“How badly was she injured?”
“Broken bones in her face and a few broken ribs.” Sawyer recalled what his father told him when he first arrived at the hospital. “Stitches in her lip and the back of her head.”
“Jesus Christ,” Kyler bit out.
Sawyer’s strength drained out of him; listing her injuries aloud made the situation even more real. He dropped down into a chair that was sitting up against the wall, loathing how helpless he felt.
Andrew’s firm hand squeezed Sawyer’s shoulder. “Take time off to be with your sister. I’ve informed your SWAT captain that you’re on short leave. Let’s start at two weeks. If you need more time, call me.”
Sawyer looked up at him and saw the empathy in his chief’s eyes. “Thank you, sir. I appreciate that.”
Andrew nodded at Sawyer. After nodding to Kyler as well, he turned and strode down the hallway. To most, it might appear that, as a boss, Andrew possessed a kind heart, which he did—but there was more to it, Sawyer knew. “Was that your doing?” he asked Kyler.
Kyler gave a small smile. “I thought you’d rather be at the hospital than at work. My father agreed.”
“Thank you.”
“Please don’t thank me. It’s the least I could do.” He sat next to Sawyer, his arms resting on his knees. “But it’s certainly not enough. What else can I do?”
Sawyer stared off into space, not sure what to say. He finally shrugged. “Fuck, I don’t even know what to do. We need to take Ash’s statement. Then we can go from there.”
“What will you do if we don’t find him?”
Sawyer considered the question. His thoughts spun for a moment longer, and then everything settled in his mind. Purpose rose within him as he got up from his seat. “I’ll hunt the fucker down myself.”
—
I love him. I love him not.
People chattering and laughing among themselves funneled through the small coffee shop on the Las Vegas strip. The café was a charming nook of a place in between a five-star restaurant and a pharmacy. Nothing made any sense, but Chloe Nash thought that was the magic of the city. Whenever a space became available, something went in it, whether it made sense to put it there or not.
For as long as Chloe could remember she’d gone to the café, where singers and songwriters played at night. As she sipped her vanilla latte, embracing the warmth and inhaling the comforting hints of cinnamon sprinkled onto the foamy milk, she realized how much time had passed since she’d graduated from university.
Years ago she’d come here to drink coffee with her good friends, but that circle had dwindled. Two of her best friends had relocated for their jobs, Jenny to California and Erin to New York. Only one person she’d met from high school had stayed in Las Vegas.
She lowered the mug from her mouth, staring at the cutie across the table from her.
Josh had kept his baby face throughout the years. Now that he was twenty-eight years old, it made him even more attractive. In high school, Josh had been the football team’s quarterback. He had that all-American look, with handsome features. And he had a gentle heart.
But he’d become her life, and Chloe wasn’t sure she liked that.
The friends he made working as a lawyer for Henderson LLC became her friends, too. Chloe worked as a private investigator for Marshall Investigations, but she’d never made as many long-term acquaintances on her job as Josh did on his. Until a month ago that had never bothered her. Now she realized she was defined as part of a couple, Josh’s girlfriend.
Thinking of all this made her remember the night she’d met Sawyer Quinn. One meeting with him had changed her self-perception. His presence had awakened her in unique ways. He’d also made her question things she’d never before questioned—like her relationship with Josh.
“Chloe.”
She blinked, finding Josh frowning at her.
“Welcome back to the world of the living,” he grumbled, his chocolate-brown eyes narrowing. “Did you hear anything I said?”
“Sorry.” She placed her mug on the table. “I’m tired.”
The second the words left her lips she regretted them, as she noticed Josh’s eyes narrow further. “Did you go to the doctor, like I said you should, to get your blood work done?” he asked.
She nodded, running her fingers around the rim of her mug. The excuse about being tired had run its course, she realized. “Yeah, I did. My tests came back fine.”
He tilted his head, scanning her face, looking for illness. “Not anemic or anything?”
“Nope.” She hated the spotlight on her, and she sipped her latte, hoping for a subject change.
Not going to happen, she thought grimly as Josh asked, “Okay, so what’s up? It can’t be that you’re just tired. You seem stuck in your head lately.”
Of course Josh would have noticed any change in her mood. He truly knew her. She’d been with Josh longer than some marriages lasted. But that realization only stirred the same confusing question running through her mind: Is this the life I want?
The sense of guilt storming across her when she saw the stress in Josh’s warm, kind eyes left her knowing she couldn’t avoid the conversation any longer. They’d been high school sweethearts, and had even been voted the couple most likely to get married. “Are you happy?” she blurted out.
He bristled at her question. “Of course I am.”
Chloe noticed how he couldn’t look her in the eye. She reached for his hand, wrapping hers tightly around his. “Why haven’t you asked me to marry you?” She knew she held blame for this, too, as she’d never pressed the matter.
Up until a month ago, that hadn’t seemed odd.
A slow breath escaped his mouth. “Chloe, that’s not fair. You know I’ve been busy with university, law school, and settling into the firm.”
She watched his every move, noting how tense his body language seemed underneath the casual weekend outfit of gray T-shirt and plaid shirt. Suddenly it became clear that she and Josh had the same doubts. “Is it that? Or do you not want to marry me?”
His chin jerked up, eyes pained. “You know I love you, Chloe.”
“I know you do. And you know I love you, too.”
Their fingers tangled together, and the heavy silence stretched out, speaking of so much while saying nothing at all. She supposed she could ignore the giant elephant in the room and continue to live her life with Josh. They shared a strong love, but passion didn’t exist in their lives. She could count on one hand how many times they’d had sex in the last year—and whenever they did that particular deed, it began with an alcohol-fueled night. That sort of life seemed unfair to both of them.
Don’t we deserve passion?
He tightened his fingers around hers and she shut her eyes, willing herself strength. At last she reopened them, finding his warm gaze on her. “I’m happy with you. I’m comfortable. But sometimes I wonder if we’re staying together because it is comfortable and it’s what we’ve always known.”
He paused. Then said, “I feel the same way.”
“You do?”
A couple of young girls passed by their table, laughing. Josh waited until their laughter faded away before continuing, “It seems too easy.”
“Too comfortable. Like best friends?”
He gave a small nod.
Chloe smiled in return. She was grateful that Josh understood where her heart lay. When Sawyer had entered her life, even for a brief moment, things ignited in her body—passion, lust, and intensity. Her entire soul had stood up and taken notice of Sawyer in a way she’d never noticed any man.
Yet…she trusted Josh. That was something special, too. She’d lost her virginity to him when they were sixteen years old. They’d stuck together for more than ten years. But after meeting Sawyer, she felt like she could have more.
Josh ran his thumb across Chloe’s hand, pulling her into the present. “Have you met someone else?”
“No.” She didn’t even know Sawyer. Not reall
y. But that night he’d changed something in her, making her wonder what else she’d been missing by choosing the safe path. “There is no one else.” But I’m hoping there will be—though she didn’t say that. “I don’t want life to be too easy. I want to take chances. We should want more for ourselves, don’t you think?”
Josh watched her for a long moment before he nodded. “Yeah, I do. But I want you to know that I haven’t met anyone else, either. I’ve never cheated or anything—”
“I know you haven’t. But you’ve been curious…?”
“I’ve sometimes wondered why I haven’t wanted to get married.” A strand of his dark hair fell over his brow, and he brushed it away. “But I guess it became confusing, because I do love you. I can’t imagine not having you in my life.”
Relief settled deeply in her chest. Not because their relationship was coming to a close, but because Josh understood what she was feeling. “Let me guess—you wondered if I would be better in your life as a friend than your wife?”
“Yeah,” he whispered, hanging his head.
“That’s okay, Josh.” She squeezed his hand, forcing him to look at her. “I feel the same way. The more I’ve thought about it, the more I’ve realized I wasn’t ready to get married, either.”
Josh reached for her other hand, holding both of hers in his. “So, are we, I don’t know, breaking up?”
“No.” Tears welled in her eyes, and they filled his, too. “I don’t ever want to break up with you.”
He frowned.
Chloe added with a smile, “We’re deciding we’re better off as friends. I need you in my life, Josh. I can’t have it any other way.”
She meant every word. Yet she also longed to experience the part of herself that Sawyer had awakened, a part of her soul that seemed foreign, as if it belonged to a perfect stranger—a man she’d met who’d disappeared quickly from her life. Still, his effect remained like a desire she couldn’t escape. With one look, he’d offered emotions, sensations that she couldn’t ignore. The promise in his shadowy eyes had dared her to go after something more.
Josh gave her his boyish smile. “You’ll always have me. Promise.”
Chapter 2
“You, girl, have an iron stomach.”
Chloe glanced up from the file on her modern glass desk and spotted her boss, Porter Marshall, entering the small office. Marshall Investigations was located in the old part of Las Vegas on Fremont Street, and had become famous in its own right for solid investigations. Chloe felt proud to be a part of it.
As far as bosses went, Porter was a hot one. He had a body on him that deserved a double take. He was much taller than Chloe’s five foot four, and he had an enigmatic presence that any woman would notice. The man exuded confidence, and with his chiseled features and stunning light hazel eyes, he was a looker.
Porter passed by the four empty desks in the room. The sun shining through the five large windows along the far wall highlighted the blond in his hair. One desk belonged to his assistant, who had a doctor’s appointment this morning. The three other desks belonged to the other private investigators that worked for Porter.
Chloe grinned. “I can’t help that you drink girly coffee.”
An easy smile grazed Porter’s square face as he dropped into the chair in front of her desk. He was dressed in his typical workwear, a button-down shirt and jeans, and his sandy hair was styled in the usual way. His eyes beamed amusement at her. “Putting sugar in my coffee makes it girly?” He offered her the cup from Starbucks.
She took a big, long sip, embracing the kick of the strong espresso before answering, “Didn’t your father ever teach you that black coffee puts hair on your chest?”
His brows arched arrogantly, in classic Porter style. “What if I don’t want hair on my chest?”
“Keep drinking your girly coffee and you’ll get your wish.” She smiled.
He barked a laugh, shaking his head at her. “What’s on the agenda for this sunny Monday morning, smart-ass?”
She placed her mug next to her keyboard and pulled closer the file that she’d been looking over for the past fifteen minutes. “I figured I’d better start on this infidelity case we got last week.” She tapped the picture of Shawn Torres, CEO of a high-tech company in Las Vegas, who had a taste for younger women. “I’ve met with Shawn’s wife, Melissa Torres, twice now. I’ve got all I need to from her.”
Chloe gathered Mr. Torres’s work schedule and work address, plus his car description and license plate number. Now she needed to hunt him and catch him with his pants down—literally. “I’ll go out today and snoop around at his company. Maybe there’s a spot outside where I can hang around and not be noticed. Who knows, he might be up to no good on his lunch hour.”
Porter nodded. “That’s a good place to start.” He slid a glance around the office before frowning at Chloe. “Has everyone already gone out hunting?”
“Guess so.” She took another sip of her coffee and shrugged. “I got in after nine o’clock and found the office empty.”
“You got in after nine o’clock?” Amusement creased his potent eyes, softening them a tad. “Aren’t you supposed to be here right at nine?”
“Okay, fine. I meant to say, I showed up at nine o’clock sharp.”
His mouth twitched. “I should fire you for insolence.”
She snorted, louder than necessary. “Coming from the guy who breezed his lazy ass through the door after ten.” Which had become typical for Porter over the last month. He’d changed the office hours, which had been eight to four, to nine to five, but he left for the day at four-thirty. He also didn’t show up until before noon most days.
Chloe figured that Porter’s new girlfriend, Kenzie, had something to do with the switch in his hours. Chloe didn’t mind. Porter had found love, and Kenzie rocked as a girlfriend, always putting Porter in his place with her snarky comments. Plus, more often than not, Chloe got to go home early, too. For all those reasons Chloe owed Kenzie a big thank-you.
Porter’s lips spread into a wide grin. “Nope, I don’t need to be reminded. I’m the boss, and I’m allowed to be late.”
Chloe pondered possible comebacks but decided that he had a point. “Fine. You sign my paycheck, so you win. My treat for coffee next time.”
“Deal.” He winked.
Chloe laughed with him, knowing that as far as bosses went, she couldn’t find a better one. Porter had believed in her enough to mentor her when she’d first joined the company, after graduating from the criminal justice program at the University of Nevada. She excelled as a PI because of this man.
The relationship between them was easy and light. She thought Porter would have made a great friend, but their relationship was strictly professional. Even so, she got a big-brother vibe from him—he seemed to feel protective around her.
Two more sips of coffee had her sitting up a little straighter. She closed the file on her desk and rose from her chair. “Guess I should get going—”
The front door opened, and Chloe stopped breathing.
She sank back into her chair, instant butterflies whipping in her belly. As Porter stood up and turned toward the door, Chloe couldn’t look away from the guy who stood there, who had the air of a military man, with his shaved head and thick, muscular body. Standing a good two heads taller than her, Sawyer possessed the type of physique that screamed I can protect you. His intense gold-flecked hazel eyes locked onto hers, heating her blood.
“Now that’s a face I didn’t expect to see this morning,” said Porter. “What brings you by?”
“I need to hire you.” Sawyer shut the door closed behind him. “Can we talk?”
“Of course.” Porter waved toward his office.
Sawyer’s smoky eyes zeroed in on Chloe again. “Chloe might be able to help, too.”
Help? With what?
She held her breath, controlling the racing of her heartbeat. He moved toward her desk, and goose bumps prickled her flesh. She swore she could feel
every move he made. His potent presence electrified the air. When her fingers tightened around the edge of her desk, Sawyer’s attention fell there—he’d clearly noticed her white knuckles.
To avoid his inspection, she dropped her hands to her lap and cleared her throat. “What’s going on?”
Porter returned to his seat in front of Chloe’s desk. Sawyer lowered himself into the other chair next to him. Chloe pushed away from her desk a little, putting distance between herself and all that power. Porter and Sawyer had a similar type of intensity, but Sawyer’s was more palpable. The two men together made the air thick, leaving Chloe breathless.
“I need you to find someone for me,” said Sawyer.
Chloe noted a darkness in his eyes that she didn’t remember having seen the last time they’d met. That had been more than a month ago, when Kenzie needed a shady businessman investigated because he’d threatened her.
Before she could ask Sawyer the next obvious question, Porter beat her to it. “Who?”
Sawyer ran his hands over his face to clear the exhaustion emanating off him. “My little sister’s boyfriend, Travis Marks.”
Chloe twined her fingers in her lap, fighting the deep need to touch him and somehow ease his strain. “Why?”
Sawyer frowned. “He beat up my baby sister, Ashlyn, Saturday night.”
“Shit,” Porter snarled. “Is she okay?”
“I suppose she will be,” Sawyer said. “It won’t be a fast recovery, though. He did a fucking number on her.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that,” Porter said.
Chloe attempted not to notice how Sawyer’s biceps flexed and bulged. She knew her reaction was inappropriate, considering the subject they were discussing. Yet her fingers twitched to explore all of him. “The police haven’t apprehended Travis?”
“No.” Irritation tightened the corners of Sawyer’s eyes. “He’s gone into hiding. Just before I showed up here, Kyler told me that they’re running around in circles trying to find him. Yes, they have an APB out on him, but that isn’t getting them anywhere. We need to find more leads. And I know the police don’t have the resources you do at tracking someone down.”
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