She shrugged. “Well, yeah. Kind of.”
“Why?”
Eden walked over to her couch and sat on the overstuffed arm. With her hands resting in her lap, she sighed. “Before, I thought…” She licked those perfect, bow-shaped lips again. “I thought we’d become friends. Not just two people who worked together.”
“Wewerefriends, Eden.” He moved a little closer. “As far as I’m concerned, we still are.”
The corners of her mouth lifted in a haphazard smile. “We haven’t spoken in two years, Alex.” She looked around her living room. “You obviously knew where I was. Yet, you haven’t called once in all that time. Haven’t come to see me until now. Because you were ordered to.”
Not that you know of.“Yeah, I knew you’d moved out here. I also knew why.” He inched closer. “You wanted to get away from the media circus. The city and all the people.” It was his turn to shrug. “I assumed that included me, too.”
“You know what they say about assumptions,” Eden whispered softly.
“I do.” Alex nodded. He took another step toward her, leaving mere inches between them. “I also know being a part of my world damn near killed you.”
Eden stood, their bodies so close he could feel her warm breath on his chin. “I’m a big girl, Alex. I knew the risks going in.”
God, he wanted to touch her. Wanted to wrap his arms around her and hold her the way he’d always imagined. So, he took a step back.
“I didn’t.” He turned and walked a safe distance away. “But I do, now.”
“Meaning?”
Facing her again, his gaze zeroed in on hers. “Meaning, it’s not a risk I’m willing to take, now.”
She scowled. “That’s not your choice to make.”
“Damn it, Eden. This case…” Alex grabbed the back of his neck, the muscles there tense with fear. Fear for the stubborn woman in front of him. “It’s worse than before.”
“How so?” Eden moved toward him.
“This guy is different. I can’t explain how, exactly. There’s just something about him, and my gut’s telling me to keep you as far away from this as I can.”
“Then why’d you bother coming here?”
“I didn’t have a choice.”
“There’s always a choice, Alex.”
He really hated it when she was right. “Honestly, I didn’t think you’d come back.”
“I didn’t say I am.”
Alex studied her a minute. “But you’re considering it.”
Eden nodded her beautiful head. “I’ve had a lot of time to think these past couple of years.”
She took several steps in his direction. With their toes nearly touching, she stood directly in front of him.
“I’ve used that time to heal. To get stronger. Both physically and mentally.”
When she slowly began to raise her hand toward his chest, Alex took a reflexive step backward.
“It’s okay,” she assured him. “I’ve gained more control over my gift since I saw you last.”
Heart pounding—because damn, he wanted to feel her hands on him—Alex forced himself to remain in place as she approached him again.
“What does that mean, exactly?” he asked, both excited and terrified to hear the answer.
