Page 45 of In Death, Love Survives

“Do not regret what just happened. That was fucking heaven.”

Her shoulders relax, and she starts to straighten her outfit back to where it belongs.

“That was the best moment of my goddamn life,” I say.

Mid-button, she looks up.

“Mine too,” she croaks.

I try to remain as calm as possible for the sake of the video evidence.

Fully dressed once again, Nova takes her seat, as if nothing just happened. We both sit still as we stare at one another.

There’s so much being said—more than I ever imagined could be passed between two practical strangers who are beginning to fall for one another in the most unlikely of circumstances.

I lean forward, prepared to say something—anything, really—just to make sure she’s okay and understands I feel the magnitude of what just transpired too.

As I do, Nova looks up at the wall clock and back at me.

“Time is up,” she whispers.

She pushes back her chair, takes the yellow notepad, and walks past me to the door. Nova opens it widely before I have a chance to process what’s happening.

During all of this, she doesn’t look back at me as she walks through it, leaving me alone.

Officer Walls comes into the room with a suspicious expression.

“Let’s go, Walker.”

I let out a long breath of air as I shake my head.

I love that we just did that. It was intoxicating and a new high I want to keep chasing, yet I’m not sure how that exactly happened. I know that’s what is running through Nova’s mind too.

What’s getting into both of us, and why can’t we seem to stop it? Nova and I are inevitable. I just have to make sure she doesn’t run away scared because of that truth.

SIX

Nova

I’ve beenpanic-stricken for over twenty-four hours. Ever since the therapy session with Wolfe yesterday morning, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed and lost. Last night, I even scheduled an emergency session with my therapist, although I didn’t tell her what happened.

I couldn’t.

What I did was not only foolish and reckless but goes against every part of who I am. I’ve been alone for a long time on purpose, and now, with one look, Wolfe Walker is able to command me to do whatever it is he wants.

The worst part of it all is…

I can’t even admit this to myself.

Tapping my pen against my desk, I stare at the computer clock, counting down the minutes until Ryan is going to come meet me to head to Crawley’s office.

He’ll be here any minute.

Then maybe he’ll give me the distraction I need to feel any bit of normalcy as I can. Why couldn’t I have felt this wayabout Ryan? He’s a catch, and he’s interested in me, and most importantly, he’s not in prison, and I’m not his therapist.

I barely know anything about Wolfe. We haven’t had a chance to even discuss the real issues at hand.

Watching the clock tick by slowly, a sheen of sweat gathers on my forehead.