Page 85 of Girl in the Water

Next to him, Daniela marched along happily, walking fast to keep up with his long strides. When she caught him looking at her, she grinned.

She pointed at the busy, grimy street, the air filled with car exhaust and the fishy smells of the river. “Hey, isn’t this great? We’ve put in a good day’s work, and now we’re going on a date.”

Swear to God, Ian wanted to jump in front of traffic.

* * *

Daniela

The call came just as Daniela and Ian got back to their lodgings. She was in a good mood, even if Ian had worked the wordfriendsinto the dinner conversation no less than half a dozen times. She didn’t buy it. Hehadkissed her back in Rio. And there’d been nothing friendly about that kiss.

For the first time in her life, she felt desire, felt like a normal woman. She wanted. And she wanted to be wanted back. That kiss gave her so much hope, she’d been on the verge of breaking out in song every time she remembered Ian’s lips on hers.

As Daniela watched, he answered his phone, then mouthed to her,Gustavo Santos.

The local detective.

Ian said, “Yes” and “Thank you” a lot, then hung up.

She was holding her breath. “What is it?”

“You know the gang that’s been involved in illegal adoptions before? One of the women in the gang has been seen around with a baby. And nobody remembers seeing her pregnant. The police are tracking her down. Once they have her, they’re going to bring her in. We are invited, as a courtesy, to the questioning, but the detective asked that we don’t say anything to the Heyerdahls until it’s certain that they have the right child.”

Relief filled her down to her toes. “Thank God.”

Please let this be baby Lila.

She wanted to rush straight to Carmen and Phil, but she understood Santos. If they were wrong, the Heyerdahls would be devastated.

As Daniela lay in bed that night, she thought about the case, and she thought about Ian. She cared about baby Lila more than she could put into words. And shewasfocused on the case. But her awareness of Ian was like constant background music these days. Or as if the TV was left on in another room. You did your business, but the sounds were there, woven into the fabric of your day.

And night.

She could never have imagined that sleeping in the same room with him night after night would be this disappointing. He didn’t even kiss her good night.

How could Ian keep ignoring her?

Even after the kiss in Rio.

The kiss!

She couldn’t believe she’d worked up the guts to dothat. But, God, how good it had been. If they hadn’t been in danger, she would have kissed him over and over again. She wanted to. Even now. Still. While he…

Out of the darkness, his growly voice said, “Thank you for coming to Rio for me. But, please, don’t do anything like that ever again.”

She turned to stare at him in the semidarkness.That was it?