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“We called it quits four years ago,” she said.
He swallowed some of his irritation. “Did you love him?”
She shook her head. No hesitation.
It relieved him to know she hadn’t given him her heart only for the guy to break it. “Why did you two end things?” Dating a criminal was the polar opposite of a cop. Should’ve been exactly what she was looking for, the ultimate bad boy.
“You think I have trust issues?” Charlie arched an eyebrow. “Orson kept hacking into my phone and computer. It was a lot to have my boyfriend constantly spying on me.”
“Other than that, he was Mr. Right?”
“Hardly.” She gave a chuckle devoid of humor. “Orson likes variety. I’m not big on sharing. We weren’t together long. But he was willing to help me even after the breakup. For a price. There aren’t many women’s shelters in the state, much less this area. I only do this for women who believe their lives are in danger and need to relocate permanently.”
“What’s Orson’s last name?” He was going to dig into this guy, unearth every dirty thing he could about him.
She narrowed her eyes. “Asking me to trust you is one thing. Asking me to violate someone else’s is another.”
He sighed. “You shouldn’t use your ex’s services anymore. There are better ways to help someone disappear. Legal ways. Get them off the grid. Plant misleading tracks online. Tell them to only take jobs that pay in cash. That kind of life is significantly harder, but safer.”
“If you need to arrest me, to protect your job, I understand. All I ask is that you don’t stop investigating what happened to Haley.”
Arresting her hadn’t been a consideration, especially after she had warned him. It became adon’t ask, don’t tellsituation. And he’d made the choice to keep asking. “You shared in the Bradshaw confessional. Your secret stays here.”
He respected what she tried to do for Haley. How she saved and protected those who needed her. Even if he didn’t agree with her methods, which were legally in the gray, he respectedher.
“Really?” she asked. The disbelief in her voice chafed him.
A little.
He nodded. “You’re safe with me.” Maybe now she’d start to believe it.
“I doubted it was possible for us to share the same perspective about this.” Putting a palm on his chest, she relaxed her body against his. “I guess I did have your brand wrong.”
“I think you might be pleasantly surprised at what we share.” He ran his hands down her arms, to her waist, and gripped her hips. She was all lean muscle and soft, subtle curves. “At what we will share.” He ached to kiss her.
The same thing must’ve been on her mind because she slid her hands up into his hair and brought his head down for precisely that. It was hungry and demanding as he wrapped his arms around her. Earlier, she’d been hesitant, caught by surprise.
Now she kissed him back like she was as impatient and needy and eager as he was.
She tugged his shirt out of his pants, slipped her hand under and across his skin. One of her lean, toned thighs eased between his.
The kiss deepened, turning heady, and she gave a little moan.
He wanted her in the worst way. Had for a long time. Ever since their chance run-in at the charity gala in Cheyenne. They’d lowered their guards, had drinks, dinner, real conversation. Deeper than casual chitchat. Laughed together. Brian had taken her hand. They’d ventured into the murmuring crowd where the band played something soft and romantic. On the dance floor, he’d pulled Charlie close, slid his hand down the bare expanse of her back, felt her shiver at his touch. Heard her breath catch in her throat. They moved in sync, two pieces of a puzzle that fit. Others dressed in sequins and tuxes eddied and swirled around them. Overhead, hundreds of tiny lights twinkled like stars. He gazed down at Charlie’s upturned face. Captivated by her beauty, by her smile, he’d kissed her without thinking, tasting the champagne on her lips. As she opened her mouth, sliding her tongue over his, wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing even closer, he’d thought he could tell where the night might lead.
Then she backed away and bolted. Fled home to Laramie and returned to giving him the cold shoulder.
For them to have a future, they couldn’t sleep together like this. Where she’d take him for a test drive and in the morning, dismiss it as a mistake.
He pulled back and met her gaze. “Not tonight.” He wasn’t going to blow it by being impulsive. “I made up the guest room for you.”
“Why?” she purred. “I thought I was welcome between your sheets.”
“You are welcome. In my home. And in my bed. But you’re not ready for the latter.”
She reached down, cupped his groin and massaged the unmistakable hardness of his desire. “It feels like we’re both ready to act on all thatchemistry. How about some sweaty, no-strings attached fun,” she said, low and breathy, her fingers stroking him.
He groaned, yearning to have the feel of her touch all over his body, but he eased her hand away. Kissed her knuckles. “That’s just it. I want strings and attachment. What Idon’twant is for us to make love, only to have you run afterward, like some skittish wild horse that’s been spooked.”
