Page 40 of The Missing Couple

“It was him,” she countered. “Had to be.”

“But what if it wasn’t him?” Billie challenged. “What if it was the guy who was your husband’s friend and who would like to be more than a friend to you?”

She made a face. “Vince?”

“He brought you that truck to use.” The guy definitely wanted her attention.

“Why would he get involved?” Her frown deepened. “He was only about twenty-two or -three when my parents were murdered.”

“People kill at far younger ages,” he reminded her.

“But I don’t think Vince is the killer type,” she argued. “I don’t think he’s ever even had a parking ticket.”

His head went back in an aha gesture. “So you like him, too.”

“No.” She scowled. “I mean, sure I like him as a neighbor. Maybe even a friend. But I do not like him like that. Never. I can’t be around him without thinking about Alex.”

“Why not?” Billie hadn’t meant to ask the question. In fact, he hadn’t intended to start down this path, damn it. Who she liked was none of his business and was completely irrelevant to why he was here. But he hadn’t been able to resist. She made him want to spar with her. Made him want to kiss her actually…but that would not be a smart move just now.

He desperately needed her help… He could not risk alienating her on any level.

“The truth is,” she said pointedly, hands still on her hips, “I haven’t wanted to like anyone else that way. Not since I met Alex. I was eighteen years old then. He was my everything and then he was gone.” She drew in a big breath. “Actually, I had begun to think that part of me had gone out of business for good.”

Now he felt like a total ass for starting this thing. “I’m—”

“But,” she interrupted, “lately I’ve had these feelings that were so foreign to me that I almost didn’t recognize them.”

Before he could respond, she grabbed him by the face with her hands, drew him down to her level and kissed him hard.

He pulled her into his arms and deepened the kiss. Despite the nightmare of all that had happened and despite his misgivings, he relaxed against her soft body. Lost himself to the feel of her lips on his.

But then he stopped. Drew back. He wasn’t using her to distract himself and although he felt this need for her was more…he wasn’t taking the risk.

“We should slow this down and maybe get some sleep.” He tried hard not to sound so breathless but that hadn’t worked. She made him breathless…made him want her more by just looking at him the way she was at the moment.

“You’re right. We should call it a night.”

But rather than show him to the door, she led him to her bedroom. He didn’t resist. Instead, he slowly undressed her while she undressed him. He kissed his way down her throat. Picked her up and carried her to the bed. Her arms and legs went around him and the rest of the world disappeared.

Chapter Twelve

Friday, July 10

Bradly Retreat

Deep Woods Trail, 7:30 a.m.

Charly was immensely grateful that Billie was gone when she woke up. Not that she regretted last night. No way. She tossed aside the dryer she’d used on her hair and hugged herself. She had a right at this point to have a moment. To feel something again. Alex had been gone for three years. As surprising as it was…as much as she had expected the morning after to be filled with utter and total guilt, she felt none.

What she felt was regret that she’d lost a wonderful husband. A part of him would always be with her.

Billie had been correct when he’d said that Alex would want her to move on. Who could say whether one year or three was the proper length of time to grieve? But Charly trusted herself on that one. Last night had felt very right. And pretty damned amazing. Even if she had been the one to push him over the line when he’d resisted.

She brushed her hair and then twisted it into a long braid. It was far too wild to leave loose when she had work to do. Shelly was coming to hang around the office and to check in the new arrivals. Billie hadn’t said for sure what he intended to do or where he planned to start this morning. Talk had not been on their minds after dinner last night. She decided he hadn’t gone far, since his SUV was still parked out front next to the borrowed truck. Technically, she hadn’t borrowed it. Vince had insisted on leaving it. But she supposed that was a good thing. If Billie had places to go that didn’t include her, she would need some means of transportation and Lola was not road worthy because she lacked seat belts.

Billie had probably returned to his cabin to shower and change. His clothes and toiletries were there. Maybe he had a conference call with his agency or with the sheriff. Whatever the case, he would fill her in when he came back.

She tidied the bedcovers, inhaling the scent of him and their time together. A smile spread across her lips. She knew better than to get used to having him around. As soon as he found Briana and Martin, he would be going back to Chicago. His work was there…his family was there.