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There was so much more she wanted to say, but the more she said, the less talkative he became. “Take care, Rye.” She went up on tiptoe and kissed him chastely on the cheek.
But as she was pulling away, he clamped his free hand over the back of her head, and kissed her as though his life depended on it. It was hungry, and hard, and over almost before she realized it had happened.
He pushed her into the elevator. “For a long time, I’m gonna wish I’d gotten inside your clothes.”
He released the door.
When it reopened on the third floor, Brynn’s lips were still throbbing, and Rye’s parting words echoing in her mind. Later, she would dwell on what might have been between them, if only things had been different. If only he and she had been different. But there was more to regret than she had time for now.
She started down the corridor. The doors to all the private quarters were shut. No one was in the snack room or the communal parlor. As she got closer to the room at the end of the hall, butterflies took flight in her tummy, not because of the risk she was taking, but because of the joy she was about to bring to Violet and her family.
She tapped lightly on the door. The attendant on duty opened it and stepped out into the hallway. “Dr. O’Neal.”
Brynn smiled pleasantly and acted as though she always showed up here looking completely exhausted and disheveled, dressed in yesterday’s clothing. “Hello, Abby. How was your Thanksgiving? Did you have to work all day?”
“No. I came on at four this afternoon. How was yours?”
She smiled wanly. “Not at all customary.”
“I’m surprised to see you here tonight.”
“I wanted to check on Violet, ask what kind of day she had.”
The young woman’s smile wavered. “Oh. I thought you would have heard.”
8:01 p.m.
Rye stood staring at the elevator door long after it had shut out his last look at Brynn. He didn’t move away until his cell phone vibrated. It was Dash.
Rye answered querulously. “Is this my wake-up call?”
“You in bed?”
“Yeah.”
“How’s the hotel?”
“To be honest, haven’t really noticed. It’s got a rack. That’s all that matters.”
“And you’re in it?”
“Isn’t that what I said?”
“Yeah, but you’re lying.”
Rye was surprised that Dash knew that, but he tried to act annoyed. “You’re having me tailed, or what?”
“Do I have reason to?”
Rye swore silently. “Okay. Busted. Why’re you calling? Another job?”
“No. I just hung up from an enlightening chat with a Deputy Sheriff Williams.”
“Wilson?”
“Whatever.”
Rye put his back to the wall and rested his head against it. “What did he want? That mess in Howardville has been cleared up.”
