He wanted to believe this was more than what it was. Wanted to believe she’d come back to him for good. But he couldn’t afford to let hope drag him under again.
Because maybe this was just her way of coping, just a way to escape all the fear and the danger chasing them. Maybe it was only for tonight. And if that was the case, he’d have to guard his heart.
No way was he letting it get crushed all over again.
Alena stirred against him, her lashes fluttering before her eyes opened. She gave him a sleepy smile and brushed a kiss over his mouth. “Why’re you awake?” she whispered.
He let out a low chuckle. “Too much to think. Guess I overdid it on that.”
She kissed him again, slower this time, lingering. “Then let’s not think. Let’s just take this slow and easy… see where it leads.”
If she kept kissing him like that, he already knew exactly where it would lead. Straight into another round, and his body was all in.
The kiss deepened, heat sparking fast and strong, until his phone lit up on the nightstand.
It started ringing.
Cal cursed under his breath, torn between letting it go and knowing he couldn’t. He snatched up the phone, already bracing for trouble. Melissa’s name glowed on the screen, and given the late hour, he figured it couldn’t be anything good. He answered and hit speaker. “Melissa?”
“I’ve got a plan,” she blurted. Her voice was thin, high with adrenaline. “I need your help.”
Cal cursed and pushed up on one elbow. “What the hell have you done?”
“I made myself bait,” she said quickly. “To draw out Dexter.”
Alena sat straight up beside him, eyes wide, her face a mix of shock and fury. Cal raked his hand through his hair, heat already building in his chest.
“Youwhat?” Alena snapped, her voice sharp with disbelief.
Melissa rushed on. “I stopped by my office earlier to pick up some files. When I came out, I thought I saw Dexter. He was in a car just up the street.”
Cal clenched his jaw so hard it ached. “Why were you out there on your own when you know he’s out?”
“Because I wanted to lure him,” Melissa shot back. “I thought this was the best way to do it.”
He cursed again, anger and dread tangling inside him. This was exactly the kind of reckless move that could get her killed. And worse, it might drag Alena and him right into Dexter’s hands.
“Why the hell didn’t you call the cops the second you saw him?” Cal demanded.
“Because he would’ve just gotten away,” Melissa shot back, her voice sharp with frustration. “I want to trap him. I’ve been driving around for the past couple hours, trying to figure out what to do.”
Cal rubbed his forehead, fury burning hotter with every word. “Melissa—”
“I’m going to Crossfire Creek,” she cut in, her voice firm now, like she’d rehearsed this. “That cabin where you saw him earlier. I’m certain he’ll follow me there. He’ll try to kill me.”
Alena made a sound of pure disbelief, but before Cal could stop her, Melissa added the kicker.
“I called Arneson, too. I told him to meet me there.”
Cal cursed again, the air around him thick with frustration. This was spiraling faster than he could reel it in, and now Melissa was dragging Arneson into the middle of it.
Cal and Alena were already moving, throwing on their clothes while Melissa’s voice crackled through the speaker.
“Where are you right now?” Cal demanded, shoving his arm through his shirt.
“I’m on the back roads, headed toward the cabin,” Melissa said quickly. “Someone’s still following me, but they’re hanging back. Not close enough for me to see if it’s Dexter, but I know it’s him.”
Cal swore under his breath. He hated every bit of this, hated how reckless she’d been. She’d already lit the match and there was no stopping the fire now.
