That was one of the things he liked most about her. She didn’t leap without looking. She considered angles and consequences. Probably had to as a doctor. So did he—when he was a pilot.
“I’m not overthinking it,” he said. “The timing’s messy, sure. Murder charges aren’t exactly ideal dating conditions, and your nutjob ex being in town doesn’t help.” Amusement took the edge off his concern. “But us? No. That doesn’t feel rushed.”
She cleared her throat. “I don’t want there to be secrets between us.”
Something tightened low in his gut. “Neither do I.” He flattened his hand against her upper back and held her there, steady and solid. “What are you holding onto, Doc?”
“I might’ve called Stella a few minutes ago.”
His gaze shifted automatically toward her desk and caught the yellow piece of paper with a number scribbled beside a large S. “You have Stella’s phone number?”
“Yeah.”
Thoughts zinged through his brain. There was a way to reach Damian’s wife? “Why did you call Stella?”
May hesitated. “I wanted some… spy-type advice.”
He rubbed his jaw lightly against the top of her head, partly amused, partly curious. “Spy advice. You planning a career change?”
She laughed softly. “No. I just wanted her take. I thought maybe I’d go public on social media and tell people what Kyle’s doing. Denounce him before he pushes harder to get you convicted for a crime you didn’t commit.”
Heat moved through Ace. That was sweet of her but probably not the right way to go. “I’d rather handle this without turning it into a spectacle.”
“That was Stella’s advice, too.”
He reached for her phone. “You know I can’t just ignore this.”
“I kind of wish you would.”
“How about I just talk to her?” Damian’s worried. He’ll find her eventually.”
May leaned back enough to look up at him. Her blue eyes seemed darker in the dim light. “I don’t…” She hesitated, then sighed. “Okay. Go ahead. I am a little worried about her.”
He pressed the speaker button and punched in the number. It rang once and immediately shifted to a disconnected tone. He frowned and tried again. The same thing happened. Whatever line had been there was already gone.
“Huh.” May blinked. “I can’t believe that happened so fast. Stella must’ve been a really good spy.”
“Must have been? I’m guessing she still is.”
“Maybe.” May looked unsettled now. “She said she was in town to save Damian’s butt. I don’t know what that means.”
Ace exhaled slowly. “It doesn’t sound simple.”
“No.”
“We’ll find her. One way or another.” Ace kissed May before she could respond. Her lips were soft and warm, and she melted into him with a quiet sound that went straight through his chest.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
He stood, lifting her easily in his arms, and carried her down the hallway toward the bedroom. “Well,” he said, brushing his mouth against her neck, “since neither one of us is sleeping…”
She laughed softly and wrapped her arms around him. “That’s true.”
He set her down on the bed and followed her there, bracing himself over her for a second before lowering his mouth to hers again. Her hands spread across his chest, warm and certain.
Yeah.
This was a far better way to spend the early morning than drowning in cold water.
