Page 7 of Deadly Intentions

“That’s the thing… you don’t know me,” I sighed.

“All the more reason to go on a date with me.”

I knew I was taking a risk, but the thought of being alone terrified me more. “One date.”

Alex leaned forward and pressed a chaste kiss to my lips. “I’m going before you change your mind.” He started out my bedroom door. “I’ll see you this week at the hospital. Be thinking about where you want to go.”

Without another word, he was gone. I flopped back on the bed and groaned. What had I done? I was supposed to be lying low until I’d gotten myself established. A relationship with anyone would put me at risk for exposing who I really was—and I was going on a date… with a freaking cop.

I rolled over and screamed into my pillow. Life was supposed to be easier here—a new name, a new me. And here I’d gone and slept with a detective. My mind immediately shot to my brothers. It must have been in our blood to attract cops, because Vincenzo’s wife was former law enforcement. I clenched my eyes closed. Thinking about my brothers conjured up the vision of him. Which led to more guilt. I’d only slept with one man in my life. And he did not know that he'd been my first.

A tear slipped down my cheek and splashed onto the pillow. How was I going to move on when I couldn’t even have sex with another man without thinking about him? I screamed out again, hurling the pillow across the room.

So much for a distraction. All I got instead was a complication I wasn’t prepared for.

What else could go wrong?

four

CATARINA

"Well?"Harley cocked her hip and stood blocking my path.

"Well, what?" I went to step around her, but she grabbed my arm.

"Nope. You're not getting off that easy. What happened with the hot cop?"

"I freaked out and kicked him out of my house."

"You—wait, come again?" Harley shook her head. "It sounded like you said you kicked him out of your house."

"I did. I couldn’t bring myself to have sex with him."

Harley's mouth popped open as she stared at me. She closed her mouth suddenly and narrowed her eyes. "What did he do?"

"He understood and asked to take me on a date."

"He likes you." Harley smirked as I shrugged my shoulders. "He does. No man would ask you on a date after being kicked out before sex. Sounds like the detective wants something more than a fling."

"I can't date him." I blew out a frustrated breath.

"Why not? You're a single girl, he's a single guy—right?"

"Yes. But my life is complicated, and I came here to start over without added complications. My intentions were to establish myself and then worry about dating."

"Sometime the best outcomes aren't what you plan." Harley patted my back and smiled. "Why not see where it goes? You don't have to keep dating if it causes too much stress. But not giving him a chance may cause you to kick yourself later on."

"You're right." I needed to give the man a chance—as long as he didn't figure out my secret, it could work. "I got to go check on John Doe. Talk later?"

"Yep. Holler if you need anything." Harley disappeared around the corner, leaving me to stare at the empty hallway.

The beeping of the machines filled the tiny room as I shut myself inside. I checked his vitals and adjusted his fluids before pulling up a chair and sitting down. The night shift nurse had bathed him and changed out his dressing before I’d arrived. His most recent test results showed brain activity that appeared to be normal, but until he woke up, we wouldn’t know the extent of his damage. I ran my palm down his arm and sighed.

“Hey there bud. I wish we knew who you were. I hate calling you John Doe.” I tugged the sheet tighter and tucked it under his arm. “In fact. I think I’ll call you Johnny. Makes it more personal.” I felt foolish talking to an unconscious man, but something about him made me feel safe. Maybe because I knew he wouldn’t talk back. “So… I agreed to a date with the cop trying to figure out who you are. Am I stupid for saying yes? Hell, I almost slept with him, Johnny. But I couldn’t go through with it. I’ve only ever slept with one man, and he’s ruined me, I think. I miss him. Was I smart running away like I did? I just couldn’t live that life anymore. But why does it hurt so much? I would’ve thought I’d be over him by now. Stupid right?”

“What’s stupid?” Alex’s deep timber voice caused me to jump. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you.”

I pushed back and stood. “What are you doing here?” I moved the chair back to the corner and straightened my shirt.

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