Best-Kept Secrets by Dani Sinclair

Author:Dani Sinclair
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Amy spooned against his body, making sleep totally impossible. Her subtle scent, the feel of her warm body, left Jake struggling with too many memories of happy nights when they’d shared a bed and each other. She would never know how much he deeply regretted the past and all those wasted years. He never had been any good at expressing his feelings.

He’d hesitated before removing his shirt, not sure how she’d react to the scars on his back, but he needn’t have worried. She moved like a somnambulist. Her attention and thoughts centered on the children and the fate of her parents.

He’d pulled off his shoes and socks and slipped into bed with his pants on. Not because of false modesty, but because he was aware of the detectives stationed in the house downstairs. If something happened, he wanted to be ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Amy had disappeared into the bathroom and returned in an oversize T-shirt. The outlines of her bra and panties were clearly visible. She’d always liked to sleep in loose shirts, he remembered. But back when they were together, she’d worn nothing beneath them.

Despite the memories and his desire for Amy, going to bed with her now was about friendship and need, not sex. If she’d come to bed stark naked he wouldn’t have touched her. Of course, he would have been a blithering idiot by morning. He was already too aware of her and how much he still wanted her. He made certain she wasn’t aware of the proof of that desire.

Though she lay perfectly still beside him, he knew she wasn’t sleeping any more than he was. When she started to weep silently, he pulled her closer, laying his face against her clean-smelling hair. While she cried, he shed his own mental tears for Amy and the daughter he might never get a chance to know. After a while she turned toward him, resting her damp cheek against his chest. Her breath was warm and subtly reassuring against his bare skin.

“Jake?”

His name was the smallest of whispers. He squeezed her gently to let her know he was awake.

“Will that toxicology test show if more than one poison was present?”

Jake realized he’d inhaled and forgotten to release his breath. Slowly, he exhaled, stirring her hair. “Yes. Why?”

“You’ll think I’m reaching.”

He stroked her cheek with the back of his knuckle. “Then let me reach with you.”

She raised her face. Tentatively she placed her hand on his jaw, rubbing the stubble he should have shaved before getting into bed with her. He’d lived alone so long he hadn’t even thought about it.

“My parents are so sick.”

Her voice broke and his heart ached for her. Having Kelsey go missing was more than enough horror for one person to deal with. But having her parents at death’s door, as well…

“They’re much sicker than anyone else. I know they’re older and their health plays a factor, but…I don’t want to lie here thinking some pervert grabbed our daughter.

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