Betrayal of Innocence (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 1)

“Look, I am sorry, all right? I didn’t mean to worry you unduly or try to infer that Geraldine was dead. I just think you need to understand just how insurmountable an obstacle it will be to find your sister if the investigation into her disappearance isn’t handled correctly. You could very easily have removed some clues without even realising by going into the house. If Curtis realises you have gotten too close, he could take steps to make sure your sister is never found.”

“You think she is dead, don’t you?” she whispered harshly, struggling to fight back her tears. “You refuse to tell me, but you keep talking about her body, her corpse, and her death, as though it is certain she has been killed.”

“I wouldn’t like to say one way or the other,” he replied. “I am sorry if I inferred she was dead. It wasn’t meant.”

Vanessa nodded, but was too choked to speak.

“I am sorry,” he murmured gently when large tears began to trickle steadily down her cheeks.

Justin sighed when her tears began to flow faster. All he could do was ease her gently into his arms and hold her while she wept. He had no idea what had come over him. He wasn’t usually this sympathetic to a woman’s tears, especially someone he was supposed to be investigating. The more professional thing to do was keep his distance, escort her home and warn her to stay there in the future. The last thing he should be doing is holding her tightly while she wept silent tears of grief. She wasn’t a loud crier either. The only sound he could hear to betray her distress was slightly harsher breathing, but he felt every tear in the heaving of her shoulders and the wet patch on his shirt.

“We will find out what happened to her,” he promised, then mentally winced because he knew he shouldn’t be saying such things.

Vanessa worked hard to try to pull herself together. She didn’t want him to think she was some weak-willed female who fell into a fit of the vapours whenever she faced a challenge. If it hadn’t been for the insurmountable odds of ever finding Geraldine that had hit her, she would have been all right.

“I will be fine,” she whispered tremulously.

“Just stay safe,” he urged, his voice barely above a whisper.

Vanessa’s gaze lifted to his lips.

Justin saw the silent plea in her eyes and knew he should refuse. The last thing he wanted was for her to turn to him in her hour of need, and regret anything they shared later.

“Vanessa,” he murmured gently, a hint of refusal in his eyes.

Vanessa sucked in a breath. She was a little stunned at her own waywardness and couldn’t be quite sure what had taken over her. She sucked in a deeply fortifying breath, but when she tried to step out of his arms, found herself held firmly against him.

She daren’t breathe as she watched his head lower the final few inches to hers. There was something different about this kiss, though. It was considerably more intense than the last one and felt as though he was trying to convey some sort of message he couldn’t say aloud. Vanessa just wished she could understand what it was.

CHAPTER TEN

Several luscious moments later, Vanessa leaned back to look up at him. She knew she should step away, especially now her tears had vanished just as quickly as they had appeared, but she couldn’t get her feet to move. She couldn’t put any distance between them. Not when she felt so safe, so warm, so protected in the loving security of his strong embrace.

Loving security? She mentally winced at that and hesitantly took a step back.

“Who is that?” Justin murmured, watching a stout man hobble toward the milk parlour.

Vanessa’s forehead touched Justin’s when she tipped her head to peer through a narrow gap in the barn door. She watched the man talk to Lisa for a moment then Lisa step back to allow him into the milking parlour.

“That’s Reuben. I don’t know what he is doing here, but he is harmless,” she reported.

“Who is he? Is he a villager? Is he related to Lisa?” Justin demanded.

Vanessa studied him. Once again, Justin hadn’t been as affected by their kiss as she had. It appeared he had forgotten it the moment it had ended. It was a stark reminder that she had to remain strong, and maintain some distance between them, or try to.

It was difficult to do, especially when he was wrapped around her so comfortably, and it felt so right.

“Rueben works, or used to work at the orphanage right next to the church. He isn’t any harm to anybody, although I don’t know what he is doing here.” She sought a way to describe him adequately to Justin without seeming rude or disparaging.

Justin sensed her hesitation and looked at her. “Tell me,” he urged gently. “I want you to know that there is nothing you can’t tell me. I have practically heard it all anyway.” He smiled to soften his words. “Don’t keep secrets from me.”

Vanessa smiled, but replied: “Don’t keep secrets from me either.”

Justin pursed his lips.

“Fine,” he replied, although mentally crossed his fingers. There were some secrets that would have to remain hidden for the rest of his life, but he wouldn’t tell her that.

The silence lengthened. Justin tried to think of something to take his mind off the feel of her pressed against him. The memory of the brief, yet tantalising kiss they had shared in the house no more than an hour ago lingered in the back of his mind. The temptation to savour that delectable sweetness again was strong – so strong that Justin found his head lowering toward hers once mor