Page 76 of The Woman Left Behind

Her brows slid up. “Cade Bohannan’s boys?”

“Yes. They’re private investigators. Sometimes, they work as consultants with my crew.”

That last wasn’t a lie, it was just that it wasn’t the department that was going to pay their invoices this time.

“I hear about cold cases being solved these days,” she fished.

His hold on her tightened. “I’m not going to encourage you to hope, I’m also not going to tell you there is no hope. What I’m going to say is that sixteen years puts law enforcement at a significant disadvantage, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.”

She studied him a beat before she said, “Thank you for being honest.”

“Always.”

“Can I be needy for a second?” she requested.

He moved his hand so their fingers were laced together and chided, “You’re not being needy, honey. This is as serious as shit can get. Just tell me what you need, and I’ll do what I can to give it to you.”

He watched her fight to control her emotion, before she said, “Okay, then, can you pack heavy and bring a ton of dog food? I don’t…” She popped her head to the side like she got a sudden pain in her neck before she finished, “It’s soothing, having you around.”

“And you want to be home.”

“I want to be in our home.”

He knew what she meant.

“You didn’t move into their room,” he whispered.

“I haven’t touched their room,” she whispered back.

Goddamn it.

Honed her talents with denial.

Knowing this, Harry mentally pledged to keep an eye on her. She was like a prey animal, adept at hiding vulnerability.

“I’m here as long as you need me.”

“Thanks, Harry.” She was still whispering.

He got up and moved to her, savoring again while he watched her tilt her head back as he bent low to touch his mouth to hers.

“I gotta get going,” he said, wishing he didn’t, but important shit had to get done, and with the most important of it, they’d already lost sixteen years. They couldn’t lose another day.

“Do you want me to make you another coffee in a travel mug?” Lillian offered.

“No, Polly will have an Aromacobana for me.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll check in during the day.”

“You don’t have?—”

“It’ll be to look in on you, but mostly it’ll be for me.”

She studied him for another few beats then said, “Stuff happens to you that really sucks, at the same time stuff happens that’s really awesome. It’s confusing, but whatever. Thanks for being so awesome, Harry.”

“I don’t think you’re getting this,” he told her.

---