Page 17 of Night Moves
“Not something I can answer,” Erik said from where he sat at the dining table, his laptop open in front of him.
“I didn’t really expect an answer.”
“Just messing with you.” Erik grinned, a broad smile that was often on his face.
“You finding any information on this Gentry guy?”
“Not a lot. No social media accounts. Not at all unusual for a cop. As you already know, he has a wife and three kids. No criminal record, not even a speeding ticket. Not surprising for a police officer. From what I’ve found, he seems like an upstanding guy. Decorated as an officer several times.”
“Any pictures of him?”
“Not yet, but maybe when I do my deep dive, I’ll find something.”
“I want a check on Natalie too.”
Erik didn’t respond for the longest time but finally raised a brow.
“What? It’s the right thing to do.”
“Yeah, but…”
“But nothing. You guys don’t call me the devil’s advocate for nothing. And just because I’m the one who took lead on this detail, doesn’t mean I’m going to change my MO.”
“Thought I picked up on vibes between the two of you.”
“So what.” Drake shoved his hands into his pockets. Maybe the vibe was keeping him from marching up to the loft and demanding to talk to her.
That ended now.
He spun and charged up the stairs two at a time. He might be ready to insist she come down with him, but he gently opened the door so he didn’t wake the kids. His hand froze on the knob. Natalie was lying in bed next to Willow, the child snuggled up to Natalie, both of them sound asleep.
He let his gaze run the length of her body. Lingering on the slender legs below the short skirt. Definitely one of her assets, as was the thick head of hair that looked glossy in the nearby nightlight. He expected that wave of attraction to rush over him. Didn’t happen. The desire to make sure her and these children didn’t come to any harm nearly overwhelmed him.
They were vulnerable. To what, he still didn’t know. He’d only just met Natalie, but he instinctually knew she wasn’t the kind of person who would take a man’s children and run unless it was a big deal. She was a Christian, and she seemed ethical.
So what did he do? Wake her up? Let her sleep?
The adrenaline from her fright had likely taken her down, and she wouldn’t wake up soon. He might want answers, but he didn’t have the heart to wake her.
She was probably cold without a blanket. And she still had those crazy high heels on. From the closet, he grabbed a warm quilt his mom had stitched and crossed the room. The floor groaned under his weight, and he hoped the sound didn’t disturb any of them.
He set down the quilt and took hold of one of her shoes to slip if off and place it on the floor. She didn’t move. Not a bit. He took off the second one and noticed that the pale pink polish on her toes matched her fingernails. Fit what he knew of her. Utterly feminine.
He’d usually be attracted to a woman who liked the outdoors. Why she was flipping his switch, he didn’t know.
He tucked the quilt near her shoulders and resisted the urge to give the top of her head a kiss. She stirred, a smile crossing her face, and he had a flash of what it might be like to wake up next to her. Wouldn’t be a hardship, that was for sure.
He glanced at the children. Their faces were flushed with innocence. Hers was too. He had to guard against that vulnerability. It was the one thing in a woman that he could never resist. But in the past, when any danger was removed, so was his interest. He didn’t want to give this woman signals only to disappoint her.
Listen to him, thinking she would even pick up on his signals.
He stifled a groan and backed out of the room.
On the landing, he took several deep breaths to clear his mind so he wouldn’t transmit his crazy feelings for his brother to pick up on.
He jogged down the stairs.
Erik looked up. “She coming down?”
