Page 77 of Trapped

“You think they’re going to check every little motel between here and DC?”

“If they’re desperate enough. Is that where we’re headed?”

“In that general direction.”

His expression sharpened. “You’re not taking me to your friends in Beltsville, are you?”

She sighed “Not unless you want to go there.”

“I don’t!”

She wanted to tell him he was being stubborn. But she knew that wouldn’t help the situation. Instead, she asked for some of the cash —so she could pay for the night.

“Tell them you want a room in back—where it’s quiet.”

“Okay.”

He gave her all the money, and she paid, then climbed in again and drove to the other side of the building. The room wasn’t palatial. But it was clean.

She wanted to talk to Cash, but he was making it clear that he wasn’t much interested in communication. Without trying to engage him in conversation, she used the facilities and took a quick shower, then turned the bathroom over to him.

Wishing she had a change of clothes, she climbed into bed in her underwear, then listened to the shower running. He stayed under the water for a long time, and when he opened the bathroom door, she could see him in the light coming around the edges of the curtains.

Wearing only his briefs, he slipped into the other side of the bed, and she lay for a minute, listening to the sound of his breathing.

When she couldn’t stand it any longer, she closed the distance between them and turned on her side, reaching for him and snuggling close.

She could feel his instant tension.

“Don’t put barriers between us,” she said.

“I have to.”

It was hard to speak around the constriction in her throat. “Is that a moral imperative? Or a personal decision—about us.”

“Both.”

She cradled her head against his shoulder. “Maybe you can explain your thinking.”

He dragged in a breath and let it out. “I have a big fat hole in my memory. I don’t know what’s true and what isn’t. I don’t know what happened in Afghanistan, but I’m pretty sure it’s something bad. And if that’s not enough, when you tried to dig into it, I attacked you.”

“We’ll fix all that,” she murmured.

“How can you be sure?”

“Because of your determination,” she answered. You want to fix it. Badly. So you will.”

“Are you telling me every nut case who wants to get well does?”

“You’re not a nut case. Montgomery screwed with your mind.”

“What’s the difference?”

“A lot.” She sighed.

“But right now, you need to relax.”

“Easier said than done,” he muttered.

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