Page 67 of Fatal Vision

“That’s a lie.”

His gaze snapped up to hers. “Are you reading me?”

“I don’t have to read your micro expressions to know that.”

Besides, the big doofus rarely let his emotions leak if he was really trying to contain them. He was good at evasion, even better at covering his feelings with jokes and innuendos. Pretense.

He wasn’t hiding anything right now. Not well, anyway.

“I’ve always loved you, Colton. I don’t know what got in the way of that, but I still do.”

He came out of his chair and over to her, taking her by the arms and lifting her up. He bent his head and stared down into her eyes and everything in her body lit up with that wicked hot fusion of desire he induced. “You’re the oxygen in the air I breathe, Shel,” he muttered low and soft. “The blood running in my veins. There’s never been anyone else for me.”

She caught her bottom lip with her teeth to keep from sobbing. Until that moment, she hadn’t realized she’d been holding it all back. So much pain and fear.

Shelby Claiborne, crack FBI agent, a woman who wasn’t supposed to fear anything, brought to her knees by love.

The irony.

A bitter laugh at her foolishness tore from her throat, sounding more like the sob she’d been holding back. She sagged into Colton’s chest, the tears flowing.

The sobs came hard, surprising her with their intensity. He held her tight, rubbing her back, caressing her hair, his fingers lingering on the scar above her ear.

“I missed you so much,” she cried into his T-shirt. “When I woke from the coma, I was so scared. So out of it. I couldn’t focus, couldn’t make coherent sentences. All I wanted was you.”

He’d always been her rock, ever since they were kids.

If possible, he drew her closer. “I’m so sorry, Shel. I should have been there.”

“My parents chased you away. I know that.”

“I shouldn’t have let them.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist, sniffled. “For all of your rudeness and insolence, you’re still the best man I’ve ever known, but we were divorced and theyaremy parents. You did what was right.”

He kissed the top of her head. “I’m not leaving this time.”

Shelby lifted her face and his was right there. Those sad, guilty eyes searing right into her heart. “Good. We have some lost time to make up for.”

“Are you sure this is what you want? You know, your memory, and the trauma…it could be messing with you.”

“If there’s anything a near-death experience has taught me, it’s to never take the ones you love for granted. To never take life for granted.”

She brushed her lips against his, felt his breath on her as he sighed softly, his eyes closed.

After a moment when he didn’t move, didn’t look at her, she felt doubt creep into her chest. “Colton?”

Her voice brought him out of whatever struggle he was fighting with himself. “Shelby, you know I can’t resist you. Not then, and certainly not now.”

She brushed her lips against his again. “Now why would I want you to?”

“Because if you don’t, you could end up royally screwed.”

“I hope you mean that literally.”

“Fuck,” he muttered. His restraint was admirable. She could feel it in the tense muscles of his arms, the way he glanced at the scar on the side of her head, trying to not take advantage ofpoor Shelby Claiborne.

“I know what I want, and I certainly know what I’m doing.” She pulled his head down and kissed him harder, letting her lips linger on his. “And I’m doing you, Colton Bells.”