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Her shoulders were shaking. He pulled her to her feet and drew her into his arms. For a long moment, he simply held her until the tremors stopped. “You’ve been brave, Heather. Hang on for just a little longer.”
“I can’t get any of it out of my head,” she said, her words muffled by his jacket. “If they wanted me, why hurt Terry?”
“You said it earlier. They want to hurt you too. That’s what bad people do.” And he wanted to eradicate every last one of them if it would ease her grief. “It’s been a long day and you need rest.”
“He… He said Lester promised me to them.”
“I heard it.” Silently he sent out a challenge, inviting Lester to take another shot at this woman. “It won’t happen. I won’t let it happen.”
“But Lester is virtually untouchable.”
How did she know that? “Not this time. You pinned him down with this. You.” Dale rubbed his hands up and down her spine. “He won’t skate this time.” He wouldn’t let the bastard off this hook and he’d be sure Lester’s operation was burned to the ground. And then he’d scatter the ashes.
“Okay.” She leaned back, drying her cheeks on her sleeves. “I’m so tired, Dale.”
Her upturned face was pure temptation. “We’ll head back, soon.” He bent his head and brushed her lips with his. It was the wrong move and the right one all at once, and as she responded with a sweet sigh, he didn’t want to stop.
What was it about her that brought him racing in like a moth to flame? He admired her fierce strength, appreciated her fresh-faced beauty, but this wasn’t smart. Her lips parted and her tongue stroked gently against his. He pulled her hard against him, savoring every last second before he put a stop to the insanity.
His breath was quick, hers too as he checked on their prisoner. “Come rest a minute.” He dropped to the ground, bracing his back against a tree and she settled beside him. They sat quietly, waiting for Ross. The guard tried to stand a couple of times and wriggle out of the restraints, but he failed. In other circumstances, Dale might have laughed, though right now he wasn’t seeing any humor.
Long minutes later, Heather shifted, slipping her hand out of his. He hadn’t realized he’d still been holding it, but now that the connection was gone, he wanted it back.
Out here under the soft moonlight, there was no one to appreciate the act they’d started last night. His body didn’t care. He didn’t want to pretend anymore. He wanted to hold her, to taste her lips and breathe in the soft scent of her skin. Forever.
The realization terrified him. If he’d had half a brain cell left, he would have used it to scoot away from her and get some distance. Some perspective. Nothing close to reasonable intelligence was firing in his system now. He tried to blame it on the case—when the hell would Ross arrive?—but the truth wouldn’t be silent.
He liked her. He liked Heather Morris more than a little. She was too young. Too unpredictable. Worse, he didn’t just like her, he’d started to care for her, to feel protective in a capacity that went far beyond that of investigative partnership.
She interrupted him constantly—
“How was the guard going to get out of here?”
—even his thoughts.
Shit. He’d been so focused on tying this fight to the attack at the shelter, and then the threats to her, he hadn’t considered the rest of the guard’s situation. “I assume he has a ride waiting or a vehicle somewhere.”
“I wonder if he’s the insider within the park system.”
“Ross and your brother will sort it out.” He could practically hear the wheels turning in her head. “What do you want to do?”
“Deal with the evidence we have.” she replied, her voice so quiet he almost didn’t hear her. “Like you said. It’s our only option.”
“Heather, I’m s—”
“Don’t you dare apologize. I got you into this.” She sniffled and he worried she was crying, but when she spoke, her voice was strong and steady. “I had no idea the scope of this operation. Clearly, if Lester promised,” she hissed the word, “me to his men, he knew about my involvement long before I cracked the email and you identified him as the bankroll.”
“Which means someone higher up the food chain at DNR,” he muttered.
“Yes, it does. I’ve looked hard at Zelnick. When we get to the hotel, I’ll send that potential link to J.C.”
“Good idea,” Dale said. “I know you didn’t want him involved, but this operation is starting to feel like a hydra. He’ll need the head’s up.” He reached for her hand and her fingers curled around his. “We’ll get it resolved,” he vowed.
“This weekend?”
“Yes.” They didn’t have a choice or any extra time. His boss, his likely compromised boss, knew he was actively working on this and the investigation would be shut down. When that happened, Heather would be in terrible danger.
Finally, headlights sliced through the darkness and a truck rumbled up the road. “There he is.” Dale pushed to his feet, drawing his gun just in case this wasn’t Ross.
