Page 78 of Hot Pursuit

“Go,” Nate spoke against her lips, as his grip on the back of her head tightened. He didn’t want Jo to move an inch, not a breath farther away, but he tore their faces apart and stumbled back. Because time was running out, and they’d been hiding in this alley too long already. The window of opportunity was closing with every passing second. And he knew, deep in his heart, this wasn’t goodbye. He trusted it not to be. “Go.”

Jo held his gaze.

For a moment.

Two.

She reached up and traced the edge of his jaw with her thumb.

Then she ran past him.

She ran away.

Nate turned around just in time to see her leave the alley and hang a right. He took a deep breath.

It’ll be okay.

I can trust her.

It’ll be okay.

Nate didn’t know how long he stood there before a shout jolted him back to life.

“Hey, Parker, all clear?”

Leo.

Of course, Leo.

Nate sighed. He hated to lie, but this, even Leo wouldn’t understand. “All clear.”

His voice sounded convincing, even to him.

“Come on, we’re searching the house. So far, nothing. But maybe they left a fingerprint or some DNA behind.”

Nate nodded and walked out of the alley, following Leo down the street, toward the townhouse at the far end. An itch on the back of his neck made him pause. Nate turned, scanning the shadows, for what, he didn’t know. Regardless, there was nothing there. Just emptiness. A void to match the hollow feeling within.

“Parker, let’s move,” Leo called, a jibing tone.

Nate turned to face him. “What? A few minutes apart and you can’t live without me?”

Leo slammed his hand against his chest, wounded.

Nate snorted and shook his head. He’d promised Jo time, he’d promised her space, he’d promised her trust, so she’d have it. Nate rolled his shoulders and followed his partner down the street to rejoin his team.

- 27 -

Jo

Jo was desperate for sugar.

Desperate.

She was a wild animal on the hunt as she stalked her way through the airport, a snarl on her lips, eyes wide and alert, the ache of an empty stomach propelling her forward. People stepped out of her way. Literally. Which for New York, was really saying something. But she couldn’t be stopped. A woman with a sugar craving was a beautiful and terrifying thing to behold.

There were no bakeries in the airport. The coffee shop had already sold out of their chocolate chip muffins. And Jo couldn’t bring herself to buy one of the plastic-wrapped cookies that had been sitting on the shelf for god knew how long. Call it snobbish. Call it picky. But after spending the past few days taste testing from some of the best bakeries in the world, she just couldn’t. Then, right as she was about to pick up her carry-on suitcase and hurl it at the doughnut advertisement she walked bythreefreaking times, she smelled it.

Jo stopped cold, a predator catching a scent.