Page 64 of Girl Lost
“I’m used to working on little sleep.” She sat on the coffee table across from him. “I’m with you on this, Corbin. Not just for Stryker. For you.”
Corbin looked up at her. The pain medication had softened some of the lines around his eyes, but his focus was sharp as ever. “Thank you. I’m glad we’re partners. Glad you were there for me today. And honestly ... it’s good to have you back in my life.”
She met his gaze. All those years. Gone. She was a teenager again. Awkward. Hopeful.
Corbin reached out, gently sweeping a strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers brushed against her cheek. It was achingly familiar, yet thrillingly new. Good thing she was sitting because her knees would’ve buckled. Her heart pounded so hard she was sure he could hear it.
Somewhere between the gunshots and the quiet moments, something had shifted. She hadn’t meant to feel this way again. Hadn’t allowed herself to. But here she was, teetering on the edge. It had been only two days, but she could feel herself starting to fall for him all over again.
She leaned closer. Drawn to him. His hand reached up. Cupped the back of her neck and pulled her closer. The space between themshrank. Her eyes closed. Their breath mingled. Her heart filled with years of longing. Nights spent dreaming.
Their lips almost touched. Oh, how she wanted to close the remaining sliver between them. Erase everything with one ... kiss. One moment.
Corbin pulled back. His gaze dropped to his lap. “Luna, I ... I can’t.”
The spell shattered. Reality came crashing back.
All the years, the pain, the distance—it all rushed up, sharp as a blade. Another rejection.
What had she expected? That the scars of the past would vanish in a heartbeat? That he wanted the same life she once dreamed of sharing with him? She’d been a fool to hope things could be different this time.
Luna stood. Her legs wavered beneath her as she fought to hold herself together. She needed to leave. Now. Before the tears burning behind her eyes could fall. Before she said something she’d regret.
She grabbed her blazer from the back of a nearby chair, fumbling with the fabric as she tried to pull it on. Her hands shook. Blast it. She hadn’t been this off-kilter in years.
Luna’s carefully constructed walls crumbled around her. Years of training, of pushing aside personal feelings for the sake of the mission, vanished in an instant. The living room closed in. Warm lamplight caught on framed artwork and well-tended plants. A life built without her.
She strode toward the door. Just a few more seconds and she’d be out of here. She could lick her wounds in the privacy of a quiet Uber. Find a way to piece herself back together. Become the agent she was supposed to be.
Her fingers grazed the cool metal of the doorknob. Something made her stop.
She turned and looked back. “Good night, Corbin.” She surprised herself with the gentleness in her tone. “See you in the morning.”
23
CORBIN HAULEDHIMSELF UPRIGHT,gritting his teeth as his stitches stretched. The nightstand clock’s red digits glared 4:44 a.m. Thebathroom tile bit into his bare feet as he stumbledto the sink. A stranger stared back from the mirror, stubble-faced and thumb print bruises under each eye telegraphing how little sleep he’d had.
Luna’s face swam before him. Last night, she’d been close enough to kiss. Her breath, warm and inviting. Her eyes, soft in a way he hadn’t seen since...
Man, he’d wanted to kiss her. To erase the years between them with one touch. But the graveyard had kept flashing behind his eyes—bodies and blood mixing with the haze of painkillers. His head was too fuzzy, his thoughts too fractured to give her the moment she deserved. After everything they’d been through, after all the time and pain, their next first kiss couldn’t be some impulsive, hazy blur. She deserved more.
He didn’t blame her for bolting.
Cold water shocked his system as he splashed his face.
This time had been different, though. She hadn’t bolted without a word. Her walls weren’t as high. He could see over them, at least. See through to the pain she hid. Pain he’d caused, yes, but somethingmore. Something deeper. Older. A wound that had festered, hardened. Scars that crisscrossed her soul.
He wanted to shield her, to help her heal. But how could he when every glance, every unspoken word between them carried traces of broken promises and discarded dreams. He ached to show her how deeply he regretted walking away.
But would she ever trust him again?
Rushing through his morning routine, he skipped a proper shave and settled for a quick pass with his electric razor. Time was tight. Picking up Luna from Tori’s place and making it to the medical examiner’s office before six was nonnegotiable. Being late wasn’t an option—not when it might give her another reason to doubt him.
The sun hadn’t yet risen when Luna slid into the passenger seat. She held two travel mugs, the scent of fresh coffee filling the car.
“Figured you could use this.” She passed him one of the mugs.
“Thanks. You’re a lifesaver.” Maybe things weren’t so bad. If she was bringing him coffee, she couldn’t be completely put off by last night’s almost-kiss.
