Untamed by Nora Roberts

circus skills as art. “Performers always look for just a bit more in themselves. It’s a constant struggle for perfection. Even when a performance goes beautifully and you know it, you start thinking about the next time. How can I do it better or bigger or higher or faster?”
    â€œNever satisfied?” Keane asked as they stepped out into the sunlight.
    â€œIf we were, we wouldn’t have much of a reason to come back and do it all over again.”
    He nodded, but there was something absent in the gesture, as if his mind was elsewhere. “I have to leave this afternoon,” he said almost to himself.
    â€œLeave?” Jo’s heart skidded to a stop. Her distress was overwhelming and so unexpected that she was forced to take an extra moment to steady herself. “Back to Chicago?”
    â€œHmm?”
Keane stopped, turning to face her. “Oh, yes.”
    â€œAnd the circus?” Jo asked, thoroughly ashamed that it had not been her first concern. She didn’t want him to leave, she suddenly realized.
    Keane frowned a moment, then continued to walk. “I see no purpose in disrupting this year’s schedule.” His voice was brisk now and businesslike.
    â€œThis year’s?” Jo repeated cautiously.
    Keane turned and looked at her. “I haven’t decided its ultimate fate, but I won’t do anything until the end of the summer.”
    â€œI see.” She let out a long breath. “So we have a reprieve.”
    â€œIn a manner of speaking,” Keane agreed.
    Jo was silent for a moment but could not prevent herself from asking, “Then you won’t—I mean, you’ll be staying in Chicago now; you won’t be traveling with us?”
    They negotiated their way around a puddle before Keane answered. “I don’t feel I can make a judicious decision about the circus after so brief an exposure. There’s a complication in one of my cases that needs my personal attention, but I should be back in a week or two.”
    Relief flooded through her. He would be back, a voice shouted in her ear. It shouldn’t matter to you, another whispered. “We’ll be in South Carolina in a couple of weeks,” Jo said casually. They had reached her trailer, and she took the handle of her door before she turned to face him.
It’s just that I want him to understand what this circus means,
she told herself as she looked up into his eyes.
That’s the only reason I want him to come back.
Knowing she was lying to herself made it difficult to keep her gaze steady.
    Keane smiled, letting his eyes travel over her face. “Yes, Duffy’s given me a route list. I’ll find you. Aren’t you going to ask me in?”
    â€œIn?” Jo repeated. “Oh, no, I told you, I have to change, and . . .” He stepped forward as she talked. Something in his eyes told her a firm stand was necessary. She had seen a similar look in a lion’s eyes while he contemplated taking a dangerous liberty. “I simply don’t have time right now. If I don’t see you before you go, have a good trip.” She turned and opened the door. Aware of a movement, she turned back, but not before he had nudged her through the door and followed. As it closed at his back, Jo bristled with fury. She did not enjoy being out-maneuvered. “Tell me, counselor, do you know anything about a law concerning breaking and entering?”
    â€œDoesn’t apply,” he returned smoothly. “There was no lock involved.” He glanced around at the attractive simplicity of Jo’s trailer. The colors were restful earth tones without frills. The beige– and brown– flecked linoleum floor was spotlessly clean. It was the same basic floorplan as Frank’s trailer, but here there were softer touches. There were curtains rather than shades at the windows; large, comfortable pillows tossed onto a forest green sofa; a spray of fresh