“Tell me why you really signed up for the pageant, Bella.”
“I already have. I want to find out the truth about what happened to Gio. And I believe this pageant board has skeletons in its closet.”
“What if you don’t find them?”
“Then I’ll have to figure out something else to investigate.”
“So your ultimate motivation isn’t about Gio.” Spoken quietly, his words held no judgement or criticism.
“It’s twofold. I want justice for my best friend, yes. And I want to move on from the Mustang Valley Gabber and secure an investigative journalist position at a more prestigious publication.”
“Is there a paper or news organization you’re targeting?” His voice was low and sexy and she wondered if he realized how attractive he was. How many FBI profilers could switch from badass agent to serene birder all in the same day?
“Not really. I wouldn’t want to have to leave Mustang Valley, and with most organizations I can work from home except for when I have to travel for a story. But I’m not opposed to leaving, either.”
“I’ve stayed here, in Arizona, I mean, and a couple of times I was worried I’d thrown my career away with some of my job decisions. But so far it’s all worked out. Unfortunately for all of us, there are enough cases to keep the Phoenix field office in business for the next decade. It’s a good thing for me, personally, as I’ve been able to stay here and be closer to my family.”
“Did you grow up in Phoenix?”
“I did, in a suburb of it. It was so hard to be away from my family and everything I’d known when I went in the army and then ended up downrange. That’s when I met Spencer.”
“Did you realize you were both from Arizona? And southeastern, to boot?”
“Not at first. I learned more about him after he shoved me out of the way of friendly fire during a training event.”
“He never told me or Jarvis that.”
“He wouldn’t, would he? Spencer is that kind of hero.”
Understanding dawned. “That’s why you’re so close—you were with him during that one training exercise.” She mentioned the location and even in the dark, with the moonlight she was able to make out the grimace on his face.
“Yes.” Nothing more was needed.
“Holden, I know it’s awkward, but about this morning...” She halted on the path. They were far ahead of the crowds as their pace had taken them to a more remote location. Stars sprinkled the outer edges of the light shining off the moon and she suddenly wanted to come back here with this man and see all the stars.
“Hey.” He tugged on her hand and she took the two steps to be up against him, where the feel of his breath as it stirred the wisps of hair on her temple lit the fire that burned only for him. “It’s fast for me, believe it or not. I never meant to make love to you like that, this soon. You deserve to be wined and dined first, at least.”
“So you thought about it beforehand?” She’d feared it was a spur-of-the-moment decision for him, an opportunity.
“Touché.” He wrapped his arms around her, their bulky binoculars and cameras the only items between them. “I just accused you of being an opportunist for doing your job—I suppose I had that coming to me. Yes, I’ve thought about taking you to bed since the minute you walked into the school.”
She shivered with desire in the cool desert night, and wished there were no pageant, that the serial killer were made up, and that Gio were still here.
Gio.
Instead of feeling the usual guilt that she wasn’t doing enough to search for what had really killed Gio, a wave of exhaustion swept over her. “I wish we’d met under different circumstances, too.” But even if they had, he lived in Phoenix, two hours away. Was she ready for a long-distance relationship? Was he?
“We aren’t going to figure out what’s going on between us right now, Bella. There are too many things competing for our attention. I suggest we enjoy the moment.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” She moved to continue their walk but he pulled her up short, cupped her head in his palm and lowered his lips to hers. As before, her body responded immediately to his caresses, and her lips tingled with the passion they shared.
As her breathing grew more rapid she held on to his shoulders as tightly as possible. It was like floating in water that was over her head and Holden was her safety, his tall, lean length all she needed or wanted to stay alive.
When he stilled and lifted his head, she nearly whimpered from the withdrawal of heat from her mouth.
“Shh.” His insistent order made her freeze, and fear began to shoot cold arrows through her heart. No, not now. How had the serial killer found them?
“What?” She trusted him implicitly. If anyone could save them, it was Holden.