“Alex?”
God, he’d missed her voice. “Hello, Eden.”
He had no idea how long they just stood there. Staring at one another. She was even more beautiful than he remembered. Something he hadn’t thought possible.
Eden’s long, dark brown hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders, stopping just above her firm breasts. Even in something as simple as worn jeans and a white, long-sleeve t-shirt, he could make out her toned figure.
Taller than the average woman, Eden’s five-six frame was lean, but the woman still had curves in all the right places. Places Alex had only dreamed about touching.
Eyes the color of honey stared back into his. They were the first thing he’d noticed about her. He remembered the day they met as if it were yesterday.
Like most members of his elite unit, Alex had been skeptical of her so-called gift. He’d heard stories of psychics using their extrasensory abilities to aid police in solving tough cases. Personally, he’d thought they were all nothing more than a bunch of dog and pony shows. Then, he met Eden.
One look into those mesmerizing eyes and Alex had instinctively known she was the real deal. It was one of the reasons he’d been so careful to avoid physical contact with her.
If he allowed Eden to touch him, she’d be able to see into the depths of his soul.You touched her before, remember?
The one and only time he’d been brave enough to reach for her hand, she’d been unconscious. For three days straight, Alex had stayed by her side.
He’d held her hand and whispered soft words of encouragement. Even during the few times he’d allowed himself to doze off, Alex had kept ahold of her hand. After a quick trip to the restroom, she came to, having never known about their physical contact.
The last time he saw her was the day she was released from the hospital. That was also the same time the media shitstorm hit. Eden left the city that day and hadn’t been back since.
Clearing his throat, Garrett broke the awkward silence. “Hey, Eden. Good to see you again.”
She blinked, her pretty eyes shifting to his partner’s. “Hi, Garrett.” She smiled. “It’s nice to see you, too.”
A few more seconds passed before she shook her head at herself.
“I’m sorry. Please”—she opened the screen door and stepped aside— “come in.”
Wasting no time, Garrett accepted the offer with a low, “Thanks.”
Following his partner over the threshold, Alex gave Eden a polite smile as he stepped into her home. The familiar scent of strawberries and vanilla filled his nostrils, and Alex didn’t realize until that very moment just how much he’d missed it.
“Would you two like something to drink? I have tea already chilled, or I can make a quick pot of coffee.”
“We’re good but thank you,” Alex answered for the both of them.
Jesus, this sucked. He and Eden had worked together off and on for over a year before she left. During that time, they’d become friends.Goodfriends.
Alex had prayed their relationship would grow into something more. He was almost certain it would have had things not gone down the way they did. Now he was standing in her house—a house in the middle of fucking nowhere—and they were acting like they barely knew each other.
I never should have come here.
Suddenly, despite not having been this close to her in years, Alex was more than ready to leave. Being near her again affected him a hell of a lot more than he’d expected.
He needed to get this over with. She’d kick their asses out, and they’d both go back to living their separate lives, just as they had for the past two years. The thought left his pulse racing.
Christ, he shouldn’t be this nervous. He’d been Force Recon, for fuck’s sake. His team had infiltrated some of the world’s most dangerous areas in order to retrieve and relay sensitive intel for the U.S. government.
Surely, he could survive talking to this one woman for five minutes.
“From the looks on both your faces, I’m assuming this isn’t a social visit.” Eden spoke up, beginning the difficult conversation.
“No,” Garrett told her bluntly. “Unfortunately, it’s not.”
“I have a feeling I already know the answer, but I’ll ask anyway.” Eden looked to Garrett before bringing her focus back to him. “Does this impromptu visit have anything to do with the four women who were murdered?”
