Chapter 8 #3
“What do you want to do now?” Evie asked, interrupting his thoughts. “Head to the lakefront or go back to the riverfront to snorkel?” She gestured to his swimming trunks. “Or you could jump into the lake to cool off.”
He shook his head. “I keep thinking it would be helpful to have a list of possible suspects for Rueger.” He looked away, scanning the lakeshore.
The rhythmic rippling of the waves should have been soothing, but he was too keyed up to appreciate the sound.
“I know it’s just a matter of time before he arrests me. ”
“Based on what?” Evie asked. “Come on, Cam. I know he’s treated you poorly, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to arrest you.”
He wished he could believe that. But he didn’t.
A wave of helplessness washed over him. His lame attempts to help clear his name hadn’t come up with anything useful.
If he could prove Dan was still a jerk who abused women, then maybe.
“I just . . .” Words failed him.
“Please don’t give up, Cam.” Evie’s pleading tone had him glancing over at her. “Have faith in the process. Rueger is bound to come across hard evidence sooner or later. Evidence that will lead to the real killer.”
Again, he wished he could believe that. A lump lodged in the back of his throat, making him feel as if he couldn’t breathe.
He turned away, thinking it would be better for Evie if he just walked away.
The gunman hadn’t come after them recently, and he felt sure the main reason for that was because the killer was keeping his head down to avoid drawing attention to himself.
A smart move, especially now that Jasmine’s body had been found.
Another wave of helplessness hit hard. How many others were buried in the nature preserve? How long would it be until Rueger slapped handcuffs on him? He found himself walking away from Evie. The least he could do was protect her from whatever fate awaited him down the road.
“Cam, wait!” Her voice cut through the fog of shame that had gathered in his brain. He half turned in time to catch her as she threw herself into his arms. “That’s enough. Do not imagine the worst about this situation, Cameron Walker, do you hear me? Knock it off. We’re going to get through this.”
Despite his earlier determination to leave her alone, he couldn’t seem to stop himself from gathering her close. The way she wrapped her arms tightly around him filled his heart with hope. She believed in him, and right now, it seemed as if she was the only one who did.
Rueger wasn’t buying his innocence, and neither was the rest of the Grand Haven Police Department. Soon enough, even their former friends, like Bev and others, wouldn’t believe in him either.
But Evie did. And right now, he’d take all the comfort from that thought he could get.
“Thanks. I appreciate that.” His voice was thick with emotion.
She leaned back to look up into his eyes. Tension shimmered between them. He knew he needed to let her go. To step back.
Instead, he lowered his head toward hers. Slowly, giving her time to back away if that’s what she wanted. He’d never forced a woman to do anything in his life, and he had no intention of starting now.
She didn’t back off. Or turn away. To his amazement, she went up on her tippy toes to close the gap between them, fitting her mouth against his.
The chaste kiss instantly morphed into something more.
It was as if the years they’d been apart slipped away, and he was acting on the secret desire he’d felt for her back when they were eighteen and working together as lifeguards.
A longing that he’d ignored since he’d known she was off-limits as Skye’s best friend.
If things had been different back then, would he have still joined the army? Probably. His eighteen-year-old self had not been interested in settling down.
Long-distance relationships didn’t work, so he told himself things had turned out for the best. Yet kissing Evie was enough to make him regret the time he’d spent dating Skye.
He deepened their kiss, enjoying every second of cradling Evie in his arms.
Unfortunately, Bruno nudged him, not just once but twice, snapping him back to the harsh reality of his situation. He broke off their kiss and tried to disentangle himself from her arms. “I, uh, shouldn’t have done that.”
Her blue eyes held his. “Really? Because I’m pretty sure I’m the one who kissed you.”
Her statement made him long to pull her back into his arms for round two. He turned away, swallowing hard. “I’m the one who changed it into something more. But we need to stay focused. No distractions.”
“Nothing is as important as you, Cam.”
Her sweetness was like a magnet pulling him in. He forced himself to take another step back. To stay strong.
To protect her. Kissing Evie, making her think they shared more than friendship, wasn’t fair. It would be better for her to keep her at arm’s length. The sad truth was that he didn’t know if he had anything to offer her.
She’d made a life for herself in Grand Rapids. She had friends. A career.
If things were different, maybe. But he couldn’t promise her anything. Not yet.
Maybe not ever.