Part 284 (1/2)

She moved her shoulders and looked miserably into the gla.s.s. ”You're too

beautiful to be a jerk, Emma.” He shoved the pillows into place and

pulled her back beside him. ”Tell me about it.”

When she'd finished, he continued to stare into middle distance. She was

calm now. He could feel it in each easy breath she took. He was wired

tight.

”The letter probably set it off,” she murmured. ”I used to pray that

the nightmares would stop. Now I don't want them to. I want to see. I

want to get through the door and see.”

He turned his head to press his lips to her hair. ”Do you trust me?”

His arm was firm around her, not holding her down. Just holding her.

”Yes.”

”I'm going to do everything I can to find out who's responsible for your

brother's death.”

”It was so long ago.”

”I've got some ideas. Let me see if I can put them together.”

She rested against him, wis.h.i.+ng she could go on forever beside him, her

head cus.h.i.+oned on his shoulder. ”I know I said I'd go back with

you if you wanted. But I need to stay. I have to talk to Katherine. I

need a few weeks.”

He said nothing for a moment, adjusting himself to the idea of being

without her. ”While you're here, think about whether you could handle

being married to a cop.” He turned her face up to his. ”Think about it

hard, will you?”

”Yes.” She slid her arms around him. ”Make love with me, Michael.”

THE CLUB WAS NOISY, filled with young bodies stuffed into tight jeans.