Page 39 of Critical Doubt

"How's it going with him?"

"I don't know. It's crazy around here."

"I'm sure it is. But maybe this is a second chance for you both."

"I doubt that. Although…"

"What? Tell me something interesting, something that doesn't have to do with death or missing friends."

After hearing the shower running upstairs, she said, "Well, we did kiss. It was an impulsive, spontaneous thing after the explosion. It didn't mean anything."

"How was it?"

"It took me back in time," she admitted. "Ryker has changed a lot, but he's still pretty irresistible."

"You should be careful, Savannah."

"I thought you liked him."

"I do, but Paul used to tell me that Ryker would never settle down. He liked his freedom too much. And he was always about the job, the mission. He didn't have time or interest in personal relationships."

"I'm not looking for a relationship. It was just a kiss. Maybe we both just needed to know if it was like we remembered. It won't happen again."

"I can't believe it, but you just made me smile."

"Well, I'm glad I could do that."

"If Ryker is as irresistible to you as you say, then maybe you shouldn't be hanging out with him. I don't want you to get hurt."

"We're helping each other. It's fine. It's nothing."

"If you say so. Feel free to stay at my house, Savannah. Ryker, too. Eat the food that's there. Make yourselves at home."

"Thanks. I'm not sure what the plan is, but I'll be in touch." She ended the call and slipped her phone into the back pocket of her jeans as she stood up. She moved into the kitchen to get some water out of the fridge. It felt really good sliding down her dry, parched throat. She also grabbed another cookie off the plate on the island and ate it in two bites. She was thinking about grabbing another one when Ryker walked in.

Her stomach flipped over at the sight of him. He cleaned up very nicely, his brown hair damp and wavy, his cheeks freshly shaved and full of color, his eyes lit up with more energy than she'd seen in him previously. "You look like you got a new lease on life. Was the shower magical?"

He smiled. "It felt that way. Did you speak to Abby?"

"Yes. She's going to stay in Ridgeview for at least a couple of days."

"Good. That's the best place for her."

"She said we can stay here if we want."

"I'm thinking about taking a drive to Atlanta. I want to stop in at the company where Todd was working, see if anyone knows anything."

She liked that idea a lot. "I'll go with you."

"I don't think so."

"Why not?"

"After you almost died, you have to ask?"

"That's not the first close call I've ever had, Ryker. I'm a trained agent. I can handle myself."

"But you usually work with a team, with backup. Maybe you should bring them in."