ChapterOne
Restlessness took over Rex Fontenot. Darkness surrounded him, and not a sliver of moonlight crept through the open window. A lull in the breeze made the room stuffy, but he refused to turn on the air condition in February.
Did morning have to come? He sighed. Of course, it did, but he dreaded what tomorrow would bring. He glanced at the glowing lights of the alarm clock. Today. Midnight had passed four hours ago.
In less than three hours, Monica would leave Louisiana with no promise of return. They wouldn’t see each other again until their careers placed them in close proximity. It could be weeks or months, but that’s how they rolled.
He tossed and turned until the sun rose and pushed away the night. Was it worth the drive to the motel to make a final plea? They’d said their goodbyes last night. He should leave it at that.
But he couldn’t.
He threw his legs over the bed and rushed to get dressed. There was no time for a shower or a cup of coffee to inject him with the wakefulness sleep hadn’t offered. If he knew Monica, she’d be ready to go at first light.
Two minutes after lunging out of bed, Rex left his house. Stopped at a red light, he caught a glimpse of himself in the rearview mirror and cringed. If he wanted to give his best impression, this wasn’t it. He combed his hair with his fingers and popped two mints into his mouth.
Monica’s motel appeared in the distance. Was she still there? His hands wrapped around the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white.Please let her be there.He sped up, closed the distance between him and the motel.
When he saw Monica’s car he relaxed but only temporarily. He still had hurdles to cross.
He allowed himself a deep breath and slow exhale before he jumped from his truck and ran up the steps. The curtains to room219were closed, but Rex heard movement inside.
“Monica,” he called out while rapping on the door.
She threw open the door and stared at him with furrowed brows. “What are you doing here?”
“Asking you to stay.” He slipped through the entry.
Two suitcases were open on the bed, one smaller than the other. It looked like she was nearly packed, ready to walk out of his life for who knew how long.
“You know I can’t.” She closed the door and turned around to face him, hands in her pockets.
“Yes, you could. My office has openings for security agents, and they’d bring you on without so much as an interview.” He extended a hand, pointed outside. “You’d still travel, do all the things you do now, but we’d be together when you’re home.”
“It wouldn’t work.”
“Why not?” He locked gazes with her, unwilling to settle for a vague answer.
“You know why.” She jerked her eyes from his and went to her suitcase.
“So, this is how you’re leaving?” Frustration matched with helplessness shot through him. Maybe he should have stayed home, left well enough alone.
“We’re too independent and married to our careers to get involved. Why prolong this?” She stepped into the bathroom to grab her toothbrush then slipped it into a hygiene bag that she then shoved into her suitcase. “Besides, you don’t exactly have a stellar reputation.”
“Forget my reputation. People talk, but I’ve never been unfaithful. I believe in keeping my commitments, and if you really believe otherwise about me, then maybe you’re right.” He tossed her the jacket she’d worn on their date last night. Remnants of his cologne lingered on the fabric, left over from their shoulders’ kiss at the movies last night.
She stuffed it in the suitcase with her other clothes, zipped the bag and carried it to the front door. “Why can’t we keep things as they are? Why risk messing up what we already have?”
He followed closely behind her, brought her into a loose embrace as she reached for the doorknob. Staring into her gold-flecked eyes, he gave a final heartfelt plea. “Because seeing each other when we happen to be in the vicinity is not enough for me. I’m done only spending time with you when our paths collide.”
“You’ve left a string of broken hearts from DC to California,” she shot back. “Since when do you do relationships?”
“Since I met you. We have something special, and I can see in your eyes that you feel it too.”
“I’m sorry. I have to go.” She turned away but not before he saw the longing in her eyes and the temptation to surrender. She brushed off his attempt to carry her suitcases to the car and walked out the door. “I’ll call you when I get to Charleston.”
His gaze locked on her, didn’t lose focus until her car drove out of the parking lot. He shouldn’t have left his house this morning, should have stayed far away from Monica. His head had known she’d respond this way, but his heart had hoped for different.
Chapter Two
