“Good afternoon, Mr. Lynch.”

He studied her for an instant, then turned on his heel. “I’ll go. You’ll be more willing to deal with me if you don’t have to worry about keeping those kids waiting. We’ll continue this later.”

“Make an appointment. I’ll see if I can fit you in. I doubt it. The FBI isn’t high on my list of priorities.”

He gave a low whistle. “I understand you had a very warm relationship with one FBI agent. Jeff Stedler must have really pissed you off.” He paused. “I’m curious. In the bedroom or on a case?”

She stiffened. “My God, what nerve. You’ll stay curious, you nosey bastard.”

“Sorry. I’m usually not that clumsy. You’re having a peculiar effect on me. I’m finding there’s something about you that disturbs my usual modus operandi. Forgive me.” He moved toward the door. “We’ll talk later.”

She couldn’t let him walk out of the room without asking the question.

“Wait.” When he looked over his shoulder, she asked, “Did Jeff send you?”

“No, though he’s the reason I’m here.” He smiled. “We’ll discuss him at the same time you explain how you knew the intimate details of my life. Tit for tat.” He left the studio.

Clever. Lynch had dangled that alluring tidbit of information to hook her into another meeting. He wanted something. He probably wanted her.

Kendra gazed after him with exasperation. She was tempted to just block him out of her thoughts and tell him to take a jump. But that reference to Jeff had made her curious…and a little worried.

It was strange that Lynch made that abrupt sexual reference to her affair with Jeff. It wasn’t slick or diplomatic. For an instant, she’d seen a flicker of recklessness in his expression. Another facet of Lynch’s character revealed. Another sign of the complication she’d sensed. Did she want to assuage her curiosity badly enough to deal briefly with him again?

She didn’t have to make up her mind just then. She had work to do.

She went to the door to bring in Jenny Brooks, her next student.