Page 61 of Cold Light of Day

“Okay.”

Together they worked their way to the riverbank. He’d been fortunate to make a quick in and out of the river, and his limbs still functioned, but the cold was getting to him. The chief had been in the water much longer. Every time the current tried to pull them apart, he gripped her tighter and pulled her closer. His feet finally touched the bottom, but suddenly he slipped on a slick stone and, flailing, lost his grip on her as he went under. But she reached for him, caught his hand, and hauled him up and out. He choked and coughed up river water as they crawled up the bank.

Shivering.

He’d almost lost her, and the close call overwhelmed him. Grier pulled her to him, surprised she didn’t resist. He held her. No words could convey the emotion surging through him, the relief.

Sirens rang out, growing louder.

Took them long enough. “Let’s get up the hill and to my vehicle. We can get blankets and warm you up.”

He got to his feet and started forward, but the chief collapsed.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. I’m fine.” She climbed to her feet but appeared unsteady.

He lifted her into his arms and carried her.

“No, please, put me down.”

“You’re not okay.” Adrenaline still coursing through his veins, Grier carried her up the incline. “What happened back there anyway?”

“I think he drugged me, so I’m feeling a little woozy, that’s all. I got the drop on him and was about to cuff him but felt a prick in my hand, then nothing. Then I woke up in the back of his SUV.”

“So that explains it. You’re the reason it went into the river.”

She gave a strained chuckle. “I tried to escape the vehicle, then things got out of control.”

He reached the top of the embankment and could have put her down, but he kept her close and tucked against him all the way to his truck, still parked on the bridge. Then she slid out of his arms. He opened up the truck, grabbed some blankets, then wrapped her up and held the blanket near her neck. Her face remained inches from him.

Her lips were blue, and he wanted to kiss her and warm them up. The night sky offered them a reprieve from the clouds and rain, and when she looked up at him, he caught a shimmer in her crazy-colored eyes. It took his breath away.Shetook his breath away.

“Grier,” she whispered.

He didn’t think he’d imagined the need, the longing in theway she said his name, and he wanted to pull her close and let her melt into him.

“You risked your life coming after me. Thank you. I owe you—”

“Nothing. You owe me nothing.”

He leaned a few millimeters closer until his lips almost touched hers. He closed his eyes...just a little closer, but...he hesitated, denying himself the feel of her lips against his, the feel of Autumn Long against him. She could have died. He could have died trying to save her. Taking advantage of their raw emotions was the wrong thing to do. Wasn’t it?

It might have been the hardest thing he’d ever done, but he stepped back, putting distance between them. When he looked at her, he forced an indifference he didn’t feel into his heart and mind. He hoped he hadn’t hurt her.

Exhausted, she turned and got into his truck. He ran around to the driver’s side. Once inside, he turned on the vehicle and cranked up the heat.

“Do you think he’s dead?” he asked. “Drowned in the SUV?”

“We can’t know until someone goes down to check.”

Grier groaned inside. That someone might be him. “Make sure to get a blood test to see if he drugged you.”

“I know how to do my job.”

Lights flashing, an Interceptor parked behind them. One of her officers had finally arrived. An ambulance and two other emergency vehicles parked along the road near the bridge entrance. “Time to go to work.” She started opening the door but glanced back at him. “Tomorrow, we need to talk.”

The next day, Grier sat in his truck and waited.

---