it’s my understanding that detail has been kept from the general public.”
“Yet you just shared it with me. A man you met less than sixty seconds ago. Why?”
“My attorney said you and your team could be trusted.”
A bold statement
“And what do you think?”
“I think it’s impossible for me to determine your trustworthiness after having only met you two minutes ago.”Beautiful and smart.“That being said, your team has already made quite a name for itself in the few short months you’ve been in business. Between that and your former experience as a Navy SEAL, I’m hoping discretion and confidentiality aren’t exactly new concepts for someone with your background.”
“From what my attorney said, someone crushed up several pits from Morello cherries and then put the powder into the bottle of wine. Apparently by crushing the pits, it releases a chemical?—”