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After meeting Reisman for the first time recently, Ethan realized that Alexa’s last meeting with her mother had been far worse than she’d ever let on. Somehow, everything was clearer with the distance of time. How a life of solitude and abuse had caused the wariness in her eyes, the guard so at odds with her gut-wrenching beauty. It explained why she’d been slow to smile. Slower to trust. At the time, instead of wondering what had caused her defenses, he’d been focused on slipping beneath them. Each smile he’d teased from her had felt like a reward. Each kiss an unexpectedgift.
She’d told him she was leaving him so he could have the life that would have been his before the pregnancy. What he’d never been able to make her understand then was that everything had irrevocably changed once she’d walked into his life. And again, when she’d walked out ofit.
It didn’t matter. Not anymore. If all they had were a few stolen moments before they parted again, Ethan wasn’t going to deny himselfthat.
This time would be different. When this case was over, they’d walk away without regrets. He tucked Alexa closer to his side and shut his eyes. And struggled to silence the apprehension thatlingered.
* * *
Alexa still woke up slowly.There was tossing and turning involved. At one point, she buried her head in the pillow. The early morning sun streaming into the room had awakened Ethan and would eventually—despite her best efforts—wake her,too.
She flopped onto her back, one arm folded over her eyes. Moments later, she lowered it, a frown marring her beautiful brow. And finally, after several minutes, her eyelids flutteredopen.
He smiled, charmed. “Good morning.” Ethan watched the emotions flash across her face. Shock. Confusion. Realization. Embarrassment. Followed by a languid smile that had his blood heatingagain.
“Ah…hello.” She struggled to sit up in bed, making a desperate grab for the sheet when it slipped below her breasts and pulled it higher. “What time isit?”
“Early.” He rolled to one elbow while surreptitiously tugging at the sheet she held. “Should have closed the blinds lastnight.”
She lifted a hand to push her hair back over her shoulder, her gaze going to the window. “That would have helped.” She gave another pull at the sheet. He tugged it down another couple of inches, enough to bare onenipple.
Alexa gave a wild grab for the bedcover and found it caught securely byhim.
“Then again,” he mused, reaching out a finger to tease her breast, “there’s something to be said for daylight.” He rolled over her, propping his weight on his elbows and kissed her, long andlingeringly.
“Ethan…” shestarted.
There was a primitive thrill at the sound of his name on her lips, her skin naked against his. And he was beginning to be grateful the dawn light had woken them early. Alexa’s arms slowly twined around his neck, one hand going to his jaw while she opened her mouth beneathhis.
In the next moment, he stilled, listening. Then mentally cursed when he recognized the small sound that had interrupted them. “Mycell.”
He moved away unwillingly and rolled off the bed, going in search of his pants. Drew the phone out of the pocket, he answered. “Yeah.”
There was a momentary pause and then, “Ethan?” His eyes slid shut for a moment. Jonah Bannon. The jolt back to reality wasjarring.
“What’sup?”
“I stopped by your room and knocked, but there was noanswer.”
Because he hadn’t beeninhis room. Ethan cut his gaze to Alexa. She was sitting against the pillows, the sheet neatly in place around her now that he wasn’t there to devil her. “I’m out for a run.” The expression Alexa made at his excuse had him grinning. “DMV send copies of the Tillman licensesyet?”
“Yeah. And you’re going to want to seethis.”
Adrenaline zinged up his spine. “I’ll be at your room in a few.” Hedisconnected.
“One of the driver’s license photosmatched?”
“We’ll soon see.” Ethan sat on the edge of the bed, reaching for his clothes. He’d have to take a few minutes to shower and change, and he counseled himself to patience. They’d thought they’d been close before, only to have their suspects cleared. His gaze went to Alexa who had apparently forgotten her need for modesty and was swiftly striding, gloriously nude, to the bathroom. He took a moment to enjoy the view as he finished dressing, all the while damning Ian’stiming.
The case came first. It was telling that he even had to remind himself of that. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t feel a lingering sense of regret when he opened the door to her room and closed it softly behindhim.
* * *
“Far more similaritiesto Patrick’s forensic sketch than Fornier’s.” Alexa surveyed the copy of the license photo critically, excitement radiating through her veins. “Take away the gray hair and mustache—and the attempt in the fake ID to make his skin look more weathered—and that’s thisguy.”
“No mistake about it,” Ethan agreed. They were all huddled around the desk in Bannon’s bedroom. “And look at the address listed.” He sent Alexa a meaningful look. “Brandon, Manitoba. It’s a couple of hours away from the AssiniboineRiver.”
The satisfaction filling her had less to do with her correct assumption and much more with the knowledge they were closing in on the offender. He couldn’t know they had descriptions of his vehicles. Or that they knew his name. Where he lived. Those facts were weapons they’d use to track him down. And after the image he’d ambushed her with yesterday, Alexa allowed herself a moment to enjoy their advantage. “What’snext?”