“You were involved with him.”
“My...you cut right to the chase, don’t you?” But then she waved that away. “My personal life really shouldn’t—”
“It’s in the eyes. The way a man looks at a woman he’s known intimately. The way he wants her.” Now his smile was mocking. “Trust me, it’s something other guys see.”
“Cameron and I aren’t involved that way, not any longer.” Not that she had to tell him this. But, well, just so they were clear. “He’s my friend. And he’s also a very good sounding board for me. When I have crazy theories, Cameron gets them.”
“But he doesn’t get you.”
Her eyes narrowed on him. “There a reason you’re asking these questions?”
His hand lifted, as if he wanted to touch her. His fingers were long and strong and she tensed.
Then Blake dropped his hand. “You’re my partner. I care about you. I want you happy.”
Happy. Now that was an interesting word. She tried to remember the last time she’d been truly happy.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have come here tonight.” He rolled back his shoulders. “Didn’t mean to cross any lines.”
“Didn’t you?” she whispered.
His thick lashes lowered. “I don’t think I’ve ever met a woman quite like you.”
His response surprised a laugh out of her. After everything that had happened that day, Samantha was surprised she could still laugh. “Is that good or bad?”
His lips twisted. “Could be both.” Then his lashes lifted and he was staring into her eyes. So much emotion seemed to burn in his gaze.
She found herself holding her breath.
Blake lifted his hand. “Partners?”
Her hand slid against his. His fingers curled around hers and held. “I think we’ve already established that.” Why did her voice have to sound so husky? That wasn’t what she’d intended.
“You can trust me, Samantha. I hope you know that. I’ll watch your back. I’ll hold your secrets.”
A quiver slid through her. “What makes you think I have secrets?”
His hand slowly slid away from hers. “Because I can see them in your eyes. Sometimes, you lower your guard, and I get a glimpse of the pain there.”
She’d have to be far more careful. Samantha turned from him and walked toward the door. She fumbled with the lock and glanced back at him. “Good night, Blake. Thanks for checking on me.”
He nodded. “Thanks for saving my ass.” He gave her a little salute as he passed by her.
And Samantha found that she was smiling as she shut the door. It was strange. She wasn’t sure if she had been happy in the last few months, maybe not even in the last year. Her job had consumed her too much. But she had the oddest suspicion...
Blake could make me happy.
Ridiculous, of course. Other people didn’t have that power. If she wanted to be happy, that was her choice. She needed to stop letting the past eat her alive. She needed to stop seeing death and destruction everywhere.
She had to stop seeing monsters.
CHAPTER THREE
BLAKE HEADED OUT of Samantha’s building, his steps quick, and his gaze darting around the dark street. An old habit, always checking the scene for threats. Some things that a soldier learned, well, he had a real hard time shutting off.
So maybe that was why he immediately spotted the too thick shadow near the side of the building. His body tensed and his hand went toward his holster— “Easy.” Cameron Latham, Dr. Cameron Latham, stepped from the darkness. He had his hands up as he moved closer to the streetlamp. “I’m not one of your bad guys. I was just lingering because I wanted to talk to you.”
He was still tempted to reach for his gun. Something about the guy rubbed him the wrong way.
“I care about Samantha,” Cameron said, his voice low but carrying easily. “Like you, I just wanted to make sure she was all right. Taking a life wouldn’t be easy for her, not with her past.”
Her past. So the guy knew the secrets that Samantha carried. Another point that pissed off Blake. One day, she’ll tell me.
Cameron stopped when he was about a foot away from Blake. “When you have a past like hers, I guess you do one of two things... You either let the violence enfold you...you let it lead you. Or you find a way to fight it.”
Blake stared at him. “I don’t think Samantha would want us talking about her past, not while we’re just standing out here on the street.”
Cameron’s lips parted. He gave a quick little gasp of surprise. “True blue,” he murmured. “What a noble thing to say...don’t gossip in the streets. It isn’t right.”
Blake’s jaw locked. This guy knew jack shit about him.