What She Forgot (What She 2)

“I still can’t believe you did all this,” he said on an exhaled breath. “You do good work, Shelly. If you ever want to throw this guy over, I have an analyst job for you at the department.”

I grinned. “I’ll think about it.”

Will’s arm encircled my waist as he pulled me close to him. “This one’s not going anywhere,” he said softly but firmly. He looked down at me and my breath caught in my throat. His eyes stared into mine and I couldn’t think. I couldn’t do anything but stare back. There was a lot in his gaze that I didn’t understand, and it unnerved me. “I’m keeping her.” He tweaked my nose, which made me scrunch my face up. He laughed and walked with Spanner to the door.

“I’ll get the wheels in motion to find Riley James,” he said. He pointed a finger at me. “I still don’t understand how you did it.”

“She’s smart,” Will supplied. “And funny.”

“That she is,” Spanner said, admiration in his voice. “You got yourself a winner. Don’t do anything stupid to fuck it up.”

Will grinned. “I’ll do my best.”

Will closed the door behind Spanner and reached out to lock it. “You never cease to amaze me,” he said, his voice equal parts admiration and something hot that I couldn’t decipher.

“In a good way, I hope,” I replied, realizing the truth of my words as soon as they left my lips. I wanted to impress this man. I really wanted to impress him.

His eyes narrowed. “In the best way possible.”

I had amazed many men in my lifetime, and not all of them were in a good way. “How long do you think it’ll be before they find Riley James?” I asked.

“Depends on how good she is at hiding,” he replied. “And who she is on any given day, I’d imagine.”

“I’d really like for my sister to come home.” That was the God’s honest truth. I missed her.

“Hopefully, this can be resolved soon and we can get her home.” His voice was kind and strong, and I appreciated that he was being honest with me. “Do you think it was Megan or Riley that went to her house?”

I shrugged. “It’s impossible to tell, but if I had to guess, I’d say that was Megan. Riley seems to be more altruistic, more out for the greater good. Intimidation tactics are more Megan’s style.”

“Your sister’s personalities were all good, right?”

“Yes, but even they sometimes did bad things. Ash liked to start fights and steal things. The others had their quirks too.” I shrugged. “The mind is a funny thing, particularly when three or four personalities share one.”

“I’d give Spanner a week. Then you can probably have Lynn and her family come back.”

I nodded.

He stepped closer to me and lowered his face down near mine. “You did really good work today.”

“I do good work every day.” My voice quivered, betraying how his closeness felt, how it got me all mixed up inside.

“You do,” he said, dragging the side of his nose down the side of mine. Then his lips touched the corner of my mouth. He touched the side of my chin, tilting my face ever-so-gently. Then his lips pressed against mine. He kissed me, solidly kissed me, his tongue rasping against the side of mine, his mouth sucking gently at my lower lip, drawing it inside where he nibbled it lightly. Just as my knees went weak, he took a step forward, driving me back against my desk.

“What are you doing?” I asked when he finally lifted his head. My butt hit the edge of my desk and he lifted me to sit on the edge.

“I’m kissing you,” he replied with a chuckle. “Is that okay?”

“Yes. But why are you kissing me right now?”

He laughed again. It was an easy sound, comfortable and light. “Is there a certain time of day that I’m allowed to kiss you or not kiss you?”

“No, I’ve just… Never mind.”

“You’ve just…?” He waited, tilting his head and staring at me. “You’ve just…never had a boyfriend.” He smiled. “I keep forgetting.”

“This is what boyfriends do?” I asked. “Kiss whenever they want?”

He nodded, a playful glint in his eyes. “This is what boyfriends do.”