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“With what?” Rachel sat forward.
“A wedding veil over her head,” he said softly.
Rachel’s face paled. “The case is still open. The perp was never identified.”
She scrolled through the data. “Her fiancé was questioned but had an alibi. Her parents put up a reward for any information leading to the arrest of their daughter’s killer.”
Griff grabbed a pen and paper and scribbled down the names of Christy’s parents and the address where they lived. He also wrote down the fiancé’s name and address. “It’s been fifteen years. What are the chances they live in the same place?”
“I can check them against the Department of Motor Vehicles database.” She switched databases. “I’ll check Christy’s father’s name first. If her parents divorced, his name won’t have changed.” Five addresses popped up when she keyed in Mark Severs and Colorado Springs. One of them was the one from the crime report. The license was current.
Rachel turned to Griff, her face tense. “We’re going to Colorado Springs.”
“Check for the fiancé,” Griff said. “We might get lucky and interview both while we’re there.”
Rachel scanned for Joseph Penders in Colorado Springs. When she didn’t get a hit, she expanded to the entire state. One came up in Denver. “We’ll start with Christy’s father.”
She pushed back her chair and stood.
Griff stood as well.
For a moment, Rachel appeared to be fine. Then her eyes rolled back, she swayed and her knees gave way.
Griff caught her before she hit the ground and hauled her up against him. “Hey,” he whispered against her ear. “Talk to me, Rach.”
She leaned her head back and blinked. “What…happened?”
He smiled. “You passed out.”
Her brow puckered. “I don’t pass out.”
“Sorry, sweetheart. You just did.”
She raised a hand to her head. “I must’ve gotten up too quickly.” Though she was conscious, she didn’t try to move away.
Griff was content to hold her for as long as she’d let him. Her body was warm and soft, her breasts pressed against his chest, the scent of her shampoo wrapping around his senses, making him want to bury his hands in her hair and press a kiss to her full, rosy lips. He lowered his head, his mouth so close he could almost taste hers.
She stared up into his eyes for the longest moment.
God, he was tempted.
Hell, he was only human.
Griff brushed his lips across hers, only intending to taste. When she opened to him, he couldn’t hold back. He crushed her mouth, his tongue thrusting past her teeth, meeting hers in a primal dance.
How long they remained together, he couldn’t be sure. A second…a lifetime…it wasn’t long enough.
Somewhere in the back of his consciousness, the sound of footsteps brought him back to his senses. He raised his head.
Rachel’s tongue swept across her kiss-swollen lips. “I think I can stand on my own.” She pressed her hands against his chest.
Griff loosened his hold around her waist but didn’t release her until he was certain she wouldn’t fall again.
Rachel straightened. “I’m okay.”
He dropped his arms to his sides as the footsteps arrived at the door to the office.
Deputy Dalton stood there. “Just checking to see if you were still here.”
