Page 67 of Shadowing Her Stalker

“I can tell you the whole cybercrimes crew is really excited to have you drop by,” Emma informed them as they merged onto the highway. She shot Cara a sidelong glance. “Wyatt in particular.”

“Well, we appreciate all you did to help Cara,” Chris answered. “A quick stopover to thank you in person is the least we could do.”

Cara watched the highway signs zip past. This was the same route Gerald Griffin had forced her to take mere weeks before, but looked completely different with her two oldest friends along for the ride. Just a few miles down, Emma signaled her intent to exit. Arkansas State Police Headquarters was located in an old shopping mall on the city’s south side.

Within minutes, Emma had wheeled the SUV into a spot designated for official vehicles and killed the engine. “We’ve got about an hour before I’ll need to get you back to check in for your flights out.”

“Let’s do this then,” Chris said, reaching for the door handle and discovering it was useless. He was trapped in the back of the police SUV. “Or not.”

“Cop locks,” Emma informed them. “Hang on, we’ll let you out.”

“Yeah. Makes sense,” Chris muttered as Emma opened the rear door for him.

Cara smiled at Tom as he stepped out of the vehicle.

“Should I take my bags?” he asked.

Emma wrinkled her nose, then shrugged. “Up to you. This is not a great area, but if they’re not safe in this vehicle, they aren’t safe in any.”

“Good point.”

Emma made a point of chirping the locks as they walked away, and they all laughed.

A chuckle tangled in Cara’s throat when one of the glass doors leading into headquarters opened and Wyatt Dawson stepped into the sunlight. His hair glinted gold and his shoulders looked broader than ever as he crossed his arms over his chest and waited for them, his lips curved into a smile he was clearly keeping on a tight rein.

Cara hung back, allowing Emma to make the introductions between the men. When Wyatt reached for the door and held it open for them, she hesitated on the sidewalk. Wyatt clocked her position with a glance, then let the door swing shut behind the others.

“Hey,” he said, his gaze locked on her.

“Hi,” she returned.

Then, unable to hold back a moment longer, Cara flung herself at him. He caught her up easily, strong arms winding tight around her as she buried her face in his neck.

“One minute you were there, and before I could even...you were gone,” she mumbled into his skin.

“I wanted to stay. I wanted to stay with you, but I didn’t know what you wanted and I couldn’t... I love my job, Cara. I didn’t know—”

“No. Right, I know,” she said, her voice choked.

He held her fast, one hand sliding up her back to hold her to him even tighter. “Breathe,” he whispered into her ear.

She gave a soggy chuckle and inhaled deeply. Maybe she got drunk on the scent of his soap, or perhaps he was exuding some kind of pheromone that made rational women lose their minds. She didn’t know exactly why she pressed her lips to the exposed skin above his collar, she only knew it was absolutely necessary.

Wyatt froze for a second, and she wondered if she’d gone too far.

Then, the next thing she knew, he gripped the back of her head in his big, warm palm and his mouth was on hers. His lips were warm and firm, the bottom slightly chapped from his habit of gnawing on it, but all in all, the kiss was perfect. Long, lingering and packed with promise.

She pressed her slick lips together when he drew back for air. The last thing she wanted was to do something stupid like apologize. Not when she was not the least bit sorry he’d kissed her.

“I’ve wanted to kiss you a long time,” he confessed, his voice slightly hoarse. “But this probably isn’t the best time and place.”

“Feels right to me,” she said, her voice breathy.

“Complicates things,” he said gruffly.

“Not for me,” she answered, pulling back to look him in the eye. “This is by far the easiest decision I’ve made in weeks.”

“Is it?”

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