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

“We can’t do this,” she whispered when she managed to put some distance between them.

“Don’t do what?” he murmured peppering tiny kisses down her throat.

“This. Us. You will have to leave once you have caught him, won’t you?” she asked quietly.

Justin lifted his head and looked down at her. He could read the silent question in her eye but knew he couldn’t make her promises he wasn’t sure he could keep.

“Of course we will,” he replied bluntly, seeing no reason to lie to her. “We have other cases to investigate.”

“London?” she asked with a wry smile she truly didn’t feel. She wanted to cry, and almost did. It was only her pride that refused to allow any hint of moisture to settle in the steady gaze she levelled on him. She just wished it was so easy to hide the disappointment she sensed he could read on her face.

“It’s where I live,” he replied with a soft yet melancholic smile. “You should try it one day.”

Vanessa shook her head. “I did once, and know it isn’t for me.”

Justin shook his head. “Damn it,” he growled. “What now?”

Vanessa had no answers for him. It was all she could do to keep her mind on more practical matters, like the investigation. It helped to avoid the hurt that blossomed out from within the centre of her chest and began to overtake her entire being. She wanted to ask him about himself; find out a bit more about him, the man, but she knew it was foolish to allow him any closer than he already was. Her heart was breaking enough as it was.

It is foolish because I can’t love him. I don’t know him, she thought sadly, ruthlessly pushing all thoughts of love out of her mind once and for all. She wasn’t an impressionable young miss anymore, with stars in her eyes and dreams in her heart of a knight in shining armour. She was Vanessa, a sensible young woman who had chosen the path she had taken in life thus far and was happy with it.

Really? Am I? She wasn’t at all sure she was happy with her lot, but was she ready to change it?

“I will help you with the investigation because I have to know what happened to Geraldine,” she murmured. “Then you will move on to your next investigation and we can put this behind us.”

“Can we?” he challenged. “Do you think it will be that simple?”

Vanessa knew they were not talking about the investigation any longer.

“Do you have any ideas on how a compromise can be reached?” she asked.

Justin sighed and slowly shook his head. There wasn’t much he could say.

Vanessa pointedly turned her thoughts to the investigation. “It has to be this way then. We will do what we need to do to capture this kidnapper. You can put him behind bars where he belongs. I can help pick up the pieces and we can both then get on with our lives, can’t we?”

“I suppose we can,” Justin replied quietly.

Their eyes met. The gulf of difference between them widened, but then suddenly narrowed. Suddenly, the physical distance disappeared. She was back in his arms, her lips captured by his once more. This time, she put all the emotion into that embrace that she dared not speak about. She knew it was the last time they would share such an intimate moment, mostly because she wouldn’t allow herself to spend any more time alone with him. The hurt she was already feeling was enough to steal her breath. To have it magnified in any way would be unbearable, and she had enough to deal with right now.

For now, all she could do was savour the moment, and hold the precious memories they created close to her heart.

It was the rattling of Graham entering through the front door that broke them apart some time later. Vanessa jerked out of Justin’s arms and stared up at him in stunned disbelief. To her shock, rather than turn to leave, or go to speak to her father, Justin lifted a thumb and trailed it gently down her cheek. In his eyes she saw pent-up emotion that was achingly similar to her own.

“Justin,” she whispered, unsure what she was asking of him.

“I can’t do this,” he hissed. With that, he released her and promptly slammed out of the kitchen.

When he was gone, she slumped into a chair at the kitchen table and put her head in her hands. It wasn’t so she could weep, as she wanted to do. It was so she could steady herself while she willed her senses to cool and reminded herself that this was truly for the best for them both.

“Was that Justin?” Graham asked quietly from the doorway.

Vanessa nodded.

“What did he want?” her father prodded when she didn’t move or speak.

He gingerly took a seat opposite her and sighed when he saw the misery on her face. Without asking, he knew they had had words – a lover’s tiff. Whatever the cause was, he knew he should mind his own business, but he hated to see her so miserable.

“A man like that is strong, Vanessa. You have to understand that.”