“I haven’t heard anything yet.”

  “So why the grim face?’

  “These pictures. The condition these children live in is shocking.” He shook his head. “I’ve often wondered if I hadn’t been adopted if my life would’ve been this horrible.”

  The tone in his voice turned her stomach. She’d grown up in a very similar manner. Okay, maybe not that bad, but squalor, nonetheless. He could never accept her upbringing without pitying her. The last thing she wanted from him was his pity.

  The question of the hour was, what did she want from him? Was she hoping for a quick resolution to her problem and then they’d part ways for good, or was she beginning to want more? If so, it really didn’t matter. They’d never work as a couple. She just had to remember that.

  She’d keep their focus on the pictures. “I hate seeing these children suffering like this, too. But if looking through these pictures can lead to the arrest of whoever’s behind this, then it’s worth doing.”

  He watched her and worked the muscles in his jaw.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Arresting them may not be quite that easy.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “If the picture we sent to Jack doesn’t show those men doing anything illegal or connect them to the recent events, then it may not be enough hard evidence to make an arrest.”

  “So how do we get that evidence?”

  “Hopefully the fingerprints lifted at the gallery or darkroom will lead us to them.”

  “And if the prints match the guys in the photo, then can they be arrested?”

  “Sure. The police can make an arrest based on prints.” He paused and caution flickered in his eyes. “But you have to consider that the guys who are threatening you may not be the guys in the picture. My guess is, the men in the photo are high up in Sotos’s organization and that’s why they want the pictures. The guys threatening you are just low-level flunkies.”

  “So you’re saying we can’t catch the top guys, then?”

  “No, I’m not saying that. We have a chance at arresting the men doing the dirty work and getting their confessions, but it will be hard to get anyone in the Sotos organization to roll over on the big guys.”

  “But not impossible.”

  “Right. Not impossible.”

  His tone said he was just humoring her. She was in bigger trouble here than she’d imagined. A chill took hold of her and she shivered. “And until the big guys are locked up, I’m still in danger.”

  “Hey,” he said, and gently clasped her upper arms. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  “I’m scared, Ethan.” Finally saying it aloud sent another wave of shivers down her body.

  “It’s okay, honey.” He drew her close and she didn’t resist.

  Despite knowing it wasn’t a good idea, she laid her head on his solid chest, listening to the even thumps of his heart. He softly stroked her back, and she snuggled closer, remembering their first kiss. The way he’d been so sweet, asking if he could kiss her before taking like the only other boy who’d kissed her before then. Ethan’s gentleness and consideration had won her heart that day, and right now, she wasn’t so sure he didn’t still have a big piece of it.

  She leaned back and looked up at him. Got lost in his eyes. He let her go and reached up to cup her face, then slid his fingers into her hair. He was going to kiss her. She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t look away. Couldn’t do anything but wait for his lips to descend on hers.

  Her phone chimed from her pocket, sounding like a warning alarm. She jerked back and dug it out, keeping her gaze from Ethan. No sense in letting him see the effect he still had on her.

  She looked at the screen and worked hard to catch a full breath. “It’s Stacey from the newspaper,” she said, thinking about what would have happened without this interruption and surprised by how much she wished Stacey hadn’t called.

  Ethan sighed out a deep breath. “Don’t answer. They could be tracking your calls.”

  “This could be about the shoot. I need to talk to her.”

  He dug out his cell. “Use my phone to call her back.”

  Jennie took it, careful not to touch him and reignite the firestorm that just passed between them. She dialed the office and then hit thirty-three for Stacey’s extension.

  “Hey, Stacey. It’s Jennie. Did you just call?” She forced her tone to be relaxed, though her heart was still thumping wildly.

  “Thank goodness I got a hold of you. Two detectives from the police department are here. They want you to come in and talk to them about the break-in at that gallery.”

  “Now?”

  “They said it’s urgent.”

  “Hold on.” She put her hand over the phone and turned to Ethan, finally looking up at him and nearly wilting under his heated gaze. “Two detectives are at my office and they want to talk to me.”

  “Someone could be watching for you there.” He clipped his words as if the thought upset him. “See if you can meet them somewhere else.”

  “Where?”

  He paused. “On second thought, it’d probably be best for us to go there. If Sotos’s thugs are watching the detectives, they’ll lead them to you no matter the location we set up. Plus we know the logistics of your office better than any other neutral location.”

  “So yes, then?”

  “Maybe. Put Stacey on speaker so we both can talk to her.”

  “She’ll ask who you are.”

  “Tell her the truth.”

  “Sorry to keep you waiting, Stacey. I’ve been working with a private investigations agency since the break-in, and one of the investigators wants to talk to you before I meet with the detective. I’m putting you on speaker. Okay?”

  “Sure,” Stacey answered, seemingly intrigued.

  “Hi, Stacey,” Ethan said. “Have you asked to see the detectives’ identification?”

  “No.”

  “Could you do so and give me their names, please?”

  “Sure. Hold on.”

  “Sounds like you think these guys aren’t legit.” Unease settling in, Jennie looked up at him to gauge his mood.

  “I’m just being cautious. Once I have their names, I’ll have Kat check them out. I want to be sure they’re the detectives who caught the case before I let you meet with them.”

  “Their names are Victor Tilden and Nathan Winters,” Stacey said.

  “And their IDs look legit?” Ethan asked.

  Stacey laughed. “I guess so. They look official, anyway.”

  “Okay. Tell them the meet’s a go. If something changes, we’ll get back to you.”

  “Bye, Stacey, and thanks,” Jennie added.

  “You might as well go back to work.” Ethan took his phone from her. “It’ll take a while to check them out and make arrangements for safe transport if they’re legit.”

  She nodded and closed the door between them. She went to the enlarger and tried to focus on the paper, but she couldn’t concentrate. The fear he’d so readily helped her put at bay while he held her a few moments ago returned tenfold.

  She wrapped her arms around her stomach as if she could comfort herself as well as Ethan had. But it did no good. The fear settled in deeper and she hoped—no, prayed—that if they did leave the safety of this place to meet with the detectives that the good Lord above didn’t want her to die today.

  * * *

  Ethan sat behind the wheel of his truck with Jennie peering anxiously out the window. Once they reached the newspaper office, they’d form a transfer detail much like yesterday minus Kat. Derrick and Cole both needed a break from Madeline’s high-strung ways, and Kat eagerly volunteered to take on Madeline, a true sign of how desperate his sister was to get out of the office.

  With the way he’d just acted in the darkroom, he should let Kat handle Jennie’s protection. He’d thought he merely wanted to comfort her, but within a few seconds, he’d known it was more. Even after her phone rang and he needed to focus on the details of the case, he still wanted to kiss her. Something he couldn’t do. He drew in a deep breath and sighed out his stress.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked him.

  “Nothing, why?” He tried for a lighthearted tone, but could tell by her expression that he failed.

  Her gaze intensified. “I remember that sigh. You only sighed like that when a problem was brewing.”

  “No problem.” Not unless he acted on his feelings again.

  “Did you learn something about the cartel that you’re not telling me?”

  “No.”

  “So what is it, then?” She cast a look of frustration at him, reminding him so much of their past together.

  He laughed, enjoying the feel of lightening up. “I’d forgotten how you never let things go.”

  “I let things go all the time.”

  He eyed her up. “Not with me, you didn’t.”

  “I’ve changed since then, Ethan. You must not have noticed.”

  “Believe me. I’ve noticed everything.”

  He studied her, and her face turned a crimson-red. “Mind telling me why it’s bothering you so much?”

  She sighed and looked at her hands. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to do anything that might lead us down a path we have no business going down.”

  “And what path would that be?”

  “Me and you. Us. Another relationship. Call it whatever you want, but it’s not a good idea.”

  “What makes you think I’m even thinking about it?”

  Her head popped up. “Aren’t you?”

  “Even if I am, would it do any good? Has anything changed between us?”

  She didn’t respond but leaned her chin on her fist, looking out the window. A sure sign she didn’t plan to say anything more.

  Except for the aversion she had to talking about the past, she’d always been direct and outspoken. That was one of her traits that he found so appealing. But she’d used that directness against him when she’d ended their relationship, and she was using it against him now, trying to keep him at arm’s length.

  He felt a heaviness in his heart. Not for her or all the struggles she’d faced, but selfishly, for himself. It was now perfectly clear that he still cared about her. He didn’t want to have feelings for her, but she still had all of the same traits he’d once fallen in love with, and he could easily see himself falling hopelessly in love with her again. The ending would be slightly different, but he would end it, of that he was certain. He’d be a fool if he let things get out of hand between them and give her a chance to walk out on him again.

  CHAPTER TEN

  A tense silence filled the truck until they arrived at her office, and Jennie was thankful for it. Well, maybe not thankful that it was tense, but she was glad Ethan had clammed up and not spoken another word for the rest of the drive. Maybe he’d finally realized that she didn’t fit in his life and she’d done the right thing in leaving him.

  That was what she wanted, right? So why did it feel as if someone had filled her heart with lead?

  “Did you hear me, Jen?” He peered at her across the seat, concern marring his handsome face.

  “I got it. Stay between you and Cole and don’t dawdle.”

  “Okay, then, let’s go.” He slid out and ran around the front, looking right then left as he moved.

  Cole stood outside her door and when Ethan joined him, he opened it.

  “All clear inside,” Cole reported, and Ethan gave a nod of understanding.

  Jennie shouldered her gadget bag and tote containing the negatives. Neither she nor Ethan wanted to leave the negatives and CD at the darkroom. These, coupled with the bulky vest, made her feel as graceful as an elephant as she slid out.

  Ethan cupped her elbow, urging her forward. Derrick, who looked like a copy of Dani, only taller and all male, waited a few feet ahead. As she started forward, they made a circle of protection around her until she entered the building.

  “Afternoon, Ms. Buchanan.” Max, the security guard, watched her detail with a raised brow.

  “Hi, Max,” she answered with a light tone, hoping to defuse his interest in her entourage. But it didn’t work. Max gaped at them until she and Ethan boarded the elevator. Ethan’s siblings stayed in the lobby. As the doors closed, Ethan directed a warning look at Cole, who acknowledged it with a clipped nod.

  This was all too surreal for her normally boring life. She didn’t wear a bulky vest out in public, and big, hunky men with guns didn’t usually surround her and escort her into the office.

  She couldn’t help but laugh.

  “What’s so funny?” Ethan asked and seemed to relax a notch.

  “I feel like I’m in an action movie with Bruce Willis or something.”

  Instead of getting mad at her teasing as she thought he might do, he chuckled. “So which one of us is Bruce?”

  “You, of course.” She wrinkled her nose at him.

  He turned a thousand-watt smile on her, and it shot through every nerve ending in her body, making her very aware of the strong man who was oh, so wrong for her.

  When the doors slid open again, he replaced his smile with an intense look that did a far different number on her nerves. Power emanated from him, and at that moment, she knew beyond any doubt that he would do anything to protect her.

  It was a heady feeling to think that a man this powerful and commanding would give up even his life for her. So when he quirked a finger at her from outside the elevator, it took her a minute before stepping out of the elevator and heading toward her cubicle.

  “Slow down.” He came up beside her, his breath whispering over her neck and sending her heart thumping again. “Let me check things out first.”

  They went into her work area, and she spotted the two officers waiting to talk with her. One of them was tall and thin, and reminded her of a string bean. The other was short with wide shoulders, a thick neck and massive thighs. Both had blond hair and wore dark-colored suits. String Bean’s hung limply but Muscles’ seemed to strain at his mass.

  “Stay behind me,” Ethan warned and slowly moved toward the detectives. At a wide column, he pivoted. “Stay behind this pillar until I tell you to join us. Got it?”

  “Got it,” she answered quietly, hoping to soften his gaze and succeeding.

  He gave her arm a quick squeeze before going to the detectives. “Identification, please.”

  She peeked around the column and saw String Bean fix a harsh stare on Ethan. “And who are you?”

  “Not important. If you want to talk with Ms. Buchanan, you’ll show me your ID.”

  String Bean reached inside his suit jacket, and as he did, Ethan’s hand went for his gun. The short officer did the same thing.

  “You got a permit for that?” String Bean raised a brow.

  “We’ll talk about that after I see your ID.”

  Both detectives flashed a badge.

  “Not so fast.” Ethan eyed up String Bean. “I’d like a closer look.”

  String Bean looked mad, but he complied, holding out his badge for closer inspection. Ethan studied it then lifted his hand and beckoned her with a curl of his finger.

  “About that permit,” String Bean said.

  Ethan withdrew his wallet and showed the detective a card that looked similar to a driver’s license.

  String Bean gave a nod then turned to her. “You must be Ms. Buchanan.”

  “I am.”

  “Is there someplace more private where we can talk?” He issued a friendly smile then looked around.

  Jennie followed his gaze and saw the office staff peering over their cubicles.

  “My workstation is private.” She started forward, and Ethan stepped in front of her.

  He checked out her space then motioned for her to enter. His phone rang and he glanced at caller ID before answering. “You have news for me, Jack?”

  After all their setbacks and roadblocks, this call from Ethan’s FBI buddy had to be good news. Maybe they’d succeeded in enhancing the photos and identifying the men so the officers sliding past Ethan would finally be able to make an arrest and her life could go back to normal.

  The detectives took a seat in chairs facing her desk, and Muscles draped his jacket on the back of his chair. She set her bags on her desk and ripped off her bulky vest while waiting to see what Ethan was going to do.

  “Jack,” he said. “Are you there?” He stared at his phone, a puzzled look on his face.

  “Reception is awful in here,” she offered and pointed at the other end of the open space. “It’s better over by the windows.”

  His gaze followed the direction of her finger then he looked back at her as if he didn’t want to leave.

  “Go,” she said. “I’ll be fine with the detectives.”

  He glanced at her one more time before taking off. She focused on the two men in her cubicle. They hadn’t introduced themselves. Not that she really cared. Ethan had gotten their particulars, and even if they did tell her their names, she’d still think of them as String Bean and Muscles.

  String Bean slid forward and rested a pointy elbow on her desk. “I suppose you know we’re here about the gallery break-in and vandalism.”

  She nodded and waited for more specifics before saying anything.

  “As you also know, the photos were too damaged to determine why the intruder took such extreme measures to destroy them.” Muscles shifted on his chair as if he couldn’t get comfortable. “So we hoped you’d be able to provide us with copies of the photos for our review.”

  She wasn’t about to give them the pictures she’d already printed as she’d need them for the showing. “Unfortunately I don’t have any hard copies to spare.”