Page 6 of Blood and Sand

If Rey could move on, why couldn’t I?

Aaron was a girl’s dream—caring, attentive, and could cook as good as a Michelin Star chef, not to mention his massages were to die for. To top it all off, he was gorgeous. Dark skin, dark eyes, a muscular build, thick lips, and perfect white teeth. Aaron Hart wastheperfect package, in bed and out. However, he had one strike against him when it came to me—he wasn’t Rey LaCroix, and that was the one thing I couldn’t get past, no matter how hard I tried.

Aaron was the total opposite of Rey, instantly attracting me to him, from his healthy eating habits to his mellow attitude. Rey went to the gym only to work off the cheeseburgers and Cajun food he loved to scarf down, and he was an asshole most of the time. Aaron was what I needed, someone to wipe Rey completely out of my mind and heart. However, Aaron had continually brought up the topic of marriage last year, and the more he brought it up, the more I pulled away.

It wasn’t like he wasn’t husband material. Any lady would be lucky to have him as a husband, including me. He just wasn’tmyhusband…well, my ex-husband. And until I purged Rey LaCroix from my system completely, neither Aaron nor anyone else would have a place in my heart. I cared for Aaron, but my love, I feared, would always be Rey’s.

How pathetic is that?

“You’re thinking about himagain, aren’t you?”

I heard the agitation in his voice, but there wasn’t anything I could do about it. Rey was a touchy subject, one that wasn’t going away.

“Let’s not do this right now, Aaron. I’ve got a million and one things to take care of at the office before I head to my grandparents.” He was right. I was thinking of Rey, but I wouldn’t admit to it.

I got out of my bed and headed to the bathroom, trying to avoid the conversation.

“Stop running, Dana.”

“I’m not running, Aaron.”

“Yes, you are!” He sat up in the bed, the sheet falling to his waist. My eyes zoomed in on his hairless skin. He looked like he was sculpted from stone. “We’re going to have to talk about him sometime so we can move forward. Together. I want to marry you. I love you.”

But I don’t love you.

“I can’t and won’t play second to anyone, not even your ex.”

“I’ve never asked you to play second to anyone!” I took a deep breath and released it. “Now is not the time to discuss any of this, Aaron.”

“Well, when would be the right time, Dana?” he asked, his tone causing me to flinch. “We’ve been together for three damn years. I’m ready to move forward.”

But I’m not.Just say it.

“I’m not getting into this with you.” I took the coward’s way out. I cared for Aaron. I wasn’t trying to hurt him. “Discussing my ex-husband is off limits.”

I slammed the bathroom door. I knew what he wanted to say. This was a recurring discussion and argument, but now was not the time. I needed to get ready for the start of my workday and then get on a plane to North Carolina for my vacation. Hopefully, by the time I finished my shower, Aaron would be gone, and I could avoid the elephant in the room—Rey LaCroix.

ATLANTA FIELD OFFICE

Placing my purse and messenger bag on the conveyor belt, I waited in the employees’ line for my turn to pass through the metal detectors right outside the restricted area of my office building. With my stainless-steel cup in hand filled with my morning cappuccino, there were only a few minutes to spare before the briefing with Mr. Steele, the Special Agent-in-Charge, on an important case he assigned to me. The disappearance of six-year-old Whitney Harry.

It had taken me hours to sift through the local detective’s case files, including crime scene photos and witness statements, before I came up with a workable profile of the unsub in the short amount of time he’d requested. It had been very nerve-wracking and stressful, hence my night and morning full of stress-relief sex with Aaron. However, in between the amazing sex and a short power nap, I nailed down the unsub’s personality and his possible next target, even with the lack of evidence on the case.

Passing through the metal detector and retrieving my property, I headed toward the elevators to the fifth floor, the location of my office. People crowded into the small metal box, mostly ignoring one another, checking their cell phones and watches. I gripped my purse and messenger bag in front of me and took a deep breath before my fear of tight spaces took over. At first, Rey used to laugh at my claustrophobia until he saw the crippling effect it had on me. I’d been dealing with it since college.

I focused on the numbers of each floor as they lit up, saying each one under my breath to distract myself from the tight confines of the elevator. If I hadn’t been short on time, I would’ve taken the stairs like usual.

The car shuddered and jerked as it slowed to a stop. I exhaled a breath when the shiny metal doors slid open.

I exited the elevator, headed to my office. “Hey, Mr. Douglas, how are you doing this morning?” I asked the janitor when I exited the elevator on the way to my office.

He looked up from his mop and bucket. “I’m doing good, Dr. LaCroix. Make sure you have a safe and wonderful weekend.”

“Will do.” I waved. “And you do the same, Mr. Douglas.”

I reached the sanctity of my office and placed my purse in my bottom desk drawer while Renee, my assistant, rattled off my schedule and messages. Thank goodness it was a short day. I had more packing to do before I headed home to see my grandparents. I only had a couple of things to wrap up in the office after the briefing with Mr. Steele, then I could get on with my much-needed extended vacation.

After gathering my messenger bag filled with the case files and my notes, I headed toward Mr. Steele’s office to brief him, Renee still at my side.

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