She groaned. “I just realized I have a meeting.”
“With who?”
“A website designer about my new business.”
Ethan lifted his head and slipped a piece of hair from her cheek. “I could have set up your website.”
“No. You’re too busy with everything going on with your team. And right now, you need to go help your team find that woman.” Her belly cramped.
His eyes shifted between hers. “I want you to promise me something.”
Why did that make her so nervous? “Okay.”
“Next time you’re worried about something, or feeling a certain way about me or us, talk to me.”
She nodded. “I will.”
“Good.” One more kiss, then he climbed out of bed.
Though, as he left the room, a part of her felt a hint of uncertainty.
Why? She loved him. She’d always loved him.
But it wasn’t about him. It was abouther. Little moments where past insecurities still crept to the surface.
No. She wasn’t that person anymore. Ethan wanted her. He chose her. And she owed it to him to trust him.
Ethan climbedout of his truck. He didn’t want to be here. He wanted to be out by the river with his team, searching for Priya Tan and doing something that was actually productive.
But he was at the sheriff’s station. Wasting time talking to a guy who would do absolutely nothing helpful.
Inside, the front desk was empty. Not a surprise. They probably had another person quit. Ward had that effect on people.
A man stepped out of the hallway. Deputy Eli Cox. “Ethan, right? Can I help you?”
“I’ve got a meeting with Ward.” Out of all the deputies, he actually liked Eli the most. He seemed to care a bit more than the others.
Eli knocked on a door beside him before turning back to Ethan. “Go on in.”
Ethan stepped into the sheriff’s office to see Ward sitting at his desk, arms crossed over his protruding stomach as he leaned back. Ferris sat on the edge of a seat on the other side of the desk, and Ryan leaned against the wall, expression grim.
Ethan closed the door behind him. “Sorry I’m late.”
“You didn’t miss much,” Ryan muttered.
“I was saying this woman’s been missing for over twelve hours,” Ward said. “Shouldn’t you super soldiers have found her by now? Isn’t that what you were brought here to do?”
“We’re still looking,” Ryan said between gritted teeth. “We’ve been taking shifts all night, and Ethan and I would be out there right now if you hadn’t called us in.”
“And this isn’t just a missing person,” Ethan pushed. “This is a crime, which makes ityourjob. Someone caused her to crash her car, then pulled her out while wielding a weapon.”
“So she should have calledus, not you,” Ward bitched, suddenly on his feet. “Maybe thenmyguys would have found her.”
“Is that what this is about?” Ferris asked with a huff. “You’re annoyed that someone was in an emergency situation and called the SAR team and not you?”
“I’m pissed that by bringing these guys into my town, the locals are losingfaithin my team, callingtheminstead of us in emergency situations.”
“For fuck’s sake,” Ryan shouted. “This isn’t a them-versus-us situation. A woman is missing. A fucking psychopath is taking people off your roads and making them disappear to the pointthat a team of highly trained former SEALs are having trouble tracking them.”
