Page 17 of Rio's Release

“We are if you want.” He reaches across the table and takes my hand. Then he strokes his finger down my palm.

“I remember when you wrote your number there.”

“Yeah.”

“I had your number, but I didn’t even know your name.”

He searches my eyes. “Now you know why.”

“Because of what you were planning to do?”

He nods. “You know I can’t talk about that in here, right?”

“Sure.” I glance over to the guards watching the room.

“I’m glad you’re all right, Shelby.”

My name sounds so sweet on his lips. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard his voice. “Are you allowed to make calls in here?” I know he is, and I’ve wondered why he hasn’t asked for my phone number.

He strokes his thumb over mine. “Look, Shelby, there’s something I have to say. Getting to hear your voice every week would be heaven. It’d be something I’d look forward to, just like I look forward to getting your letters.”

He pauses and stares at the table, and a lump of dread forms in my belly. “But?”

“But I don’t want you wasting your life trying to maintain this relationship with me when you should be seeing guys out in the world.”

“There are no good guys out there.”

“Don’t say that.”

“It’s true.”

“You still work at the bank?”

“Yes.”

“They probably wouldn’t like hearing you came to visit the man who robbed the place. They may even begin to think you were in on it, that it was an inside job.”

My eyes widen. I hadn’t thought of that, but it doesn’t make me want to stop coming. I know what he’s doing. He’s throwing up walls. “Then I’ll get a new job.”

“Don’t you see what I’m trying to do here? I’m trying to keep you from throwing your life away on a guy like me. I’m not a good guy, Shelby.”

“You’re not all bad, either.”

“There are things you don’t know about me.”

“Then tell me.”

“I can’t.” He glances over his shoulder at the guards. “Not in here.”

“Then how will I know?”

“You won’t. That’s the thing.” He squeezes my hand. “I don’t want you coming here again. Do you understand?”

I look into his eyes. He’s serious. “Don’t say that.”

“I mean it, honey. For real.”

He just called me honey in that sexy deep voice of his. I shake my head.

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