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He grunted, thumbing in a return message. “Adam’s just tenacious. He wanted us to know that Benson will make herself available whenever Usher reschedules today’s appointment. I doubt it will be necessary.”
Reese agreed. She’d expected the terse text from the detective last night delaying the interview indefinitely. After hearing Mendes today, she assumed it was Chen’s statement, coupled with Breitbach’s ID on the liquor store’s footage, that had finally convinced Usher of her innocence, although he hadn’t admitted as much.
“Raiker’s also having trouble grappling with the idea of my requested two-week vacation. Probably because he’s never experienced one himself. He’s dangling a new case to whet my interest in flying back tomorrow.”
Her stomach twisted. She kept her focus firmly on the remaining filing cabinet contents she was sorting through. “I know you promised to stay as long as I needed protection. But the threats have been neutralized.” She felt his gaze on her. Refused to meet it. “You’ve fulfilled your duty.”
“It’s not duty keeping me here, Reese. It’s you.”
His words summoned a dangerous warmth. She couldn’t allow herself to embrace it. “I need to tell you a couple of things.”
He sat back on his haunches in front of the large garbage bag he was filling with the shredded paper and gave her his full attention.
“I decided to write the book.”
His grin was quick and delighted. “I’m glad. You’ll give Thorne’s other victims a voice, Reese. That’s important. His actions shouldn’t be the final word on their lives.”
“I didn’t want to relive my experience by writing it before.” When she realized her hands were twisting together, she stilled them. “Cowardly, I know. And then…well, I did relive it. Literally. And it didn’t break me. Because of you. Again.”
He swung his head slowly in negation. “Like I said, you’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever met.” Hayes was silent for a moment before adding, “If you’re saying you owe me a life debt, however, I have a few ideas about how to repay me.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’ll bet.”
“Aside from that. You can let me hang around for the next couple of weeks. I’ll help you out here, and then we can play tourist. Do some hiking. Show me more of the area. It’ll give you time to appreciate my hidden charms.”
Temptation layered over her trepidation. It’d be easy, so very easy, to accept what he was offering. To let herself believe that she could be different when everything in her life had proved the opposite.
“You’ve already noted some of them, of course.” He used his fingers to help enumerate them. “I’m relatively tidy. Can manage simple meals. What you may not know is I’m a better than decent dancer. And I don’t mind being objectified for my body. In fact, I encourage it.”
She firmed lips that wanted to curve. The man was incorrigible. “Good to know.”
He rose, his expression sobering. “I realize what’s between us scares you. I’m just asking that you give it a chance. Giveusa chance.”
“I want to.” Her chest threatened to explode with longing. “You can’t know how much. You make me wish…impossible things.”
His expression softened. “That’s a start.”
She looked away. “When Thorne entered the garage, and even right before that, I knew he was there.”
Hayes went still. “You sensed him.”
Because she didn’t want to face him, she turned to walk to the window and looked out at the lights dotting the street. “You said my ability would come back. You were right. I don’t know how to do this. I can’t figure a way to keep up my guard to avoid being ambushed by others’ thoughts while letting someone I care about in. Nothing has changed.”
“Everything’s changed,” he corrected her. “You’ve never told anyone in your life about that ability. You shouldered the secret yourself. But I already know, Reese.” She hadn’t heard him move, but he was standing before her when she turned, his tone as soothing as a shaman’s calming a skittish horse. It was no less effective on her. “Inner defenses are healthy. So is setting boundaries. But you’ve acquired new skills that can be applied now. And someone in your life who already understands the need for them.” He took her hands in his. “This is new to me, too, you know.”
She looked at him from beneath her eyelashes. “I doubt that.”
“What I feel? New. And for a Padres fan to boot.” He winced, then waited for her answering smile to fade before continuing. “But I’m asking you to take a leap of faith with me. We’ll take it slow. I won’t push.”
Reese gave a half laugh. “Liar.”
“Okay, just a little.”
His gaze was laden with expectation. She felt like she was balancing on a precipice, torn between scrambling for safety and a wild urge to jump into the terrifying unknown. Her gaze dropped to their hands. But she wouldn’t be leaping alone.
She tugged her fingers away to link her arms around his neck. “I’m betting I can talk Gordon into granting me a sabbatical to write the book. I can really work on it anywhere.”
A slow smile crossed his face. “You could say he owes you after you gave him the scoop on Thorne’s capture. And then used the weekend to write the article.” He kissed the side of her neck. Worked his way up her throat. “We’ll figure out the rest. We have time.” His lips settled on hers, and she let her earlier apprehension slip away.
Because she’d already made the only decision that mattered.