Page 36 of Hunted

Romano came back inside ten minutes later and stood in the doorway brushing snow from his shoulders. She went to help, dusting the white stuff from his jacket. She reached for his dark hair, ruffling it with her fingers to shake the snow away. And then she stopped. His hair was soft and damp, and her fingers were buried in it. She stood very close to him, too close, maybe, and when she looked up, he was staring right down into her eyes.

He laid his hands gently over hers, still buried in his hair, and he lifted them away. Lexi blinked, turning abruptly. “Do we have matches?”

“Top drawer,” he said, and she thought his voice was the slightest bit gruff.

Of course it was, he’d just been out in the cold.

She found the matches. “Better get the pilots lit. Shine the light, will you?”

He did, and Lexi lit the little gas lamps and then turned the knobs. In seconds the lamps glowed, washing the camper in warm light. It did erotic things to a man’s skin, that amber glow. It did even more disturbing things to his eyes. She lit the pilot on the small two-burner range next. The camper was too old a model to have electric pilot ignition. She handed the matches to Romano. “You can do the heat. I haven’t got a clue.”

He nodded, took the matches from her and fiddled around in the little closet next to the cubby-sized bathroom. The place was toasty a few minutes after he emerged.

Romano shrugged off his coat and sat down at the table. So now what, Lexi wondered. She poked around in the cupboards to see what he’d bought to eat, finally settling on a can of beef stew and some instant hot cocoa. She located a can opener, some bottled water, and a pair of small pots.

“You don’t have to go back there with me tomorrow,” she said at last, unsure whether she’d be treading on forbidden ground to broach the subject that had been on her mind since they’d left Jim’s house. I’ll go alone, get the papers and bring them back here.”

“Sure you will. Or maybe you’ll decide to take off for parts unknown with them.”

She sank into the seat across from him. “I won’t do that.”

“You’d do just about anything to protect your father’s name, Lexi.”

“Not his name, his legacy. His team at the university are working on major things. My father’s reputation is what keeps them funded. There’s more at stake here than just his name.” She lowered her eyes and added, “And if I tell you I won’t do something, then I won’t.”

“Even if those papers prove your old man did exactly what I told you he did?”

She held his gaze and nodded. “Yes, even then.” She wanted to add that she knew that wasn’t going to be the case, but her doubts were too strong, and growing all the time. “I’ll swear on his memory, if it’ll make you feel better.”

He searched her face for a long moment, finally nodding. “I almost believe you would. But I’m going with you, anyway.”

“You … you might not want to.”

He sighed heavily and let his chin fall to his chest. “I saw the bicycles in the garage. I know they have kids.”

She got up, turning to the range to stir the stew, and she wondered if talking about this would hurt him more or help him. “Their grandchildren stay with them quite often. Especially during the holidays. I hadn’t thought about it before, but chances are if they do get back tomorrow, they’ll have the kids with them. You don’t have to put yourself through that.”

“Don’t.”

“I saw your face at that diner. I saw what looking at that little boy did to you. I’d have to be blind not to see it.”

“Don’t,” he repeated.

“Going there tomorrow will only hurt you more.” She was thinking of more than just the children. She was thinking of the things scattered all over the place that would remind Romano of his lost little ones. Toys and books and games and small clothes. There would be evidence of the children everywhere.

He lifted his chin, met her eyes without blinking. “Nothing could hurt me more, Lexi. Pain is something I’ve learned to live with.”

“But—”

“And it’s my pain, not yours. It has nothing to do with you, do you understand that?”

She blinked at him, wanting with everything in her to reach out and touch him, take him in her arms and make it all right for him.

“I want you to leave it alone.” He got up, reaching past her to snap the burner off. “You’re burning the stew.”

“Romano …”

He froze her with a single glance. “Just leave it alone, Lexi. Please.”

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