Private Affair(64)
“You didn’t know what was going on with her.”
“But…”
“Don’t speculate on what would have happened.”
“And what about me and Angela getting raped? What if we had said something—back then or later?”
“Again, you can’t go there. We have to deal with the situation as it exists now. Focus on that.”
“Something else I keep thinking. About that night when you rescued us at the pizza parlor. We were both outsiders. What if we’d actually started talking to each other? What if we’d gotten to know each other?”
“It wouldn’t have worked out,” he said immediately.
“Why not?”
“Because I was still in my bad-boy phase. I would just have gotten you into trouble.”
“More trouble than I was already in?”
“Maybe.”
She laughed. “Different trouble, anyway.”
He stroked his fingers up and down her arm. “Your dad would have ordered you to stay away from me. Either way, it couldn’t have worked out.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“I know you’d rather not, but can we go back to the scene at the cabin? I mean when the rape happened.”
“You’re right, I don’t want to. But I will.”
“How did you get there?”
“In someone’s car.”
“Whose?”
She closed her eyes, thinking. “I’m pretty sure it was Brian Cannon.”
“So he was there.”
“Yes.”
“Who else?”
“A lot of the football players.”
“They were a rowdy bunch?”
She made a low noise. “Yes. They thought they were God’s gift to the student population—especially the girls. You know how it was. They brought honor to Donley.” She snorted. “Honor.”
“So it could have been one of them.”
She dragged in a frustrated breath. “But I don’t know who. And I’m not going to accuse someone without being sure.”
“I understand.”
She shook her head. “But if I did remember, we might know who the murderer was.”
“Yeah. But were you and Angela the only ones?”
“I don’t think so.”
“So the other girls who were raped could turn out to be victims of the killer,” Max mused.
“But why now?”
“The guys and I talked about that while you were taking a shower. It looks like he’s out of control. Maybe his life went along okay for a while. Then that changed. Or the reunion coming up made him think people were going to talk about what he did in the past. Maybe they were all afraid of him back then, and now they’re all grown up.”
“So the men he’s killed could have been in on the rape?”
“Or they knew something else he’s afraid to have come out.”
“And how are we going to find out any of that?”
“We’re going to lean on Brian Cannon. And we’re going to hope that Shane can come through for us on that DNA sample.”
“Okay.”
“But there’s nothing more we can do tonight, so we’re going to put it away.”
“I don’t know if I can—now that it’s all out in the open.”
“Oh, I think there’s a way to take your mind off what happened back in high school.”
He pulled her back into his arms and brought his mouth to hers, and she knew he wanted to give her what she needed. Reassurance—and pleasure.
Like a prisoner finally released from captivity, she lowered every barrier she’d erected around herself, welcoming the gift that Max was offering. And giving back to him in full measure.
***
Olivia woke and felt a moment of panic. Someone was lying beside her in bed. She had slept alone for so long. Now…
“It’s just me,” Max murmured.
“I wouldn’t put it that way,” she answered, nibbling her lips against his shoulder.
As she remembered the night before, a satisfied smile played over her mouth.
He noticed and ran his fingers through the hair he’d tousled. “I’d like to stay in bed, but the most important thing is keeping you safe. Which means we have to get up and get dressed.”
She nodded, knowing it was true.
“You want the bathroom first?” he asked.
“Yes. Thanks.”
She took a quick shower. When she came back, he slipped into the bathroom while she got dressed. In the farmhouse, she’d felt like they were in each other’s way. Now sharing the bathroom simply felt like a new intimacy.
“There’s a breakfast buffet here,” he said. “But it’s better if you stay out of sight.”