Page 55 of Forged in Steele

Jared nodded. “We worked together as camp counselors one summer, and the rest is history.”

Holloway leaned back. “I’ve got all I need for today. Any questions?”

Bristol swung her gaze to the man. “How do you manage to arrange adoptions so quickly when agencies take forever?”

Holloway’s eyes narrowed, and Jared finally saw the hard, unfeeling man who stole children from their mothers for money.

“I have many sources who help me rescue expectant mothers who can’t fulfill their roles, and we find loving homes for the children.” He gave a tight smile. “I don’t mean to brag, but our reputation of successful placements has made us the premier adoption firm in the area.”

Bristol looked like she wanted to snap at him, but curled her free hand into a fist. “Can we expedite this? We’ve waited so long, and when the Wetzels told us about how quickly you helped them, we knew it was meant to be.”

“I’ll work as fast as I can and be in touch.” He stood.

“Please make it fast.” Jared gripped Bristol’s hand. “I failed to give this woman everything she’s dreamed of, but you can.”

Jared made strong eye contact with her to share his sincerity. He failed to commit to this woman he once loved and spoiled her dream of a future together. Now he sincerely wanted to correct that if he could. If she would let him.

“I’ll rush it, but I have to do my due diligence too.” Holloway escorted them to the door.

Jared continued to hold Bristol’s hand and followed, his brain filled with the pain of what could have been with the amazing woman at his side.

What would it be like to really be married and failing to have a child? So many very deserving couples went through the struggle every day, and he had no idea why. He only knew he hadn’t lied to Holloway when he’d said he would like to have a mini-Bristol in his life. And that scared him more than he thought possible.

Outside where the sun had returned and Bristol enjoyed the warmth on her body, she looked up at Jared. “You can let go of my hand now.”

“Holloway could be watching out the window.” Jared drew her closer. “In fact, we might want to cement our standing as a married couple in his eyes.”

He slid his hands around her waist then he pulled her closer. Memories of kissing him flashed before her eyes, and her heart fluttered.

“Not sure I’m into a PDA,” she got out when she could barely think straight with his hands on her.

“Then we’ll make it quick.” He lowered his head.

He was going to kiss her. Really kiss her. Here in the parking lot in public. And she wasn’t going to stop him. Not even consider stopping him. She was going to encourage him. She lifted her arms and curled her hands around the back of his neck to draw his head down faster.

Her heart thumped loudly in anticipation. Their lips met. An explosion of warmth spread through her body. Nothing had changed. The depth of her feelings for this man remained.

She clung to him. His touch. His lips. His urgency. All drove her to deepen the kiss. He met her emotions with his own. He consumed her thoughts. She forgot the time. The place. The investigation. The past hurt.

Only remembered the love they’d once shared. The way they’d been so perfect for each other.

A car backfired in the lot. She jumped back like a child caught misbehaving.

She pressed her fingers against her lips and stared at him.

He closed the distance back to her and circled his arm around her shoulders. “Holloway might not have heard the car, and we can’t have him thinking you’re afraid of me.”

Shewasafraid of him. Or more aptly—afraid of her feelings for him. But Luna came first. So she pushed aside every emotion swimming in her gut, leaned into him, and even circled her arm around his trim waist.

He started for his vehicle, and she moved in sync with him. Step for step, breathing deep on each one and clearing her brain to move it back to the investigation where it belonged. She noticed the FBI’s surveillance car sitting across the lot. Hopefully, Holloway wouldn’t make the couple in the car as agents.

At Jared’s vehicle, he turned her to face him. He planted a sweet kiss on her forehead and opened her door. She slid in before he tried another passionate kiss. She couldn’t survive it without having time to think about what had happened and how she so readily gave in to her feelings. For now, she had to keep her focus—their focus—on the investigation.

He slid in and looked at her.

No.Meeting his gaze was not a good idea. She buckled her seatbelt. “The meeting with Holloway went faster than I thought, but I’m not sure we accomplished anything.”

Jared shoved the key into the ignition. “We established ourselves as clients, but other than that, we have nothing to go on.”

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