Page 74 of Trap ’N’ Trace

The young woman in the now crumpled photo. Brit. “I take it things didn’t work out.”

He grunted. “She was excited by the diamond ring, all right. Not about me becoming an FBI agent.”

“Why not? I would be proud if the man I loved worked for the FBI.” Whoops. Heat flooded her face. She hadn’t meant her words to come out quite like that.

“Thanks, but she definitely wasn’t proud. She expected me to go to medical school then join her father’s orthopedic practice and make the big bucks of a surgeon so she could live in style. What I thought was happy news wound up being the very thing that split us up.”

“I’m sorry.” His iron-hard jaw tightened, leaving her wondering if… “Do you still love her?”

“God no.” He laughed bitterly. “I just felt stupid for not seeing her for what she was.”

“A gold-digging bitch?” As Lily had indicated last night.

The corners of his mouth lifted. “I guess we have more in common than we realized. The Yankees and people wanting to marry us for our money.”

“Who knew?” Kat grabbed another cookie sandwich, touching it to his in a mock toast. A cookie toast. “Here’s to finding the right person.”

“The right fiscally responsible person.”

They laughed and bit into their cookies. A gob of icing squirted onto her lower lip.

“Kat.” Using his finger, he swiped off the frosting before it fell onto her shirt. As he licked his finger, his gaze met hers and he swallowed.

Kat’s heart raced. There it is again. So much heat and emotion pouring off him, she could feel it straight through her blouse. Kiss me. Kiss me, dammit.

He leaned in closer until their mouths were inches apart. Her heart pounded faster. If he didn’t kiss her soon she’d go up in flames.

His lips grazed hers, softly at first then with more pressure. He urged her mouth open, and oh yes. Finally. When their tongues met, need spiked in her blood. She wanted to touch him but was afraid this was some kind of magic spell and one wrong move would shatter the moment.

Still not touching her with his hands, he deepened the kiss and it was all she could do not to groan into his mouth. He tasted of sugar, chocolate, and vanilla. The unhurried way his tongue danced with hers was more sensual than the first time they’d kissed. That kiss had been fast and furious and more about easing their grief. Then, they’d barely known each other. This time was completely different. Now they were just two people who liked and wanted each other.

With a groan, he pulled away. No, she wanted to scream. The look on his face mimicked what he’d said to her in the library last week: You’re a witness. My job is to protect you, not… make love to you. He hadn’t said those words then, and he didn’t now. He didn’t have to.

His chest expanded as he took a deep breath. “I really should take the dogs out.” He shoved his feet into his shoes and headed for the door. The dogs joined him, and a moment later she was alone.

All the energy bled from her body. She sank to the sofa and grabbed one of the fluffy, frilly-fringed pillows, holding it to her chest. They were standing on either side of an emotional boundary, looking over the edge at something that could have dire consequences. He’d set that boundary. To keep me safe. It was a line he couldn’t—or wouldn’t—cross.

Would getting involved really undermine his ability to protect her? He seemed to think so. Maybe it’s my priorities that are messed up.

Kat dug her nails deeper into the pillow. Life was a precious gift, and someone out there wanted to end hers.

Dayne and the dogs charged back inside. “Are you sure it’s him?” he said into the cell pressed to his ear. “When did he get there?”

Kat shot to her feet, tracking Dayne as he paced the foyer, looking grim. She threw the pillow to the sofa and moved closer. Whoever he was talking to, the news wasn’t good. That seemed to be a recurring theme in her life.

He ended the call and slammed his phone onto the table. “Clarkstown PD found Jonathan Bale’s car. Bale wasn’t in it.”

“Who was?” She half expected him to say they’d found another dead body.

“His girlfriend. She was on her way to visit Bale. He checked himself into rehab. A month ago, and he’s still there.”

Which meant Bale couldn’t have killed Rebecca or Amy. Which meant…

The real killer was still out there.

Chapter Twenty

The things I do in the line of duty.