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Her feet had become rooted to the spot.“That’s not true.”
He looked toward the fireplace.“It’s cold.I’ll start the fire.”He walked close to the fireplace.Hit a little button and the fire flared to life.
“It’s not true,” she said again.“Tell me—tell me it’s not.”
Oliver glanced back at her.“I’ve been inside the minds of killers for so long that sometimes, I worry I can’t think like a normal man any longer.”
Okay, those weren’t exactly the words she’d wanted him to give her.Exactly?How about not even close?“That’s not what you were supposed to say.”
“I know.”Low.“I’m supposed to say something reassuring.Something that makes you stop looking at me with fear in your eyes.”
Did she have fear in her eyes?“I’m not afraid of you.”Plenty of other things, yes.But she wasn’t scaredofOliver.
“Liar.”He turned his back on the fireplace and returned to her.Stopped only when they were nearly touching.“You’re so scared of me that you’re practically shaking right now.”
“Y-you just told me that Nate Quest wants me dead.Knowing someone is hunting you—that would scare anyone.”Her chin lifted.“But I’m not scared ofyou.”
“No?”
“No.”
He bent toward her.Brought his mouth temptingly close once again and whispered, “Liar.”Oliver breathed the word like a caress.Then he started to back away once more.
Her hands grabbed for his suit coat.Clenched around the fabric.“You aren’t a normal man.”
Pain flashed on his face.
“Normal would be too boring for you.You court danger every chance you get.You take risks.You track people who truly do terrify me.”She tightened her grip.“And despite everything that has happened between us, I can promise you,I am not afraid of you.You wouldn’t ever physically hurt me.”
His head moved in a slow shake.“No.”
“You don’t want me because of the Bridal Killer.”
His jaw tensed.
“You want me for the same reason I want you—because when we touch, need explodes.Because there’s a charge between us that just burns hotter and hotter even as we fight to stop it.Itriedto stop wanting you.I can’t.”The full, humiliating truth for her?“Despite everything, I need you as much now as I ever have before.”
“You have me.”
No, she didn’t.
“I will protect you, Lark.I told you that.I’m right here, and Midas is camped out in a house close to us.Of all the people in the world, he’s the one I want watching my back the most.He’s a good friend, and I’m lucky to have him.We will both make sure you’re secure.”
“You cleared him.”
A furrow appeared between Oliver’s brows.
“Midas told me about his father.About how he was being set up.Midas said you didn’t stop until you’d cleared him.And youarehelping me.If there is evidence to exonerate my brother, you’ll find it.”If.God, that hurt to say.If.But, no, therehadto be evidence.She couldn’t believe that Lane was guilty.
Not Lane.
“Midas doesn’t typically talk about his past.”His lashes flickered.“Surprised he got so chatty with you.”
“I think he was mad,” she responded.“Guy seemed pretty upset.He kept telling me I’d broken your heart.”
Oliver’s gaze cut away from her.“Can’t happen when you don’t have a heart to break.”
She’d had her hand over his heart just moments before.She’d felt the fierce pounding.A wild beat, for her.“You can’t fuck me without emotion.”His words.
