Page 59 of Wicked and Ruthless

Haisley’s breath hitched as he started the engine, her pupils flaring wide as she stared back at him. He felt caught in the magnetic sway that pulled them inexorably closer.

But then she blinked away and cleared her throat. “We should start running down this information, see if we can locate that van. Oh, and revise the list of people who need interviews and the questions we should ask.”

“You’re right. Want to do that over pizza and beers?”

“I-I…don’t think it’s a good idea.”

Nash tamped down a flare of frustration. But even if he couldn’t say the things burning the tip of his tongue, he could show Haisley that he was all in. That he believed in her, understood her, supported her, and loved her with every fiber of his being. “Then we’ll start again tomorrow. I’ll track down the janitor, and together, we’ll solve these abductions.”

And as he drove her to her car and secretly followed her home to make sure she got inside her place safely, he hoped that maybe, if they kept chipping away at this case together…she’d truly believe in them again, too.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

On Thursday morning, Haisley made her way to her desk, only to find a steaming cup of coffee in an insulated mug and a blueberry muffin on her desk. She glanced around the big, open office space, but other than a few of the accounting folks, she saw no one who might have left her breakfast. She lifted the delicious-looking muffin, complete with streusel, and nearly moaned. This had to be from her favorite bakery—the one that had contributed to her carrying an extra ten pounds when she’d lived here before.

Then she saw a note under the pastry.

I came by early, hoping to catch you. Sorry I couldn’t stay. I’m heading out to meet Ethan at the mall to interview the janitor and some other food court employees. This afternoon, I’ll be talking to the final target who escaped. Ethan has been focusing on the mall manager and says he has a new development. I’m hoping you’re able to make some progress on your end, especially in talking to Benedict.

I know you used to enjoy these muffins. Have a good day.

-N

Against her better judgment, Haisley was touched. Leaving her coffee and her favorite muffin was sweet. Considerate. Almost…boyfriend-like. Not something a mere hookup would do. Not strictly professional but not pushy or flirty, either.

Damn it, that man confused her, but she couldn’t stop thinking about him. What was he up to?

Being with him the last couple of days had felt…different. He acted as if he liked her as a person. Respected her. Cared about her opinion, even. He hadn’t tried to push her into bed again or even kiss her. Her head told her that was a good thing. Her heart wasn’t sure. And her body was calling her twenty kinds of stupid because it only wanted Nash.

Maybe that’s why the dam of feeling she’d been desperately trying to contain behind her walls had begun to break free. Somehow, Nash had worked his way under her skin again and seeped into the carefully guarded corners of her heart. With every heated look, every teasingly suggestive remark, and every compliment that rolled off his tongue, he’d chipped away at her resistance.

Two years ago, she’d sputtered a halfhearted BS excuse, cut off all contact, and fled halfway across the country. She’d felt horrible that she’d lied to him, but she’d spared him the worst of the pain, right? Yes. And she’d stayed far away until she’d convinced herself she was over him. But nothing had loosened Nash’s death-grip on her heart.

Now, Haisley had to admit that she was falling for him all over again. Maybe it was time to face the fact she was always going to be in love with him.

Where did that leave her?

The prospect of confiding in him was utterly terrifying. If she told him the truth, would she lose him again? Maybe. Probably. But if she didn’t…wouldn’t she lose him again anyway? How could their relationship deepen if she wasn’t honest?

Besides, not coming clean also meant resigning herself to this frustrating limbo of unresolved feelings and unfulfilled yearning. She’d done that with him once. Did she truly want to do it again?

Haisley didn’t have answers, just a jumbled mix of hopes, fears, and aching needs making endless waves of confusion.

The only thing she knew for certain was that she needed to figure out how to balance her growing feelings with the job at hand. Neither of them could afford distraction when innocent lives were at stake. And Nash inevitably turned her thoughts to mush simply by smoldering at her from across a room.

The rest of the day passed without any peep from him except a frustratingly impersonal text message about needing more time with potential witnesses and Ethan’s lead blowing up, but he’d fill her in later.

Later turned into complete radio silence for over twenty-four hours, leaving Haisley feeling unmoored and unsettlingly dismayed. Clearly, she was in deeper than she’d thought if his one-day absence left her feeling this unbalanced.

Finally, he waltzed into her office on Friday afternoon with a cocky grin that both annoyed and relieved her. She scrambled to tamp down the flutter of relief and giddiness that spread through her at simply laying eyes on him again.

Of course, her facade shattered the second Nash gave her a nakedly admiring once-over. He dumped his messenger bag on her desk and trashed his empty energy drink with a wink. “Miss me?”

Way too much. But she couldn’t blurt that, especially in the office with prying eyes and ears all around. Not when lives were at stake. Their twisted whatever-this-was had to take a back seat.

She scoffed. “You wish.”

His grin widened, and he bent close, under the guise of pulling something from his tote. “Liar. You forget how well I know you.”

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