Page 43 of False Evidence

“Do you have the next few weeks off?”

She nodded again. “Until the ninth, actually.”

“I’m in town until New Year’s Day.”

She shook her head. “I can’t…I… Please. Don’t ask me for anything. Not when I don’t know what I have to give.”

He brushed his lips over her forehead. “Then just know I’m here, when you’re ready or if you need me.”

“I don’t see how that’s possible because I meant it when I said I don’t want to know your name. I don’t want your number. And I won’t give you mine. Don’t get my name from the police. Or, if you find out accidentally, don’t use it to find me. I wanted to feel in control here. That’s what this…tonight…was going to be about.”

“You are absolutely in control. If you want me to leave, I’ll go.”

“What if I want you to stay?”

“I’ll stay. But I won’t have sex with you.”

“Even if I say pretty please?” She batted those thick, long eyelashes.

He chuckled. “Oh. Well. That changes everything.”

She tucked her head against his chest and let out a pained laugh.

“Do you want me to leave?” he asked.

The arms around his waist tightened. “No. I…I don’t want to be alone here. In this room.” He felt her shiver against him. She raised her head and met his gaze. “Please. Will you at least hold me until I fall asleep?”

The pain in her blue eyes gutted him. “Of course. I’ll hold you all night if you want.”

“I want.” She loosened her hold and stepped back. “Thank you. I’ll uh…get ready. For bed.” Then she rose on her toes and kissed his cheek, right next to his lips.

He was so tempted to turn his head and make it a real kiss, but he wouldn’t toy with her that way. He was here for comfort, not sex. But damn, she was hard to resist.

“You’re a good man, whoever you are.” She whispered the words as she kissed his neck just above the collarbone.

He touched her cheek. “You’re a strong woman.”I hope you’ll give me a chance to get to know you.

She slipped from his arms and readied herself for bed in the bathroom while he removed his shoes, socks, belt, tie, and dress shirt. He had a T-shirt underneath; his suit pants would just have to be slept in. He actually had a hotel suite on the other end of this floor and considered going there to grab his toothbrush and a pair of sweatpants to sleep in, but he remembered the shiver that ran through her when she said she didn’t want to be alone.

She crawled into bed, and he took his turn in the bathroom. He didn’t have toothpaste or a toothbrush, but there was a hotel bottle of mouthwash on the counter, which he swished around after rinsing with water.

He turned off the lights, then crawled into the king-sized bed beside her. He reached for her, and she curled up on his lap. He held her in the dark, taking in her scent and enjoying the feel of her in his arms.

After a while, they shifted positions until they lay spooned together, and at last, her body relaxed. He had no clue how much time passed before her breathing evened out and he was certain she was asleep.

He lay with his arm around her waist, knees tucked up behind hers, and marveled at the events that had led to this moment. He’d known her for less than four hours and still didn’t know her name, but still, he felt certain this woman would change his life. Maybe she already had.

ChapterSixteen

Catoctin Mountain, Maryland

Present

Alexandra hadn’t intended to fall asleep in JT’s arms. She didn’t plan on falling asleep at all. But it happened anyway. It had been so natural to lie next to him on the couch, accepting the comfort she so desperately needed.

So much like the night they met. Complete strangers then, but she’d been through a traumatic experience, and he hadn’t hesitated to comfort her. That night, she’d had no intention of ever seeing him again.

Here she was, sixteen years later, and once again sleeping in his arms. She shifted, rising on her elbow to study him in the dark. They lay side by side on the wide lounge seat on the end of the plush sofa.

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