Page 83 of Crosshairs

He crooked his elbow, and she slid her arm through his, electricity sparking through her as they walked to the Tahoe. This wouldn’t do. She could not let her defenses down—but her heart definitely had a mind of its own.

“I hope you have your vest on,” he said, opening the passenger door.

“Of course I do.” She held up the small clutch. “But I don’t have my Sig.”

“Want to get it?”

“No. Dad said there’d be a lot of rent-a-cops present, so I shouldn’t need it.” Ainsley looked up, and his hazel eyes captured hers. She never wanted to look away. Every ounce of resistance to Linc melted away as he brushed his knuckles along her jaw before gently cupping her chin.

She leaned into his touch, the gentleness in his fingers overwhelming her. Linc lowered his head, pausing briefly as if to make sure she wanted him to kiss her. She slipped her arms around his neck and brought his lips to hers, ignoring the voice in her head that whispered to stop.

His lips commanded hers, igniting a fire within her. When he released her, he kissed the tip of her nose.

“Wow,” she whispered.

“Yeah.” His arms wrapped around her as he drew her close and kissed her again.

She’d never felt this way before when he’d kissed her. Fireworks exploded in her head, and she returned his kiss with passion that had been locked away for fifteen years.

Slowly he released her. “Ainsley,” he said, breaking the silence.

“Shh,” she said, putting her fingers to his lips. “Don’t think. Don’t say anything.”

He caught her fingers and kissed them, then released the clasp that held her messy bun in place. Her hair fell to her shoulders.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for two days,” he murmured.

She laid her head on his chest, feeling the rapid rhythm of his heart. Hers matched his beat for beat. She refused to think about their past and that she shouldn’t be standing here in his arms. It was time to just be in the moment. She’d worry about the consequences later.

44

It’s getting late,” Linc said, breaking the spell. He searched her face for regret, and his heart lifted when he saw none. “We better go.”

“As much as I hate to agree, you’re right,” she murmured. “Why don’t we skip out early?”

“Sounds like a winner to me.” His heart was still beating ninety-to-nothing. Linc wasn’t sure what the kiss meant, but it gave him hope that Ainsley was willing to rekindle their relationship.

A few minutes later, he turned into a roped-off cul-de-sac. J.R. had bought the house after Ainsley and Linc broke up, so this would be his first visit. He lowered the window as an attendant stopped the car.

“Oh, it’s you, Ms. Beaumont.” He waved them on.

“Know him?” Linc put the car in the drive.

She shook her head. “Dad probably circulated my photo—he’s good with details most people don’t think of.”

Linc turned into the long drive that circled in front of a two-story white brick on the river bluffs. He could imagine the view as the sun sank over the Mississippi River each day, especially from the second-floor veranda. Not that there was anything wrong with the wraparound porch on the first floor.

Linc surveyed the cars lining the drive. “I didn’t expect thismany people,” he said, unease crawling down his back. “You did give the security detail a photo of Maddox?”

“I gave it to Dad and he said he’d make sure they got it,” she said. “And I didn’t expect this many people either. After you drop me off, park where we can get out if we leave early.”

When he stopped in front of the entrance, another attendant opened the passenger door for Ainsley and whisked her inside the house. Evidently J.R. had meant it when he said she’d be safe. Bluegrass music played from speakers at the edge of the house as he walked up the drive.

Ainsley met him on the porch. “Let’s go around this way to the back.”

He linked hands with her, and she didn’t pull away. Something had changed, and if he got a second chance with her, he didn’t plan to blow it this time.

“Uh-oh,” he said softly.

---