EVAN STEPPEDINTO HIS ROOMwith a queen bed covered in a white comforter in the posh downtown hotel. The fan hummed from under the window, blowing the scent of lavender from a bundle of dried flowers on the pillows. Contemporary nightstands held orange lamps, and aqua side chairs sat in front of the window. He didn’t much care what the place looked like. It was somewhere to shower and sleep if he could convince Kiley to knock off early tonight.
He dropped his bag and got the shower going, cranking the temp as hot as he could stand it, the steam curling up and fogging the room. Every time he stepped in a shower, he talked to God. He’d done it since he was a kid. His dad had the same habit, and Evan learned it and so many other things from the most amazing dad a guy could hope for. The washing away of surface grime always left Evan knowing if he confessed his failings and sins that God washed those away too, and he emerged completely clean and refreshed. Hopeful.
It didn’t always work. Especially not right after Olin died. Evan had taken tons of showers following the ill-fated op, and his fingers were often wrinkled. He still wasn’t free from his guilt in the matter, but he could at least bear up under the weight and be productive.
He turned his face to the biting spray and prayed. For the team and for the wisdom and the ability to do his job to the best of his abilities. For the country. For Kiley and the tensionbetween them. That she might see his heart and realize he truly felt bad about Olin. And that Kiley could mend things with her mother, because after their conversation in the break room it was clear that the fear of losing others still controlled her.
Evan had been raised with two wonderful parents in a loving relationship. He knew what he could have with a woman if he only let himself believe he deserved it. But Kiley? She’d never witnessed a loving relationship between husband and wife—with a child. She’d known only turmoil and anguish.
Let her get over that, Father. She deserves to move on.
He quickly finished up and dressed in a pair of tactical pants and plain black T-shirt. In the bedroom, he dropped into one of the blue chairs to review notes he’d taken on his phone and added points he’d forgotten to record.
He’d once tried to stop noting everything, yet time and time again since he’d started the practice, he’d find something in his notes he’d forgotten, and it helped with his investigations. Not to mention helped him sleep at night, as he could rest assured he’d done everything he possibly could in his job for the day. He recorded a few items he wanted to follow up on, grabbed his laptop, and headed to the team’s suite.
He knocked on the door and waited for Kiley to answer, wondering how she might look at him this time. At times today, he caught hints of the old respect and interest in her eyes, and he’d take whatever positive vibes he could get.Pitiful.He’d become pitiful. Like a puppy waiting for a pat on the head.
She answered the door and gave him a quick once-over, the intensity of her gaze kicking up his pulse. He caught himself staring and also caught a whiff of a fresh tropical scent that matched the shampoo he’d used. Her hair was wet, and damp tendrils hung down her back. She’d put on gray yoga pants and a white T-shirt, displaying her very curvy shape.
She suddenly stepped back. “Perfect timing. We’re ordering dinner.”
He strode past her to find a large living area with four doors leading to the bedrooms. The space held a small kitchen with full-sized appliances in sparkling stainless steel. The guys were lounging in chairs, watching a sports-channel update.
Mack tossed a room-service menu to Evan. “Cam’s placing the order. Tell him what you want.”
Evan nodded and took a seat in a club chair. He didn’t waste much time on the menu since he knew what he wanted. “I’ll have a burger and fries.”
The others looked at him.
“Yeah, I’mthatguy,” he said, not at all embarrassed. “The one who has a fancy menu in front of him and gets a burger and fries.”
“It’s pretty much what we’re all having.” Cam grinned and grabbed the room phone to place the order.
“Mack stocked the fridge with drinks,” Kiley said. “Go ahead and help yourself. When Cam’s done ordering we’ll get started.”
He wanted a Coke, but honestly he was more content with watching her. He liked seeing her in casual mode. She seemed more approachable and like the Kiley he knew before Olin died.
She passed the sofa, rearranged the multicolored pillows, and chopped them in the middle to leave a V. He’d forgotten that she liked to decorate, and when she was stressed she moved things around. Made him wonder what her home was like these days. Had her tastes changed in décor too, or was she still into traditional things?
She eyed the pillows one last time, shifted one of them, and then went to a whiteboard propped up on an easel. She wrote the wordLeads, and next to it she jotted downAssigned.
She turned and caught him watching her. He should probably look away, yet he wasn’t embarrassed for her to know he found her captivating, and the guys were busy with the TV show and wouldn’t notice.
She set down the marker, swept her hair up in back, and shoved a pencil in, a mask of calm remaining on her face as if his study didn’t impact her. “Since Cam’s finished ordering, we should get started.”
Sean turned off the TV, and Mack dropped his cowboy boots to the floor from the table. He looked out of place in this highly modern environment, but if he was uncomfortable, he didn’t show it.
Sean’s phone dinged. He looked at the screen and frowned before shoving it back in his pocket.
“Bad news?” Kiley asked.
“Not good,” he said. “The latest Montgomery lead didn’t pan out.”
“Montgomery lead?” Evan asked.
“We’ve got an ongoing investigation we’re still working,” Mack said.
“Not really ongoing,” Cam said.
