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And he had a feeling she was failing just as miserably as he was. Because this was more than just sex. This was more than what he needed it to be. And it was scaring the shit out of him to admit that to himself.
She crumpled on top of him and he held her there, not at all wanting her to move. Not wanting to let her go yet.
He ran his hands slowly up and down her back. “Tell me your story, Joy.”
This time, she didn’t stiffen, but she did laugh. And her answer made it abundantly clear that he was right that there was more to what was happening with her than she was willing to admit.
“Why would I?” She asked.
He countered. “Why wouldn’t you? I’m only here for another week. I’m safe to talk to, to trust.”
She slid off him and laid by his side. “You’re going to talk to me about trust?”
Her retreat stung more than it should. “Yeah, so I have issues with trust, but we’re not talking about me.”
“I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours,” she said.
He wondered if she really would. But, still, he wasn’t about to talk to her about his shit. Sure, he had hang ups, he could admit that. But talking about them was another story.
“I can help if you’ll let me,” he said instead. The same couldn’t be said for him. Sharing his story wouldn’t help him. His story was over. There was nothing that could be done to fix it now.
Something told him she was right smack in the middle of something bad and as much as he didn’t want to let himself get sucked in, he wanted to protect this woman. Wanted to help end whatever it was that had her running.
Because that’s what she was doing. He could see it in every interaction. She was pulling within, getting ready to go.
He pulled her closer to him and this time, he met her eyes. “I’m here if you want to talk. For this week and then after by email or phone if you need anything.”
He was an idiot. He should walk away.
“Why?” she asked and he could see the mistrust there, the fear and caution.
He answered her the only way he could. Honestly. “I don’t know.”
Chapter 17
Evan leaned over his daughter’s bed and kissed her forehead. Her face didn’t even fully relax anymore in sleep and he mourned that. Her condition had gotten to the point that pain was a constant in her life.
If she were awake, she would manage a smile and tell him to hurry home to her. He hated leaving. Hated that the only way for him to make money was to get out there and do the jobs that required travel and nights of stake-outs to complete.
He stood and left the room, going across the small hall to kiss his wife goodbye again. They had already moved into a small apartment, selling their house to help with the mounting medical bills. Their daughter’s condition would never improve. They’d had to admit that long ago. She had such a cocktail of genetic abnormalities working against her that now her spine was degenerating as fast as her muscles were atrophying. At only eight, she wasn’t able to walk without assistance any longer and even that seemed like it wouldn’t last much longer.
Annabeth loved to draw, but he watched as her arms and hands grew weaker and weaker. He knew that gift would be stolen from her soon.
Doctors didn’t think she’d live past thirteen but he and his wife prayed for more than that. And he knew in his heart that was selfish of them. Annabeth was hurting more and more each day.
But she was his angel. He couldn’t let his Anna-angel go. Not yet.
He left the apartment, swallowing down the dread he felt anytime he had to leave Sara and Annabeth. He was hoping this trip would be fast.
He needed to fly to New Jersey to check out a home he was fairly sure Turner Carson’s wife was living in. He’d seen her on the home’s social media account, only she’d been in the background of the photo so he’d told Carson he’d go check it out and see if it was her.
He had half hoped Turner would say he’d go see if it was her, but it was better this way. He was able to charge a premium for traveling and working for three days in a row like this. It was a premium his daughter needed.
In fact, part of him hoped this wouldn’t turn out to be the Carson woman. If this case kept up a little longer, he’d have the month’s bills paid off ahead of time for once. Not something that ever happened.
Great, now he was hoping he’d be as much of a failure on this case as the last guy was. That was fantastic.
He sighed as he got into the car that would take him to the airport. He was lucky things like car rides and cab fare could also be charged to the client so he could let his wife sleep in and stay at home with Annabeth instead of getting a sitter to use their one car to drive him to the airport.
