Page 19 of Exposed

“Home slice?” Beth laughed then kissed his chest, right over his heart and sweetness swelled inside him like a balloon. “I think you’ve been watching too manyFresh Prince of Bel Airepisodes on your medical leave. But thanks for taking my side on this. Anyway, Devon’s history—I’m over him. But I’ve just been too busy working to date much in the years since. So, that’s why I’m still single.” She reached up to push the hair off his forehead.“What about you? What’s behind your ‘no relationships’ policy? Your father?”

He should have known she’d make the connection. Eric closed his eyes and dredged up memories of the past, wincing at the lingering pain. He wouldn’t talk about his father. The guy didn’t deserve the recognition. He’d used Eric, his own son, in one of his schemes, then abandoned him and his mother. It was the ultimate betrayal. He still woke up at night with the weight of it heavy in his chest. How could a man he hadn’t seen in years still have that effect on him? It pissed him off.

Screw his dad. Still, he owed Beth some kind of explanation after the way she’d opened up to him about her dumbass ex. So he went with what was simplest. “My parents’ marriage wasn’t good. My dad was a jerk who abandoned my mom and me. Probably the best thing that could’ve happened to us, honestly. Anyway, after seeing what they went through and the way she got hurt by him, I knew I didn’t want that. Easiest way to prevent a bad relationship is not to start one in the first place.”

It was the barebones version of the story, but it was all he could make himself share. The rest was so despicable that he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

“I’m sorry about your parents.” Beth pushed him onto his back then rested on his chest, stroking his chin with one finger. “But I suspect there’s more to your cynicism about relationships than a marriage that didn’t work out.”

He gave a one-shoulder shrug. “Just being realistic. I mean, relationships are traps. Like you and your ex. You could have him, or you could have your career. Not both. It’s fine either way, but that’s a choice you make. I chose to be alone. It’s working out all right for me.”

“Is it though?” Her sad expression nearly did him in. “Sounds like a pretty lonely way to live to me.”

“Are you lonely?” he countered. “You don’t have anyone special, and you spend all your time working, don’t you? Some people might see that as lonely.”

She sighed and rested her head on his chest again, her soft hair tickling his skin. “Sometimes, I am. I have my family. I have good friends, but I don’t have anyone to go home to at night and talk to about my day, my worries.”

Now, he had an image of her all alone in an apartment. It ripped at his heart. He wanted to be there for her, but that wasn’t who he was. And, damn, their conversation had gotten way deeper than he’d expected far faster than he’d wanted.

They laid there for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts, until Beth finally said, “When Devon left, he said he hoped I enjoyed giving up everything for my small-time career. That hurt more than anything else he said.”

Restless, Eric rolled slowly, so Beth was beneath him once more, then cupped her face, staring down into her pretty eyes. “Devon was a dick. Good riddance. And sweetheart? Trust me. There is nothing small-time about you.”

13

“Hang on a sec, I need to visit the ladies’ room before we go back to the bungalow,” Beth said, dropping a quick kiss on Eric’s lips before she walked away from their table. He liked watching the sway of her hips in the clingy dress she wore. Once she was out of view, he pulled his attention back to his surroundings.

They were at dinner in the restaurant adjacent to the main building, and the place was slowly emptying after everyone had eaten their fill of steak and lobster and fresh fish caught from the ocean beyond. Overall, the day had been one of the best of his life. Lazing around with Beth that afternoon, talking or making love or researching the Internet for more clues to what was happening here on the island. It was enough to make a guy go soft—and he wasn’t yet sure whether or not that was a bad thing.

He should be happy. Hewashappy. A week prior, he’d been sitting alone in his apartment, staring at the TV and wondering when in the hell he would get medical clearance to rejoin his team. Now, he was here on some tropical island, surrounded bysand and surf and sleeping with the most beautiful woman he’d ever met.

A woman who also happened to be his best bud’s little sister. Yeah, that might be a problem.

He had to remind himself that Beth was an adult. So was he. Neither of them should care what Heath thought about them being together, and yet Eric did. Probably because Heath had been by Eric’s side through some of the most harrowing experiences in his life. War, terrorist attacks, hostage situations. Even the day he’d been shot, Heath had been there, helping him get to the medivac unit and safety. Things like that formed a bond stronger than blood.

Then again, so did love.

His heart squeezed at that thought. He didn’t love Beth. No. He barely knew Beth.

They’d been together less than a week. Most of that time, they’d just been faking a relationship. And yet, he felt closer to her than pretty much anyone else on earth. Weird how that worked. He could barely believe that he’d shared so much of himself with her that afternoon. Soon enough, though, it would all be over soon, and they’d go their separate ways. His happiness started to fade at that thought. He would have to leave her to return to his life. This was an interlude, nothing more. So why did the thought of that leave him feeling hollow?

Just then a scream rang out. Eric was on his feet in an instant, running toward the direction the sound had come from—the bathrooms.

Shit.

Fear sizzled through his veins as the moment she’d slipped off that cliff face replayed in his head. He’d been there that time to save her. If she was in trouble now, he prayed he’d get to her in time.

With a curse, he kicked open the ladies’ room door and spotted Beth near the sinks, struggling with another person dressed in all-black. She was putting up a good fight, kicking and screaming and punching, but her opponent was undeterred. The fact that her movements were restricted by the white sheath dress she wore didn’t help.

“Get your hands off of her, asshole!” he shouted, rushing toward them. The assailant abandoned Beth and dove out an open window. Eric wouldn’t have fit through the opening, and the attacker would be long gone before he got outside and around the building. Eric crossed the small space and gazed out the window, hoping to spot something that would help identify the attacker, but there was nothing except darkness outside. Dammit. Whoever it was that had attacked Beth had to have been watching them, must have seen her come in here then snuck in through the window.

Eric returned to Beth. She was bent over, panting, her hair disheveled, strands hanging loose from her up-do to cover her face. He gathered her trembling form against him and held her close. She was strong, stronger than any woman he’d known, but she shouldn’t have to be strong all the time. Right now, he wanted to be there for her, wanted to be her knight in shining armor, for as long as she’d let him. All too soon, she pushed away from him, however.

“We need to go after them,” she said, heading toward the bathroom door.

“Hell, no.” He caught her arm and turned her to face him. “Whoever it was is long gone. Besides you’re not going after anyone tonight. I won’t risk your safety.”

“I’m fine.” She shook off his hold. “That guy grabbing me just tells me that I’m on to something.”

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