Page 135 of Another Girl Lost

“Really?”

“I said as much to Dawson. He didn’t deny it.”

“Not a good idea for his career, especially given what happened with his ex-wife.”

“Can you tell me more?”

He smiled. “No.”

“Okay.” I cupped his face and kissed him. “I’m glad you’re where you are.”

“Me too.” He traced the lines on my forehead. “Now tell me the rest about Della.”

“If Margo is Della, she’s hard to resist. I could see her spinning her magic on Dawson.”

I stared deep into his eyes, looking for doubts. If they were there, I didn’t see them. I pressed my lips to his, closed my eyes, and deepened the kiss. Sexual desire was becoming a favorite distraction.

“What’s the advantage?” Luke drew back reluctantly. “She’s a cop. She’s on the case.”

“She also found Sandra Taylor’s body.”

“Doesn’t mean she’s Della.”

I didn’t want to chase him away with my obsession with Della. I liked him. And he was the first normal relationship in my life. But Della would have used adoration from a lonely cop. And inside knowledge of this case would have been hard to resist.

“Don’t pay attention to me,” I said. “There’s something about the night that churns up all kinds of crazy thoughts.”

“Who called in the location of Taylor’s body?” he said more to himself.

“It came from a burner phone placed near a drug dealer’s house. I was on the premises at the time of the call trying to pull Tiffany away from the party.”

“Did you notice anyone at the party who didn’t fit?”

“Me.”

“Other than you.”

“I wasn’t there long and was focused on Tiffany.”

“Dawson knows this?”

“Yes.”

“Be careful what you say to him. If he presses, insist he call me.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to.”

I wrapped my arms around Luke’s neck and pulled him toward me. He moved on top of me, kissing me softly on my lips and then my breasts. Tension radiated in his body, but he still moved with deliberate care. I arched, opened my legs, remembering how Tanner had liked my surrender. When Luke pushed slowly inside me, I embraced the sensations, and for a little while, there was nothing but this.

Chapter Forty-Two

SCARLETT

Saturday, July 20, 2024

6:00 a.m.

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