Page 50 of Taking Denver

Rescue me, Detective Hayes.

“I don’t know why I left. I reacted poorly, and I wish I’d done things differently. But coming from someone who has lost more people than I should have, I know that grief isn’t fixed. It hitsdifferently every time, and this time… my instinct was to run.” I shrug gently. “I can’t explain it better than anyone else could.”

He watches me, eyes moving across my face, and I glance away, feigning grief. I pull my wedding ring to the tip of my finger, then return it to the knuckle, playing it off as a nervous tick when, really, I want him to see the white mark left behind. I want him to know I’m playing cold, but my ring stayed where it should be.

I loved him, Detective Hayes, despite everything he did.

“Will you be staying here?” he asks.

I nod. “Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because Ranger is the closest thing I have to family. Where else would I go?”

“You don’t have anyone else?” His voice is soft when he asks.

I shake my head and fiddle with my necklace.

Yes, look at my cleavage.

“Ms. Luxe,” he says, sitting forward, locking his eyes to mine. “If you are protecting someone, you can tell me.”

Crocodile tears fill my eyes. “I don’t know anything.”

“I can keep you safe,” he says, his voice low.

Oh, you can?

I stand and go to the window. I wrap my arms around myself and look out, chewing my lip. Detective Hayes approaches me, his eyes soft, concern lining his face. Once he’s close, I look up at him with wide, doe-like eyes.

“Let me help you, Denver,” he says. It’s the first time he’s used my first name, which means he’s in my grasp.

I don’t like doing this to people. I don’t like the manipulation, lies, or stringing along a good man. But I have to survive, and if that means a broken heart or bruised ego, it’s better his than mine.

“I don’t know what to say to you,” I whisper. “I don’t know what happened to Wyatt. All I know is… he’s gone, and people are painting me out to be a murderer, and I’mnot,” I insist. “I know my family and who they were. I know who Ranger is, and I know you think I did this, but I didn’t. I don’t know who did, Holden.”

The moment is tense for him, I can tell. My hair is swept over my shoulder, and with the light shining through the window, I’ll look softer, a damsel, a victim.

Please, save me, my white knight. I didn’t do this.

He rests his palm against my neck, his thumb grazing my jaw. He scans my face, and I part my lips just slightly.

“I…” he says, eyes searching mine. “Please?—”

I move close. “Please?”

My gaze drops to his mouth, and I gently tuck my bottom lip between my teeth.

“Please…” His breathing picks up, and his blue eyes fill with desire, concern, and confusion. “Please tell me that people don’t actually fall for this.”

I blink. “Excuse me?”

He keeps his voice low, a smile playing on his lips. “Do you think I’m stupid?”

I scowl and push him away.

“What did you think was going to happen?” he asks, laughing. “Jesus, you really are something. They weren’t kidding.”

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