Page 89

“Because… my imagination fell far short of grasping just how beautiful Farrah was.Now I know… and I…”
A rough sound jerked from his throat.“That’s what you’re worried about?”
“I’m worried about other things.But I know you’ll tell me what you can when you can.”She held her breath.“The hospital records going missing.Is it true?”
His mouth tightened.“Yes,” he answered tersely.
She shut her eyes and breathed out shakily.“Did you have something to do with it?”
“No.Not directly.”His tone pleaded for her to stop her line of questioning.
She placed her hand on his naked chest and felt his heartbeat jolt at her touch.“It’s okay, I won’t ask any more.I can go back to trying to deal with how gorgeous Farrah was and how awful I feel for hating her because she had you first.”
He speared his fingers in her hair and angled her face up to his.“Don’t do this to yourself.I belong to you, Bethany.Do you need a reminder fuck?Because I can oblige if it helps you stay grounded in the fact that I’m yours and you’re mine.”
“God, Zach…” She sighed out his name.He groaned and pressed her back against the doorway.
His lips brushed the corner of her mouth.“Keep saying my name like that, and I’ll throw in a Christ-you-undo-me fuck too.”
She laughed.“How many categories are there?”
“We can work our way through it and find out.”He cursed as a knock came at the door.
Reluctantly, he dropped his hands and walked over to open it.Philip silently handed him her iPad, nodded and retreated.
“Does he have anything?”
Zach’s mouth tightened, and he set her tablet on a console table.“He will by morning.Go back to bed, Peaches.I’ll join you shortly.”
“I don’t?—”
“It’s okay, I’ll behave.For now.I just need to make a couple of calls.”He caught her to him and kissed her long and deep, then pushed her toward the hallway leading to the bedroom.
She turned and watched him walk away, her heart in her throat.
Every time she fooled herself into thinking they were making strides forward, something happened to set them back.
Frustration and fear had her altering her course, choosing another short hallway in the suite that led to the balcony outside.
Rome was spread out before her, and in the distance the large imposing dome of the Vatican loomed.She gripped the railing and tried to infuse hope into her heart.
She fell short.
Would they make it?Would they survive?Someone out there knew what Zach had done.The possibility of losing him rose like the dome before her, threatening to shatter her.
She wasn’t sure how long she stood there, trying to fight back the black hopelessness, but she felt his presence the moment he stepped onto the wide space.
“You’re supposed to be in bed.”
He came toward her, tucking his cell phone in to his pocket before strong arms bracketed her.
“All done with your call?”
He nodded.“We’re meeting on Friday.”
“We?”
“Yes.It’s time, Bethany.”