Page 23

“Y ou didn’t get a look at his face at all?” Joe sat at the kitchen table, his ankle crossed over his knee, pen poised to the paper and a mug of coffee steaming on the table.

Ethan had sent the police to the crash site last night, but had asked that Joe wait until morning to take Riley’s statement.

And for that she was grateful. Her body ached from the accident, and despite being cuddled next to Ethan’s warm body all night, the crash had replayed over and over in her mind.

The raging headache from last night remained as a dull throb.

Morning light streamed in through the kitchen window, the sun bright and in such sharp contrast to the horrible event she’d survived.

She tightened her hands in her lap. Ethan’s palm smoothed over her shoulder for the tenth time since Joe had started asking her questions.

Thankfully, Ethan had called Jenny early this morning and told her about the accident.

She’d insisted Riley take the rest of the week off.

If she’d had to go into work today, she’d have been a wreck.

She shook her head. Joe sighed and tucked the pen in his shirt pocket.

“Well, we have a good vehicle description at least. He won’t be able to hide that kind of damage.

Your car is in bad shape, Riley. You’ll need a rental until the insurance decides what to do.

” He downed the rest of his coffee, and then stood.

“If anything else comes to mind, give me a call. I’ll be in touch. ”

Ethan stepped forward. “What about the DMV? Can’t you do a search and get a list of who owns that make and model of truck? There can’t be that many of them in town.” He crossed his arms over his chest, which made his already wide form take up almost the entire damn kitchen.

Riley stood and slid her arm under his elbow. His hand closed around hers. She’d spent all night picturing the large hood of the truck, its headlights closing in on her. And for the life of her, she couldn’t pinpoint anyone in town with that exact vehicle.

“Yeah, that’s an option, but it’s not reliable. He could be from any town nearby or, hell, he could live hours away. If you had a plate number, that’d be different.”

She pierced her bottom lip with her teeth. He wasn’t from a neighboring town. He was a Beaufort resident—otherwise he wouldn’t have been stalking her. But Joe was keeping the option open of this being a random attack. God, why couldn’t she have had the sense to get a look at his plate?

“But it’s a start,” Ethan pressed.

Joe nodded. “That it is. I’ll see what we can do.” He slipped outside and shut the door behind him.

Ethan turned and rested his hands on her shoulders, gently kneading. “You okay?”

She swallowed. Reliving last night had set her nerves on edge. She clasped her hands tightly in front of her so he wouldn’t see them tremor. “I’m fine.”

His lips quirked and his hands moved to rest on her waist. She leaned back against the counter and ran her hands over his forearms.

His thumbs toyed with the waistband of her jeans, sending goosebumps across her midsection. His gaze sharpened on her, seemingly unaware of the effect his touch was having. “You said you have her journal, right?”

Riley nodded. She’d only read halfway through, so it was possible there could still be clues hidden in the pages.

“We need to go through it with a fine-tooth comb. I want you to stay with me until we find this guy.” Ethan brought his hands to her hair and brushed it behind her shoulders. “This is so much more than him trying to scare you.”

Her heart beat steadily in her chest. “If he wants to get rid of me, he must be afraid I’m getting close to him… But I don’t feel like I am.”

Ethan scoffed. “You’re the closest friend Hanna had, right?

Maybe she told you something, dropped a hint about him…

anything. Then you moved back here after she went missing, you’ve been questioning people, talking about Hanna, not letting the situation sleep when the rest of the town would like to forget there could be a monster among them. You’re a threat.”

She dropped her forehead to his chest and squeezed her eyes shut.

She’d been so focused on finding Hanna, so damn consumed, that she hadn’t once thought about herself.

Ethan’s knuckle found her chin and he lifted her head up for her eyes to meet his.

Fog swirled through her brain. For the life of her, she couldn’t recall Hanna hinting about anyone.

But if she had… and his identity lay in one of their conversations…she’d never forgive herself for not listening.

“It’s all right, you’re safe. Whoever he is will have to go through me first.”

Warmth spread through her and she curved her lips into a smile.

While she had chugged a cup of coffee waiting for Joe to arrive, Ethan had dressed and shaved.

The stubble that had adorned his jaw this morning was now gone.

She reached her hand up to coast her fingers on it, reveling in its smoothness.

He turned his face to press a kiss on her palm.

Heat scorched her. “Do you think Joe will be able to locate the owner of the truck?”

Ethan grimaced. “I think he doesn’t want to acknowledge that the person behind this or Hanna’s disappearance lives right here in Beaufort.

On top of that, he wasn’t sold that the driver of the truck could be related to Hanna’s disappearance or your break-in.

I don’t believe in coincidences.” His fingers skimmed under the hem of her shirt, his thumbs smoothed over her belly.

A tremor rippled down her spine. “I’ll do some of my own digging. ”

His gaze moved over her face, then dropped to trail down her body and back up again. “I think we should talk about your ex and that guy who lives above you. What’s his name, Michael?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “What do they have to do with anything?”

“Brian was an old boyfriend. He could still have interest in you or—”

She shook her head and a scoff rumbled over her tongue. “I seriously doubt it.”

Ethan’s shoulder lifted and dropped. “You could be right, but the possibility is there. And Michael is in close proximity to you. He’d easily be able to watch your comings and goings.”

“Brian, maybe. But Michael? He’s older and he’s been a prominent resident here for years.”

His mouth came down to hover inches above hers. “As far as I’m concerned, everyone is a suspect.”

“I’ll tell you whatever you want to know. But can we discuss it later?”

His fingers flexed on her back. “Of course.” His lips inched closer to hers, hovering.

Her pulse hammered against her throat and she closed the gap between them.

His mouth curved against hers, his tongue gently licked her bottom lip.

Her breath stalled in her lungs as pleasure surged through her body.

Last night, he’d pulled the plug on their hot and heavy moment in the shower, making her question his attraction.

Now there was no denying it.

His thigh slipped between hers, pressing against where she wanted him most. His hand fell to the small of her back, crushing her to him.

Her fingers tunneled through the hair at the back of his head, pulling him closer, wanting more. He lifted her in his arms and set her on the kitchen counter. His tongue moved through her teeth, taunting hers to mingle with his. A deep throbbing tore through her.

“Mmm…Ethan,” she moaned.

His smile moved against her. His mouth left hers to trail down her throat, and over her collarbone. He pushed the top of her shirt and bra aside, exposing her breast. His hot, wet mouth closed over her nipple, his tongue moved around the tight hard nub until a sob broke through her throat.

“Riley. I want you.” The blues of his eyes darkened to deep indigo, desire ebbed through her. His thick hands coasted expertly up her thighs, his thumbs grazing the insides of her shorts.

Her skin tingled with need. She dug her fingernails into his scalp.

His mouth pressed to hers again, taking her tongue in his and gently suckling.

Her toes curled and her back arched as his index finger slid into the leg of her shorts, his fingertip moved aside her underwear.

Her teeth nipped into his tongue, craving more.

His free hand held her ass, pressing her closer to the edge of the counter while his finger swiped over her wetness.

Her body jolted and she cried into his mouth. His body turned rock-solid against hers, his erection strained against the inside of her knee.

Oh god, she needed him.

He pulled away and pressed his forehead to hers. Her breath came out in throaty gasps as his finger continued to explore, taunting her clitoris, and finally sliding deep into her.

She cried out as he stretched and filled her with his finger.

Ring, Ring!

Her eyes snapped open and his finger stilled. Hot, starving blue eyes slammed into her. Her breath spiraled from her lips, mixing with his. She swallowed and wiggled against him.

“That’s my phone, I should get it.” Dammit, she didn’t want to stop.

But it could be the police…or Hanna’s parents.

His head dropped back and he groaned, but he pulled his hand out of her shorts.

A low chuckle sounded in his chest. “You’re going to kill me,” he moaned.

She laughed and hopped down from the counter and raced for the bedroom.

The ringing stopped before she crossed the small house and the ding of a voicemail alerted her when she scooped her phone up from the nightstand.

Her pulse slammed into her throat. She closed her eyes and forced her heart rate to slow down.

Fear dug its claws into her heart. It could be him…

She sucked in a deep breath and unlocked the device.

A new text from her sister Bailey flashed across the screen right above the missed call notification.

Shit. This morning she’d seen a missed call from Bailey last night, and a text this morning asking her to call. That had been hours ago.