“So, I know I’m the most wonderful conversationalist in the world, and everyone’s dying to talk to me, but I don’t think you called to confirm you’re my favorite sister-in-law,” he said.
Cassidy glanced into the coffee shop again. Dante was staring at his phone, but his eyes rose to her before returning to whatever he was reading. “I didn’t. Do you think you could find someone if they were dead?”
Brian was silent for a minute before replying, “No. I follow the soul of a person.”
“And the dead wouldn’t have a soul?”
“Not one that I can track.”
She tried to bury disappointment, but she knew it came out in her voice. “Oh.”
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
“It’s not my story to tell.”
He paused before replying. “I understand.”
And she knew he did. “Could we not tell Abby about this conversation? I’m not ready for more of my siblings to meddle in my life right now.”
“What conversation?”
Cassidy smiled. “Thank you.”
“Julian and Kyle driving you crazy?”
“What do you think?”
“I think they’re lucky you haven’t superglued their asses to the couch and their hands to their game controllers by now.”
“You are so right! And what a great idea.”
“You did not get that idea from me.”
Cassidy laughed. “What idea?”
“And that’s why you’re my favorite. Will I eventually get filled in on the details of what is happening?”
“I’d like to say yes, but…”
“Not your story to tell; got it.”
“Would it be okay if I offered your services to locate someone else?”
“If it helps you, then yes, but my ability doesn’t work well when there are a lot of souls around like in a big city.”
“I see,” she murmured. “Thank you. Now, go spoil that baby for me.”
“Your wish is my command.”
The phone went dead, and she turned to discover Dante making his way toward the door. Cassidy buried her disappointment as she returned her phone to her pocket. If Maya was dead, then Brian couldn’t help them locate her, but there was still a chance, he could help them find Julie. She would run it by Dante and see what he thought.
“Are you ready to go?” she asked when he stepped out the door.
“Yes.”
“Did you find anything?”
“Not yet. I need a computer, and I have some calls to make.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Cassidy settled onto the recliner in the corner and watched Dante as he sat on the bed and his fingers flew across the keyboard. The glow of the screen illuminated the concentration etching his face.
Her heart raced as she watched him. He looked so intense, but his furrowed brow, the black stubble shading his jaw, and the determination he emanated were endearing. She was pretty sure he’d forgotten she was there, but she enjoyed watching him.
He muttered to himself as his fingers flew over the keys before he sat back and ran a hand through his hair. The dark brown strands stood on end as he tugged at them. When he let them go, some remained standing while others fell back into place.
She glanced at the family photo on the mantle. He looked a lot like his father with his brown hair, eyes, and the shape of his face, but she saw his mother in his rare smiles. She’d bet that before Maya disappeared, he smiled a whole lot more.
Her attention returned to him when his fingers started flying over the keys again. The click of the keyboard was the only sound in the small apartment, but she could hear the thrum of traffic and the shouts of children from the street below. She found the sounds of the city comforting, or maybe it was him.
Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes while he worked. She didn’t mean to doze off, but the next thing she knew, his hand was on her shoulder and she was opening her eyes to discover him staring down at her with a small smile curving his mouth.
She’d spent most of the night tossing and turning while fantasies about him ran through her mind. Adrenaline had fueled her when she woke this morning, but she’d been more tired than she realized. She smiled sleepily back at him.
“I was going to let you sleep, but I wasn’t sure what time you had to work,” he said.
Cassidy’s smile faded, and she sat up so fast she nearly smacked her forehead off his. “Sorry,” she muttered when he jerked back.
Dante stepped away as she scrambled to pull out her phone.
“Damn,” she said when she saw the time. Disappointment filled her; she’d hoped to continue at least a little of what they started last night, but she couldn’t lose her job. “I have to be there in an hour.”
“I’ll walk you back to your place,” he offered.
She tucked her phone back into her pocket and rose. “Did you find anything?”
“I found a Lindsay Parks who worked for Dr. Abbott twenty-five years ago. I’m going to meet with her tomorrow afternoon.”
“You already talked to her?”
Dante smile. “While you were snoring.”
Cassidy did a double take. “I don’t snore.”
Dante grinned, and unable to resist, he ran his finger down the bridge of her nose and off the small slope at the end. “You have a very cute snore.”
“Nobody has a cute snore,” she retorted.
“I beg to differ.”
Bending, he followed his finger and kissed the tip of her nose. He only meant it to be a quick, gentle kiss, but once he started kissing her, he couldn’t stop.
Cassidy melted beneath the warmth of his lips as they moved to take possession of hers. She had to leave for work, but she draped her arms over his shoulders and pulled him closer.
His kiss left her weak-kneed to the point where she could barely stand, but if she sat, she’d pull him down with her, and that would be the end of it. When his hands slid up her side and caressed her rib cage before tracing
