Page 77 of A Lethal Betrayal

“Everything. Yeah, we don’t work as closely as what happened before, but we still work together. I won’t go down that road again.”

“I hate to tell you this, but it’s a bit late for that.”

She bit her lip and lowered her head. “I know. I’m sorry. That’s why this has to be the last time.”

He was trying not to panic. Was she really calling it quits? “What happened at your old job?”

“I slept with another cop. We dated for a few months, but then the top brass found out. He’d been a cop a lot longer and was my superior officer. He told them I came on to him, I seduced him, and then I stalked him when he wanted to break up with me. It was all bullshit, but Command believed him, or more likely, they sided with him, because he came from a long line of cops. His family was practically legendary. I only had one uncle on the force, and even he didn’t really stand up for me. Anyway, it was humiliating. I moved here to get away from it, and I ended up—"

“Sleeping with me.” Dane wanted to kill the cop back in Minneapolis for hurting Mac. It was his protective nature. But she was comparing him to some asshole cop. That wasn’t fair.

“I’m not going to screw you over. I’m not some asshole.”

She grabbed her T-shirt and threw it on over her head. “I want to believe that, but he said the same thing and then did anyway. It’s just better we end this here and now. I don’t want to have to work with someone I used to date. It’s weird.”

“Are you staying on Oahu then?” he demanded. Was she going to be on Sand Island, but he couldn’t see her? Jesus, was she going to date other guys and he’d have to watch? Maybe it was better if she left. Seeing her with someone else would be utter torture.

She shook her head as she bent down and gathered up his clothing from the floor. She put it on the bed next to him. “I don’t know what I’m doing, but I do know either way, I don’t want to mess up again. This was a one-off.”

“But it was twice.” He stood now and stared at her. She was throwing something good away because of some prick from her past. “You’re blaming me for some other asshole’s actions.”

“You know what I mean. It just doesn’t work. Having sex and working together. And I’m blaming myself, not you. I shouldn’t have slept with you either time, but I was very clear with you both times what I wanted.”

“Why doesn’t it work? It’s not like we work out of the same office.”

Mac sighed. “Please get dressed.”

Dane pulled on his clothes. “I don’t see the problem.”

“The problem is colleagues take sides when it doesn’t work out, and it all gets complicated. I am so fucking tired of complicated. I loved my job at CGIS, but then this case and you happened, and it all just went downhill.”

“So, let me get this straight, you regret sleeping with me and think I’m part of the reason your dream job went downhill.”

“No. Well, yes, but it wasn’t like you did it on purpose. It was my mistake. Like I said, I made the same mistaketwice. I’m an idiot.” She had her hands on her hips. “Do you know why I brought Cain to the meeting with Sinclair? I mean, why he was sitting at the table?”

What in the hell was she talking about now?

“Because I knew if something bad was going to come from that conversation, I needed a witness, and it couldn’t be you. We slept together, which meant your opinion, your witnessing of the event, would be called into question. We can’t work in the same place and expect it not to have repercussions. I just don’t want that. I’ve worked too hard to create this career to lose it to another stupid mistake.”

He was having a hard time keeping his breathing even. “So…not only am I a mistake, but I’ve cost you your dream job. I’m the asshole, is that it? Fine. Roger that. Point taken. Understood.”

“Dane,” she said. “Look, I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just… It’s complicated.”

“No, it’s simple. We’re done. See you around Special Agent Rankin.” He breezed past her, grabbed his duffel, and slammed the door on his way out.

She wanted uncomplicated; she got it. His sole purpose now would be to find the motherboards and get back into shape, more time at the gym, more time with a physical therapist, and no more time thinking about her. Now, if he could just figure out how to do that last part, life would be good again.

CHAPTERTWENTY

Mac collapsed on the foot of the bed in the hotel room. What the hell had she just done? She had been blunt and mean on purpose because she didn’t have the strength to resist Dane any other way. When Cass had gotten a call and backed out of giving her a lift, Mac knew she’d end up in bed with Dane again. She didn’t have the will to fight her desire for him, but more, she wanted the comfort that his arms offered her. The warmth, the feeling of safety. She knew the moment she sat in the truck she’d invite him back to her bed as soon as they got to the hotel.

But they couldn’t stay together for all the reasons she’d said. And not because she was falling for him, either. It was stupid and weird and probably because they’d been through so much together, but she couldn’t help it. The thing was, she felt like she was already in quicksand. She needed a strong base, a foundation to build her life on. The one she’d started here had already been blown to smithereens. Starting something with Dane was out of the question, no matter how much she cared for him.

She really did need a fresh start. The more time she spent around Dane, the more she’d fall for him, and then she wouldn’t want to leave. She’d be caught in that horrible vortex of caring for him and being with him but hating her job and everything else. She had been the subject of the water cooler gossip once before, and the hateful things people she respected had said about her still stung. More than that. It was devastating.

She didn’t want to go through that again. Casper and Sinclair had made that inevitable. They’d destroyed her credibility. Who would respect her now? But she could leave. Start over once again. Find another CGIS office. It would be better, but she wouldn’t do that if she were with Dane. She’d stay.

She ran her hands over her face. She had never considered herself a runner, but here she was again, one foot already out the door for a second time. And this time, she could honestly tell herself it wasn’t her fault. She didn’t start this clusterfuck, but she could head for the hills before it got out of control.

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