Page 46 of Catch Me When I Fall

The feeling was mutual.

I sighed through my nose. “He said you’re family to him.”

She bit the inside of her cheek. “I’m not. I don’t belong in that family, no matter how much I wanted to, I never belonged there.”

Wanted. Past tense.

We held each other’s gaze, time fading around us, just like it had out by the docks.

All at once, I was sucked into her blue eyes, and I felt like I was flying. She took a step towards me, and that cold splash of reality was beginning to warm. Then, she was close to me again, her breasts threatening to brush against me with each breath. Her snow-blonde curls fell back as she tilted her head back to look at me. Her cheeks were pink, her eyes puffy, her neck was splotched with pink, her eyelashes wet with tears, and yet?

I was trapped, unable to move—possessed by her beauty.

“Can I ask you something?” she whispered, her voice husky.

My cock twitched.

Fuck.

Jaw tight, I gave her a single nod, knowing damn well I was in dangerous waters.

“Do you blame me for running away?”

“No,” I said instantly. I didn’t blame her when Jer called. I didn’t blame her when I got her files. I didn’t blame her when I searched her old house. I didn’t blame her when I watched the airport footage.

How could I blame someone from running away when that was all I knew?

I’d been running since I’d gotten out of the Marines, chasing a ghost I knew I’d never find.

“Do you think I’m a bad person?” Her voice was unsteady now.

I bent my neck, getting close to her face again, her berry scent overwhelming me. “I’m going to need you to step back now,” I told her, my voice thick with need.

“Okay,” she whispered, stretching her neck, her lips an inch from mine now. My eyes dropped, taking them in.

I wanted to taste her.

I wanted to consume her.

I wanted to ruin her.

“Bounty hunter,” she murmured.

My eyes snapped back up to hers.

“What’s happening?” she asked.

My heart was pounding in my chest, my cock straining in my pants, and my head was swimming. This woman was something I couldn’t comprehend.

What the fuck was she doing to me?

My restraint was about to snap, but with the last ounce of willpower I had, I rose back up to my full height and took a step back. At the flash of hurt in her eyes, my gut tightened painfully and I wondered what was the bigger mistake; backing away or giving in?

“I’ll tell Mr. Jones,” I said firmly. “I apologize for scaring you.”

She cleared her throat, nodding quickly as she snapped out of it. “You didn’t scare me, but I appreciate the apology.”

The question about the note she’d found on her door was on the tip of my tongue, but I decided against it. She didn’t need to know I read through her journal. I’d already fucked her life up enough. I wasn’t about to make her cry again.

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