Page 29 of Burning Truth

He looked at Addie. She still wore the cute bedazzled ball cap, her curls poofing behind her, but she was tired and frazzled. He could see it in her eyes. She forced a smile for him, but he knew they needed to get out of there.

Tomorrow, they could start going over the fair footage and looking at people.

They’d have to analyze every angle, every face caught in the frame, to see if they could find a lead.

“We should head back,” he said, trying to keep his tone light as they made their way through the dissipating crowd. “Let’s regroup and strategize.”

“Agreed,” Addie replied, her voice weary.

As they walked side by side, the sounds of the festival faded behind them—a bittersweet mix of laughter and music that feltlike a world apart. The intensity of their earlier manic dash had been replaced by an unsettling quiet, tension thrumming in the space between them.

“Severn?” Addie said softly, glancing sideways at him.

“Yeah?”

“Do you think we could have done more?” she asked, a hint of frustration lacing her voice. “I felt like we were so close to catching him. Not that I actually could have done anything to him, it would have been all up to you, but...”

He turned his head to meet her gaze. “We didn’t lose him. We’re still on his trail. This isn’t over yet,” he assured her.

Addie lowered her eyes. “What if he strikes again before we get to him? What if he decides to kill more people? Their death will be on my head.”

Severn stopped her with a hand on her arm. He turned her to face him. “None of this is your fault. I’m not sure why he latched onto you exactly, but you don’t control his actions. Everything that happens is on his head.”

Her eyes flicked to his, and for a moment, he could see something battling within her—a resolve intersecting with fear. She nodded slowly. “I guess you’re right. I just wish...”

“I know,” he said, and he tugged her in for a hug. At first, Addie didn’t know what to do. Automatically, she wrapped her arms around him. And then she didn’t want to let him go.

Severn held her for a few seconds, then pulled away and turned her along the street. Rather than let her go, he tucked her closer to him as they approached the parking lot, the cool night air brushing against them. “Let’s get you home.”

They reached the truck, the glow of streetlights casting a halo around them. Severn opened the door for Addie and gave her a hand up, but his touch lingered. “You know,” he said carefully. “Despite everything that went on tonight, I did enjoy hanging out with you.”

Addie smiled, crookedly. “Um, same,” she murmured. “And I don’t see why it has to stop,” she whispered.

Severn stepped toward the truck, reaching out to cup her face.

“Um, guys, before you get all kissy face you may want to pull your mics,” Gabbie said, breaking the moment.

Severn cussed and he ripped the earpiece out of his ear, tossing it on the floorboard. Addie tugged hers out too, trying not to blush at the thought of Gabbie listening to them. “That could have been really embarrassing,” she whispered, smiling up at him. Then, reaching up, she cupped his rough face in her hand, hoping he would lean down to kiss her.

He did, and it was everything she wanted. All night they’d been touching and teasing, and logically, she knew it was pretense. But there was some part of her that liked thinking it could be real. And why couldn’t it be real? They were of age and single, and she knew the attraction went both ways. She could feel it in the way he touched her, and the way he was kissing her now. A woman knew when a man wanted her in that way.

“Should I snap a picture,” she asked him, drawing back for a breath and smiling.

“No,” he growled. “Not if you want me to continue.”

“Hm,” she said, tugging him toward her again.

Severn could teach a class on kissing. Addie felt her ball cap being lifted away from her head, and her ponytail being pulled through the opening, then her hair releasing around her head. Then he was running his fingers up through her hair. “You have the softest curls,” he said, nibbling at her lips.

Addie moaned, inhaling the scent of his breath. When he used her hair to turn her head, exposing her neck to his mouth, she drew in a sharp breath. Oh, that felt so good. Shivers raced down her body, and she could only grip his t-shirt in her hands. Her legs shifted on the seat, and she brushed against him.

Then, abruptly, he stepped away from her.

Addie blinked, trying to orient herself. Why had he pulled away so fast?

Before she could ask him, he’d swung her legs to the proper position in the truck and closed the door on her. Addie watched as he circled the hood of the truck to his side and climbed in.

“Sorry,” he said, clearing his throat. “I forgot myself for a minute. I need to get you home and out of the public eye.”

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