Page 32 of Dangerous Lies

“Itmight be best for him,” she said, sounding more determined.

He turned away, needing a second togethis emotions in check. He tossed his coffee in the sink, no longer wanting to enjoy the roast. “Best for him or you?”

“I think we both have our emotions running high and need to take a step back and figure this out.”

“Like I walk out the door, and you go along like I never existed? So last night, you used me just like your sister.”

She sucked in a sharp breath. “Last night was special, but what do I have to offer you here? I can'tgetup and move my business where you're stationed, plus Tyler has friends. Do you expect us to do some long-distance thing until you find someone else? None of the scenarios I've run in my head work.”

He rinsed off his coffee cup and setiton the towel. “Seems you worked everything out on your own. Glad you included me in the conversation. The meeting with the Chief is soon. I'm going to take a shower. You can ride with Grim if I'm not back down in time.”

“I thought you would take me to the police station.” Her voice cracked.

He was sure if he turned and looked at her,therewould be tears.

She’d made her choice.

“I have stuff to do on the Carter operation and an errand.” His son had an appointment with the soccer coach, and he didn't plan for her to take that from him. He took a deep breath and exhaled. “You’re right. Last night I let shit cloud my mind. This morning, you reminded me of what my job was.”

“Ifeellike you’re being an ass because you don't like my decision.”

His heart squeezed when he sawthe tears. He wanted to rush to her side and say theycouldworkitout, but he wasn't sure that was a possibility.

“Nope, just got a good dose of reality. Grim can take you and handle everything with the Chief. Hopefully, your sister gets me the intel by the end of the day, and I'll be out of your hair for a while, but I'll be back toseemy son.”

“We need to discuss him.”

“I can't right now,” he replied because he was close to threatening to take him away from her. Heknewwith one DNA test hecould, and she didn't have a leg to stand on.

12

ROSE

She'd handled that completely wrong. She wasn't even sure what she wanted, but the gutted look Ginger gave her when he turned and left the kitchen was not what she’d had in mind. He'd done so much for her, and she had nothing to offer him.

The prior night floated into her mind, but sex didn't make a relationship, even ifitwas more than shecouldever imagine. She shifted, and the ache was a reminder of how much he’d paid attention to her. She'd lost count of the number of orgasms she’d had.

He'd waited on her hand and foot over the past few days, and she’d fuckeditall up in one conversation.

She didn'tknowhow long she sat at the kitchen counter.Itwas long enough for her coffee to go cold.

“We need to head out,” Casanova said, and each word came out clipped.

“I thought Grim was taking me.” She didn'tknowif shecouldhandle Ginger's teammate. Maybe Grim could understand why she needed to stop the relationship with Ginger.

He shook his head. “She's on the phone with Xavier. I have everything we need in the SUV.”

She slunk beside him like a wounded puppy, but she was the one to cause the damage. When she entered the living room, Tyler wasn'tthere. “I need to find my son.”

“Ginger took him out for a bit.” He glanced at his wrist. “We need to go.”

Her back was rigid as he escorted her to the door. Ginger shouldn't have just taken her son. Yes, he diditthroughout the week, butitfeltdifferent this time, like she might notgether boy back.

“I should really call Ginger,” she said as she climbed into the SUV.

“They'll be back before we are. I don't like having bugs in my vehicle, so let'sget this evidence to the Chief.”

She fell silent, worried about Ginger, her son, and the bugs they had taken from her house.

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