Page 79 of Ruthless Cross

"Well, when I ask, I really want to know. Don't tell me you're fine, if you're not."

"Did I tell you I was fine? I think I've shared a lot of other emotions with you. For some reason, I can't seem to lie to you."

He gave her a faint smile. "You know a lot of my secrets, too. Things I've shared with only a handful of people. We both have something to lose."

"Which makes it easier to trust each other. I thought when you first told me about your dad that that was why you were telling me, so I'd trust you, so I'd talk to you about my mom. You were playing me."

"I did want to get you on my side," he admitted. "But my original intent faded fast after I realized what you were dealing with in terms of your mom's mental health."

"When she tried to jump off the balcony."

"I saw your face and your pain. It was a brutally real moment. While I couldn't say then or even now that your mother had nothing to do with Arthur's death, I knew that you were innocent, and I couldn't play you. I had to hope you'd be willing to cooperate with me because it was the right thing to do and the best way to protect your mother."

"I'm still here."

"But it hasn't been one-sided, Callie," he reminded her. "You were there when I walked into Olivia's room for the first time in fifteen years. I also told you not only about my father's past, but the fact that Gretchen thought she'd seen him outside the gallery. You have as much on me as I have on you. And you could be playing me, too, so that I go easy on your mother."

"I can't deny that that thought did cross my mind early on. There I go, being honest again."

"It's better this way. We both know what each other wants."

"Is it better, Flynn? When we both know that we also want each other?"

He sucked in a quick breath at her words.

"And that's a crazy, ridiculous desire in the midst of all this," she continued. "We are so entangled with each other, and it's not just us, it's our parents, too—my mom, your dad. I worry where this is all going to end up."

"I worry about that, too," he said, his gaze darkening. "But they're not us. We can't be responsible for them."

"It's easier for you to say that. Your dad has been gone more than half your life, but my mom has always been there. Her problems are my problems."

"I understand, but let's not borrow more trouble than we already have. I will find out what happened to Arthur. And then we'll figure out the rest."

"What if you can't find out? This killer seems fairly invincible."

"Failure is not an option."

Looking at his determined jaw, she knew he really believed that. "You call me stubborn, but I think you might have me beat."

"We have a lot in common."

She shivered at that thought, because what they mostly had in common was their passionate lust for each other. Shadows entered Flynn's eyes as their gazes held for a long minute. She was moving into dangerous territory once more, and she had to call a halt. Because she did need to get to the hospital to see her mom. Pushing back her chair, she stood up and took her plate to the kitchen. "I'll just get my things, and we can go."

"You can leave your clothes here. You can get your stuff later, after we see how today goes."

"Well, I hope it goes better than the last few days," she said, putting her dishes into the dishwasher.

He moved into the kitchen, setting his plate on the counter, and then surprising her by sliding his arms around her waist.

"What—what are you doing?" she asked, her words coming out a little breathlessly.

"I haven't kissed you this morning," he said, a purposeful gleam in his eyes.

"Are we doing that? I thought we were putting all that on hold. And last night is a little hazy, but I'm pretty sure you turned me down quite forcefully."

"Because last night was hazy." His gaze settled on hers. "I didn't want to take advantage of you. Not that you made it easy to say no."

"You were quite the gentleman."

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