AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Prologue
He was perfect.
Until three months ago, Lark Lawson would have sworn that she’d never fall in love.She’d avoided the situation for twenty-eight years, after all.She’d neverclickedwith anyone.Hadn’t felt the insane attraction that was supposed to exist in books.She’d never looked at someone and thought…I want to spend forever with you.
All of that had changed when she met Oliver Foxx.FBI Special Agent Oliver Foxx.Smart, loyal, dedicated…and sexy as hell.Oliver had rolled into her florist shop one day and from that first moment when he’d confessed his confusion at picking out flowers for his mother…
She’d started to fall.
The candlelight flickered from the middle of their table.They were currently at a posh restaurant in Vegas.Expensive food.Stunning service.Not that she cared about any of that.But…
This is one of those places where proposals happen.And Oliver had definitely been hinting that he had something major to tell her.Was three months too soon for a marriage proposal?
Maybe but…
But last night, Oliver had finally lost that iron-clad self-control of his.They’d given in to the desire that seemed to pulse beneath the surface whenever they were together.Their passionate kisses hadn’t been enough last night.Not for her.Not for him.
And the sex that had followed…
Oh.My.God.She crossed her legs, aware of an ache in her core because…I want more.So much more.She’d raked her nails down his back last night.Come for him over and over.And…
I love him.She wanted to tell him that news right then and there.The way she felt wasn’t just about the phenomenal sex they’d shared.She loved him.
But the friendly waiter was talking about wine.Her gaze darted from the waiter back to Oliver.She found Oliver’s dark, intense gaze locked right on her.For a moment, his handsome face seemed almost…angry, and she tensed.Automatically, she reached out and curled her fingers around his hand as it pressed to the top of the table.Or, rather, as his hand pressed to the white cloth on top of their table.“Oliver?”
He sent her a smile.A tight one that didn’t reach his eyes.His head turned toward the waiter.“Just bring us your best bottle of wine, would you?Thanks.”
The waiter hurried away.
She kept her hand on top of Oliver’s.“Is something wrong?”
A muscle jerked along his jaw as he focused on her once again.“The case I’m working…” His voice came out gruff.“It’s been…real brutal.”
Her stomach knotted.Oliver worked Violent Crimes at the FBI, and he rarely talked about his work with her.Not that shedidn’twant him to talk about it.She did, but the job required him to keep things confidential.But she knew about the case he was currently investigating.It would be impossiblenotto know.The stories about the attacks had been on the news for months.
Someone had been abducting and murdering women in Vegas.The women—all with dark hair and in their twenties—were later found, strangled, with a coil of white rope still around their necks.And in their hands?A bouquet of white flowers.Mostly roses, but also carnations, peonies, and even hydrangeas.Because flowers were such a big part of her life, she’d zeroed in on the images that had been posted in the media.She’d even thought that maybe she could help Oliver with his case.
But…
During their time together, he’d never asked for her expertise.And, really, what was she going to do in a murder case?A case with an actual serial killer?
The thought of a serial killer hunting in her city had goose bumps rising on her arms.“I know you want to catch him.”
Oliver’s lashes flickered.If possible, his square jaw hardened even more.
Right.Of course, he wanted to catch the killer.What a silly thing for her to say.Oliver had to deal with the victims’ families.He had to see the dead bodies.Lark had no idea how he did the job day in and day out.When you fought monsters all the time, didn’t it take a toll on you?
Her gaze darted around the restaurant.Dimly lit.Soft music playing in the background.Couples huddled close together.A romantic night for so many.Only now it seemed…wrong.Wrong when Oliver was surrounded by so much death.She squeezed his hand.“We don’t have to be here.Why don’t we go to your place and relax in private?Whatever you have to tell me…” Lark licked her lips.“We can do it there.”
He glanced down at his watch, then back up at her.“Not time to leave yet.”
She blinked.That was an odd thing to say.
He cleared his throat.“I mean, you haven’t even had a drink, much less dinner.Besides, I need to be here with you tonight.”
I need to be here with you tonight.The words chased some of the chill from her body just as the waiter arrived and opened the wine.He poured with a flourish for them.Normally on their dates, Oliver usually did the whole wine tasting routine.Tonight, he didn’t.He didn’t even touch the wine that had been poured for him.
She did.She grabbed her wine with her left hand and took a big, fortifying sip.This is it.You go first.Don’t be scared.Only she’d never actually said these words to a man before…
