“What do you smell?”
Closing her eyes, she lifted her chin, smelled the air. “I don’t know. Faraway places. Freedom. Fun.” She plopped down on the sand and pulled off her socks and shoes.
He sat down beside her and took off his, as well. She’d already jumped back up and was halfway to the water by the time he’d rolled up his pant legs and stood. “Wait up!”
She laughed and waved an arm in the air. “Hurry up, slowpoke!”
He ran and caught up with her near the water’s edge and then walked beside her, making footprints in the wet sand.
She held her hands out at her sides and spun around so she was walking backward while facing him. “Isn’t this wonderful?”
It clearly was to her, and that was enough to make him agree. “Yes.” Seeing the transformation on her face was far more wonderful. The shine was back in her eyes, and on her face. So was a smile.
“I wish I could do this every day.”
He couldn’t tell her that she could right now, but that was only because of Elkin. When the case was closed, she could. “Why do you let your father hold such control over you?”
She frowned.
“That’s what he’s doing with his rules,” he told her. He knew all about being controlled by rules. The rules of order at the orphanage had been strict and the punishment for disobeying them had been harsh. Junior college had had another set of rules, and the Bureau another, but they were for different reasons. Not just for control.
“It’s his house, his rules.”
“You’re an adult. A grown woman.” The dreams, the memories of the night they’d made love, would forever live inside him, and right now, they were reminding him of just how perfect a woman she was, in every way. “Maybe it’s time to show your father that.” He’d done that, shown his adoptive parents that he was a grown man. One they didn’t need to provide for, or even care about. He would forever be grateful for what they had done, because his life would have been very different if they hadn’t adopted him, but he also had released them from being responsible for him in any way by keeping his distance.
She dropped her hands to her sides. Frowning, she shook her head, but didn’t say anything; it was almost as if she was shaking her head at herself, at whatever thoughts were floating around in that beautiful head of hers.
A gust of wind whipped around them and tugged at her hat.
He reached up, pulled it off her head, and caught the scarf as the wind untwisted it from around her forehead.
The wind then caught her hair, making it twist and tangle as it fell upon her shoulders, down her back.
He couldn’t help himself and drew her to him. Her arms looped around his neck and her body pressed up against his. Gazing into her eyes, he did the one thing he’d sworn that he wouldn’t do.
He kissed her.
Betty didn’t have time to think about anything before her body responded. Just like it always did when it came to him.
She was instantly alive inside. She’d missed that feeling almost as much as she’d missed him. When their lips separated, she sucked in air, laughed, and kissed him again.
She could have gone on kissing him forever, and might have, if he hadn’t pulled his lips off hers. His arms were still around her, and he held her there, tight up against him.
He was right, she was grown-up, and if she hadn’t had that bout of queasiness while in the car, she might have taken what he’d said into consideration. She couldn’t, though, because she was pregnant. Whether it was only five days, or ten, or twenty, she didn’t need the calendar to confirm that. She just knew it. What she didn’t know was what to do about it.
If she told him, he would provide for her. She had no idea what that might mean; it could be wonderful. It could be the exact opposite of wonderful, and she wasn’t sure she could take that chance. Life with James would never be wonderful, but it wouldn’t be dangerous. She was certain of that.
She didn’t like this. This balancing of right and wrong along with safety and danger, but that was what she had to do because it wasn’t just her. There was a tiny baby that she needed to think about. A little life she was now responsible for.
That was scary.
“I need to get home,” she said, releasing her hold on him and stepping back.
His chest rose and fell as he let out a long sigh. “Yes, you do.” He touched the side of her head, smoothed back her hair.
His touch made her nearly as breathless as when they’d been kissing. She hated herself for not being able to tell him about the baby, but she couldn’t. Just couldn’t.
He took ahold of her hand, held it as they walked back to where they’d left their shoes.
He took her hand again to help her stand up after they’d put on their socks and shoes, and continued to hold it as they climbed the hill. Every step was making her hate herself more and more, but she couldn’t tell him, because if she did, and he left, left her alone, her baby would be taken away. Forever.
Once in the car, and fighting hard to keep her emotions in check, she asked, “Are you going to look for Elkin now?”
“Yes.”
“You said last night that he is another FBI agent.”
“He is. Or was.”
“Does that happen often? An agent who flips sides.” That was how he’d put it when telling them about Elkin.
“No. It’s never happened before, not on this level. He’s been leaking information for years. But he’s been slick, a real mole—it wasn’t until Rex Gaynor was offed that he started to worry he might be found out.”
“A mole?”
“Yes, that’s what he’s referred to as. He’s gone underground, sneaking around,
