“We’re going to find these assholes,” Cooper said into the silence.
She jerked her head to him and nodded when he looked her way. “I know.”
“Do you?” He parked the vehicle in front of their next house and turned to her. “I know this is frustrating. We could be wrong about our location, but that doesn’t matter. I’ll be with you to help for as long as you want me.”
She looked down at their joined hands. “Leads may take me away from here.”
“I know.”
Marlee had tested the waters with those words, and she was surprised—and pleased—by his response. She lifted her eyes to him. “You’d do that?”
He drew in a breath and looked out the windshield for a moment before turning back to her. “My father’s accidental death left our family with a tidy sum of money, as you well know from your background check on me. I’ve done a multitude of jobs and never found anything that seemed to fit. I’m lucky, I know. The money allows me to be picky. My mother is a master when it comes to investing, and she taught me. I make more with my investments than I do with any job. So, I spend my time helping my friends when they need an extra hand.” His look in his forest green eyes intensified as he removed his Stetson and set it on the dashboard. “When I meet someone like you, I’m able to devote however much time you need. I’m here. And willing.”
She wanted to throw herself against his body. They had spent the night in her motel room, and she had actually slept for the second night in a row. As good as that was, it wasn’t as nice as waking up next to Cooper with his large frame curled around hers in bed.
“I want you so bad right now,” she admitted.
His smile was slow. Seductive. “Woman, you have no idea how much I want you. It was everything I could do last night to allow you to sleep when all I wanted was to taste your body once more.”
“Keep talking like that, and I’ll straddle you.”
He took her hand and brought it across the way to rest on his hard cock. “If there’s any doubt to my words, the proof is right here.”
Marlee scooted closer, hating the center console in the truck that kept them separated. She brought her lips to his and softly kissed him. She laid her free hand on his cheek and sighed. “This, what I’m feeling now, what I’ve felt since I first met you … it terrifies me.”
His hands cupped her face. “There’s nothing to be scared about. I’ve got you.”
She wanted to believe him. It would be so easy to hand her heart to him. Oh, who was she kidding? He already had it. She wasn’t sure when it had happened, but it had. Quietly, softly. He had scooped it up as easily as he smiled.
“Trust me,” he urged her. “I won’t hurt you.”
Marlee licked her lips, eager to press her mouth against his again. “You can’t promise that.”
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t piss you off,” he said with a smile. “I said I wouldn’t hurt you.”
She laughed softly and gave him a brief kiss. “Oh, I’ve no doubt I’ll make you angry.”
“It takes a lot.”
“I have a knack for it,” she stated. “Truly. It’s a gift.”
He shrugged while smiling. “No one is perfect, right?”
“I don’t even know what we’re talking about here.”
“Yes, you do,” he insisted.
Marlee suddenly sat back in her seat and looked forward. “I barely know you.”
“You do know me, though. Do you know everything? No. Just as I don’t know everything about you. That’s the fun part. We get to keep figuring it out.”
“But what if I’m not what you think I am.”
Cooper was silent for a moment. “I think you’re a woman who is dedicated to finding the lost and hunting criminals. I think you’re a woman who forgets to take care of herself because she’s looking out for everyone else. I think you’re a woman who has one of the biggest hearts around. I think you’re a woman who is used to doing things on her own but could use someone with her. I think you’re a woman who doesn’t need anyone. I think you’re special. One-of-a-kind. And you’re the woman I want to be with.”
She had yearned to hear these words, but now that Cooper had said them, she didn’t know what to do. All she kept thinking about was how close he was to everyone around him. She couldn’t continue to do her job and stay in one spot—be that in Texas or California. And speaking of California, there was her parents.
“Say something,” Cooper urged.
“Nothing has ever felt more right than being with you.” Marlee turned her head to meet his gaze. “These past few days have been the best of my life.”
He smiled widely. “And I wasn’t even on my best game. Just wait.”
“Maybe in another life, this could work.”
His smile died slowly.
She looked away and grabbed her clipboard. “You have deep roots here, ones that have been tended to for decades. My parents are in California and need me more than I can even be there to help. Then there’s my job. I’m all over the place, but never in one location long enough to call it home.”
Silence met her words. She couldn’t look at him because she was afraid of what she’d see in his eyes. Once she did, she knew she’d crumble. She had to stand strong. Because while things might be good now, if he came with her, he would eventually get homesick and return. He’d probably come back to her, but it would be shorter and shorter each time. She didn’t begrudge him that. Her line of work was difficult, and that was on an easy day. And there were very, very few easy days.
Marlee opened the door and stepped out of the vehicle. She closed the door and started walking, even as it felt as if her heart were breaking into a million pieces. It had been the right decision. She knew that.
Then why does it feel so wrong?
There wasn’t an answer. The fact was, her real chance at happiness sat in the truck behind her. And she was throwing it away.
To save him. To save myself the heartache that will eventually find its way to me.
Yeah, she was a coward. She didn’t even want to take the chance that everything might turn out fine with Cooper. Because that would mean putting her heart on the line, and she wasn’t strong enough to do that. Everyone thought that she was stronger than most because she did her job alone.
What no one realized was that she was the weakest of all. She was scared of everything, so she closed herself off.
Marlee was nearly to the front door of the house when her phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw Stephanie’s name. She’d forgotten about the message she’d left earlier that morning. Marlee quickly answered. “Hey. Thanks for returning my call.”
“Not at all. I’m sorry it took so long. It’s crazy in the office today. Not sure how long I can stay on.”
“Understood. Did you happen to do a search on Kate Sommerset? I know it’s a fake name, but I’ve not been able to locate her real one.”
The sound of a can being opened came across the line. “Wish I had better news. I’ve got nothing for you.”
“Nothing?” Now that was just odd. If anyone could find something on a person, it was the FBI.