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***
The streetlights cast long shadows across the worn carpet of Jake's motel room as he packed his belongings, relieved that another case was down. He folded his shirts and zipped up his suitcase. They'd caught the killer, and the final would-be victim was in the hospital--a close call, but alive all the same. Still, it wasn't enough to shake the lingering unease that clung to him like a second skin.
Harrison Greene was locked up, and that was a good thing, but understanding this killer and his motives made Jake's head spin. He'd learned that Harrison's father had murdered his mother, and he knew that had contributed to Harrison's snapping. On top of that, his father had been in prison for life but died only a few short weeks ago. That must have been the final straw that broke Harrison and sent him on a killing spree.
Now Glen Hartwell, Sharon French, and Roger Gray were all dead. All because of one man's twisted game.
It wasn't right. But at least Harrison could never hurt anyone again.
Jake stepped out of the room, and the chill of the early morning air brushed against his face. It was late--or early, he should say--as they'd been up for hours, dealing with paperwork and handling everything. He needed a good night's rest, and he knew Fiona did too.
She leaned against his car, her arms crossed over her chest and her gaze fixed on the ground, her bag beside her. There was something somber about her, something distant.
"Hey," Jake said softly, approaching her. She looked up, her amber eyes wide and vulnerable, and something inside him cracked.
"Hey," she replied, her voice barely audible.
Jake closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms around her, feeling her stiffen before she slowly relaxed into the embrace. For a moment, they stood there, the world around them fading away until it was just the two of them holding each other in the dim light.
"Why are you upset?" Jake asked, pulling back slightly to look at her face. The pain in her eyes unsettled him. He hated seeing Fiona in pain. She had too good of a heart, and she didn't deserve it.
Fiona hesitated, her fingers twisting a loose thread on her jacket. "I shouldn't be telling you this," she started, her voice trembling. "But I can't keep pretending anymore. I... I have feelings for you, Jake. And I know it's a terrible idea, but I can't help it." Her words hung heavy in the air between them. Jake's heart raced in his chest, a jumble of emotions threatening to overwhelm him.
"Red," he whispered, his voice caught between gratitude and fear. "I don't know what to say."
Of course, he had feelings for her too.
He had for some time now, and he was the one who'd--foolishly--kissed her.
But she hadn't been wrong to reject him the other day. To tell him they shouldn't do it again.
And yet here she was, confessing her feelings for him.
"Red," Jake whispered again, his face a mix of confusion and raw emotion as he took in her tear-streaked cheeks. "I have to be honest with you too." He hesitated, feeling a tightness in his chest that had nothing to do with the physical exertion of their recent case. "I... I have feelings for you too. But I'm scared."
"Scared?" Fiona asked, searching his eyes. "Of what?"
"Of hurting you," he admitted, swallowing hard against the lump in his throat. "I've been down this road before with a partner. You know it. It didn't work out. I couldn't commit, and it ended badly. I don't want to put you through that, Fiona. You mean too much to me." The words tumbled from his mouth, heavy with the weight of truths long held back.
Fiona's expression shifted from surprise to understanding and then, almost imperceptibly, to something more guarded. She took a step back, putting distance between them once more. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but she blinked them away, forcing herself to return to a professional demeanor.
"You're right," she said, her voice wavering only slightly. "I'm the one who said it was a bad idea to get romantically involved with someone at work. It's a distraction."
"So what made you want to tell me this now?" he asked.
Fiona hesitated a moment before answering, her eyes darting away from his. "I don't know. Maybe it's because we're always so close to danger, and it makes me realize how short life can be." She paused, taking a deep breath. "Or maybe it's just because I trust you, Jake. I trust you with my life and my heart."
Jake's heart swelled with a warmth he couldn't ignore. He wanted to reach out to her, to hold her close once more, but he knew it wasn't the right time.
"I'm scared I don't deserve your trust," he admitted.
They couldn't just throw caution to the wind and dive into something that had the potential to destroy everything they'd built together. It wasn't worth the risk.
But that didn't mean he didn't want her. Didn't crave her.
"I think we should take some time," he said finally, his voice low. "Think about what this means for us, for our partnership. We can't rush into anything, but... I don't want to ignore what's between us either." He stepped closer to her, his hand reaching out to touch her cheek. The heat of her skin against his fingertips sent a jolt through his entire body. She leaned into his touch, shutting her eyes before she pulled back. '
"I know, Jake... it's late. I'm not thinking clearly. Forget I ever said anything, okay?"
