And whoever had killed the man masquerading as Paul Sturvin.
Max’s mind was running over everything as he and Jac walked back into the PAVAD building five minutes before midnight. It had taken hours to sort everything out and make it back. Then she’d wanted to stay with Olivia at the hospital.
Eventually, Olivia had ended up in the same room as her sister. Nat had taken a few hours to sleep and shower that afternoon; she was now back at the hospital and would stay in the room with the girls for the night—with a two-agent PAVAD detail, consisting of Maria Angel and Lucas Armitage, agents that Max and Jac trusted. The two had volunteered when they’d learned it was two young girls needing protected.
There were a few reports Max needed to go over, and then he was putting his foot down. Jac was going home with him tonight, and they were going to sleep. Period. They’d connect the dots between Paul Sturvin and Andy’s murder first thing in the morning.
There was a connection there—Max was almost certain of it.
He was beyond exhausted, and Jac wasn’t doing any better.
Max was taking her home.
They could deal with everything else in the morning.
She didn’t even protest when he led her to his SUV. “You’re camping at my place tonight. I arranged with Julie Cooper to take Emery home with her after basketball practice. She’s going to spend the night with Kacey.”
“Am I? Taking charge, Max?” she asked around a yawn.
“You’d better believe it. If nothing else this case has taught me one thing.”
“And what is that?”
“Time is short. I’m not going to waste it again. Especially with you.”
She didn’t say anything as he drove, as they got out of the car, as he unlocked the front door.
“Come on, inside.” He practically guided her into his living room. Jac just docilely did what he wanted.
“They have no one,” Jac said in a quiet tone. “Paul, Philip, whoever he actually was, had no living family, Rachel only had Debbie. The girls…social services is going to take them and Bentley, and they’ll be put into foster care. Their entire lives are going to be destroyed. Were destroyed.”
“I know.”
“I can’t let that happen, Max. I just can’t.”
He’d never forget the look in those green eyes he loved so much in that moment.
Then his arms were open. Jac threw herself into his arms, and he just held her.
While she cried.
They’d found Rachel’s daughters.
Now, they had to figure out what happened next.
99
She fell asleep. Right there, curled up on Max’s chest like a damned cat, Jac fell asleep on him. When she woke, it was at least a few hours later, and he was sleeping beneath her.
Jac could feel his heartbeat beneath her cheek. Strong, sure, steady. Real.
She stared at him for the longest time. Sleeping in a chair on top of a man’s lap was not something she had ever done before. It wasn’t as uncomfortable as she’d always imagined it would be.
For one thing, Max’s chair was oversized and he’d kicked out the foot. She’d been snuggled up against his side as if she’d slept there a million times before. Her head had been pillowed on his hard chest and his arm had been holding her tightly to him.
As if he wanted her right there.
Jac sat up and ran a hand over her eyes. She was sitting on his lap. And he was moving beneath her.
Her gaze flew to his face.
To meet heat-filled eyes. His hand tightened on her hip. Holding her in place. “Don’t move. I am not ready for you to move yet. I need to hold you for a while. Do you know how many nights I have dreamed of having you right here? I can tell you. Every damned night since we kissed.”
“I...shouldn’t be on your lap.” But she made no further move to get away. Somehow while she’d slept his hand had slipped under her FBI polo. His fingers spread, right on her skin. Over the ridges of scars she’d always wanted to hide.
But instead of immediately stiffening like she normally did whenever a man had touched her there, she didn’t.
Because she trusted him? Max wouldn’t look at her with pity in his eyes once he learned of just how the colonel had liked to punish his willful daughters. Far from it.
He’d be angry for her. And proud of how far she had come.
Because he was Max. Max loved her. For exactly who and how she was.
That punched her gut like a fist.
Max loved her. Exactly how she was.
Jac relaxed against him, her head fitting on his shoulder as if he was made for her.
Her hair was loose, and he was actually almost playing with it. As if he couldn’t get enough of touching her.
Jac wasn’t ready to ruin the moment.
She probably never would be.
The last thing Max wanted was for Jac to move off of him. He’d been awake for the last hour, just enjoying having her pressed against him. Tangling his fingers in her braid, running his fingers up her spine. Just holding her, touching her, being so damned thankful that he finally could.
He’d listened to the sounds she made in her sleep. They had driven him crazy, tempting him.
He’d wanted to kiss her awake. He’d wanted to somehow get out of the chair and carry her to his bed.
Where she belonged.
This was nothing like what it had been with his ex. This felt like it had far more depth and meaning. Like he was an entirely different person than he was then, messing around with Pamela.
He and his ex had started off as casual lovers. There had been no love between them at the start. He wasn’t certain there ever had been love on Pamela’s part. Not deep down.
But the desire he felt now
