Page 43 of His Forgotten Colton Fiancee
Staring at her mouth, he compressed his own, as if fighting an urge to kiss her. “A lot of things we can’t do now.” West stroked her bottom lip with his thumb, his gentle touch evoking a shiver of pleasure. “Not until you’ve recuperated.And you learn where the panic button is.”
Panic button for sex? But no, he took her around the apartment, showing her the cameras pointed out the windows overlooking the street. West pointed to the video feed from the desktop computer in her bedroom so she could watch the cameras. One in the upstairs hallway and one inside her shop near the entrance. Rex followed, sitting and watching Westas he explained everything.
“I set up the feed on your cell, too.” He showed her the app for accessing the security cameras through the internet.
Emotion clogged her throat. Maybe this FBI agent had talked about her in the hospital, and investigated her, but she couldn’t dismiss his protective nature and caring concern.
She patted Rex’s head. He licked her hand. Quinn rubbed behindhis ears, the motion soothing and familiar. Perhaps she’d done this very thing before.
Before her world blew up and she lost all sense of herself.
Lost all sense of him as well, this man she’d promised to marry.
West’s cell phone rang. He answered it, expression tight, and then hung up. “That was the bomb squad. They blew up the envelope. Standard procedure. Didn’t find anything suspicious.”
Quinn sighed. “Maybe it was someone who forgot to put their return address. I hope it wasn’t a check, because from the sound of things, I could use the money.”
“Money’s the last thing you’ll worry about,” he told her. “I will help.”
She walked over to the sofa and sat. “Thanks, but one thing I do know. I’m the sort to handle things on my own. I’ll get back to speed in no time, get thisplace running and the bills paid.”
Uncertainty clouded his dark eyes. West looked at her, and drew in a deep breath. “Are you sure you’ll be okay? I can find someone to stay with you until my shift is over.”
“I need alone time. I’ll be fine. Go.”
He bent over, bringing his face close to hers as if to kiss her, but she jerked away. Heat flooded her cheeks.
She wasn’t ready for this.That previous kiss had been a tease, but here in her apartment, her little sanctuary she’d agreed to share with this man? It seemed like an open invitation to do more and she felt too unsteady and insecure.
Hurt flashed on his face, and then he nodded.
“Call me if you need anything. Or text. I’ll be in meetings most of the morning.” The intense, searing look returned as he studied her.“If you recall anything, anything at all, call me. It’s important.”
Important to you because you’re investigating me? Or important to the investigation?She didn’t want to think about the former, because it scared her more. Scared her to think that West Brand, who professed to love her, only wanted to use her.
Still, he was FBI and seemed protective of her. And there was still a personout there who had killed Tia, and would want her dead, as well.
“If I remember anything important, I’ll text you,” she assured him.
West walked out with Rex. The door locks quietly clicked behind him.
Quinn drank her tea. It soothed her throat and calmed her nerves.
Now she could finally do what she’d itched to do since arriving. Explore.
She went into the bedroom. The dresserwas against the wall opposite the windows, and a flat-screen television was mounted on the wall in front of the king-size bed.
She opened the closet. Ordinary enough, with a row of dresses, shirts, pants and stacks of boxes neatly piled atop the wood shelf. Shoes were lined on a rack on the floor.
Quinn combed through her bureau. In the top drawer, buried under a layer of silk pantiesand lacy bras, she found West’s photo.
If they’d kept their relationship hidden from everyone, Quinn suspected she wouldn’t openly display his photo. Especially if she had family over, and friends visiting.
Quinn studied the portrait. West stared into the camera, unsmiling and serious. His face dictated endless stories.
It was a strong face, a face filled with expressiveness. Quinncould envision him frustrated, knitting his dark brows together, or infuriated, growing red with rage. Tender with desire and passion, and guarded with secrets.
Secrets he would not share with her.
