Searching for Beautiful(131)

Gen bit her lip. Something still wasn’t right. Even if Sally was interested, the entire episode screamed manipulation. “Are you sure David didn’t put her up to it?”

A short silence settled over the line. “She denies it, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Still, I got it all on record in her deposition. Need you back here at the station though.”

The knowledge her coworker and friend could stoop to such a level pained her. She also knew how David worked. Probably promised her a future without telling her about Boston. Sowed the seeds of what he wanted Sally to do. Relief loosened her muscles. David wouldn’t be stalking her any longer, especially after Sally was caught. She was finally free.

Now it was time to take the last stand.

“Thank you, Officer. I’ll be flying home tomorrow if that’s acceptable.”

“Of course. Contact me when you’re home.”

They said good-bye and she clicked off.

Funny, it was almost as if part of her life was also clicking into place, finding a new home in the scheme of her life. She wanted to be a doctor again. Go back to the hospital and finish what she started. She wanted to rebuild a relationship with her twin, and make more time and balance for her friends.

And she wanted Wolfe.

Gen found him outside on the balcony. Sipping his coffee, looking out over the city streets, deep in thought. She paused and studied him.

The millionaire model turned hotel magnate wore his usual getup of shorts and T-shirt. His bare feet were propped up on the coffee table. Chocolate-brown curls fell in disarray around his head, and the familiar scent of lemon, soap, and coffee clung to him. She imagined not waking up with him in the morning, or kissing him good night. She craved to be the one to kill the spiders for him, cook for him, yell at him, and make love to him every spare moment.

Last night, he’d given her the truth.

Now he needed to give her his heart.

“Wolfe.”

He jerked, sloshing coffee over the rim. Setting his feet back on the ground, he mopped up the spill and set the cup on the table beside him. “Sorry. Didn’t hear you.”

They gazed at each other. Remembering. Her gaze flicked to his wrists, covered by the leather bands once more. He tugged at them, then stilled.

“How do you feel?” she asked softly.

“Good.”

“The police called. They found who did it.” His brows snapped in a frown. She quickly went over the scenario, and he seemed to accept the explanation. “I told them I’d be flying back tomorrow.”

“We can do that. I’ll help you repaint.”

“I’ve decided to go back to the hospital.”

He nodded, as if trying to keep up. “Good. You deserve to be there. It may be a bit rough at first, but you can handle it. I always knew that.”

“Wolfe?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

He flinched. Turned pale. Her heart dropped, but she’d committed to her last stand and damned if she wasn’t going all out. How many times had they mentioned love to each other? In friendship, and laughter, and fun? The words had spilled out so easily before, yet today they held a whole new meaning and were stuck deep inside where the memories had been trapped. Refusing to come out.

“Well, we’re friends.”

She stiffened her spine at the raw hurt. “Not like that. I’ll always love you as a friend. But it’s more now. I love you as a man. My lover. As my partner.”

He jumped back, pressing his back against the balcony. “Why are you doing this now? Let’s fly back, get our heads in the game, and see what happens.” A nervous laugh escaped. “A lot of shit went down last night and I told you stuff no one knows.”

“Do you love me?” His eyes widened. Gen swore he was already calculating the odds of jumping over the balcony rather than face her questions. She closed the distance, forcing him to deal with her. “Because last night meant something more to me. You shared a gift by telling me the truth. But it’s more than that. I look into your eyes and see a man I want with my whole heart. I want you in my life as more than my friend. Do you want that, too?”

He swallowed. Stared. Pure fear shone from those bright blue eyes.

And he didn’t answer.

Gen stopped inches before him. “I love you,” she said again. “Right now. Right here, I need to know how you feel about me. The truth.”

The sun beat down bright and hot. The roar of mopeds and heels clicking on the sidewalk rose in the air. He didn’t move, didn’t blink, standing as still as a statue. Or a victim watching his attacker move in.

Her fingers shook. Her gut clenched in terror. She was losing him, and she didn’t know what to do to push him over the edge, make him fight for her, admit his true feelings.