Seeing her in the forest this morning, vulnerable, tousled, flushed, breathless, the damp T-shirt molding the soft roundness of her breasts, had near driven him wild.
He not only wanted to protect her, he needed to. It was a primal urge. He wanted to gather his woman in his arms and keep her safe from the evil of the world.
Only she wasnt his woman.
And she could never be.
He gripped the wheel and stepped on the gas, negotiating the bend in the road.
The silence hung thick and charged between them.
Rex led her to an intimate booth in the back corner of Bens Bistro. A private cocoon in the midst of the lively clatter of plates and cutlery and steady buzz of voices. The sun spilled warm through small windowpanes, throwing square patterns onto the red-and-white checked tablecloth.
We can talk here.
She took a seat opposite him.
Try the eggs.
Hannah perused the menu. Im not that hungry. Ill have the fruit cup. And a coffee.
The eggs are good. I had them yesterday. You look like you could do with some protein.
Ill have the fruit.
She watched him as he placed their order. He was still in his T-shirt and sweatpants, but that did nothing to diminish his dark aura of authority. He cut a powerful figure. She watched the muscles twist under the tanned skin of his forearm as he handed the menus to the server and checked his watch. Her eyes were drawn by the motion, the silver of the watch, the dark hair on his arm, the solid breadth of his wrist. Shed forgotten the beauty of his fingers. Long. Strong. Those hands. They could be so rough yet so achingly gentle. He had run them over her hot skin once. Moved from her ankles up, slowly, along the inside of her thighs
No. She yanked her mind back into the present. He was watching her. Intently. His eyes deep, unreadable pools. His lids with their thick fringe of lashes low. God, hed been reading her mind.
Shaken, she lifted her water glass, gulped and silently thanked the waitress for her timing as she arrived with a pot of coffee.
Hannahs hand was unsteady as she poured cream into her coffee, remembering that he took his black. Funny how little details could stick in your mind over the years.
Rex spooned sugar into his cup, still silent.
Are you going to tell me whats going on?
He leaned forward, forearms on the table. His words were low, for her ears only. Keep your voice down. Dont whisper. Mumbling is better. The sound doesnt carry as well. Got it?
She nodded.
He looked deep into her eyes, searching. I shouldnt be telling you this. I dont want to involve you.
Rex, Im in this whether you like it or not.
I dont. And what Im going to tell you has to remain between us. Hannah, I have to trust you. Lives could depend on it.
Youre a fine one to be talking about trust, Logan.
She saw the slight narrowing of his eyes, the shadow that flitted through them. But he let her jibe pass. He wasnt going to be drawn there. Youre a reporter.
I can keep a secret, Rex. Believe me. I havent gone to the cops. Yet.
He took a sip of his coffee, watching her over the rim.
Well, what did you find in Amys apartment?
Two library books and a document.
Oh, that definitely means she met with foul play.
He wasnt amused. Its the subject matter. Amy Barnes was reading up-to-date information on biological warfare.
What?
It wasnt just biological weapons she was interested in. She was reading up on genetically engineered BW technology.
Okay. Im having real trouble joining the dots here. Help me out.
We have reason to believe that Amy came across something here in White River that landed her in trouble. Something to do with biological weapons.
We?
Bio Can.
Whats a pharmaceutical company got to do with this?
Lets just say Bio Can has a highly specialized division focused on developing antidotes and vaccines for bugs with a potential to be weaponized.
Her head was spinning.
But I thought your field was more indigenous medicine. At least thats what you told me in Africa.
It is. I work in both divisions. He stopped talking as the server arrived with their food. Rex tucked into his egg and bacon platter, savoring a mouthful before continuing.
Hannah stared at her fruit. Biological weapons? What in the hell had Amy been up to? Maybe she was just researching something, Rex, for a story.
He chewed, nodded. Maybe. But there was a piece of paper in one of the books. On it is the name and number of a CIA agent, one who specializes in biowarfare intelligence.
Oh my God.
He sipped his coffee. Hows the fruit?
The question seemed suddenly so inane. Hannah looked at the plate in front of her, picked up a fork and jabbed at a strawberry. Fine. She felt ill.
And I checked Amys computer last night. The hard drive has been cleaned out.
Hannah stiffened. Thats it. The break-in. Thats what they took. Electronic data. No wonder the cops didnt find anything.
Well, whoever took the data didnt find the library books.
But who?
Thats what Im here to find out. Im hoping youll help.
I dont get it, Rex. Why White River? Whats the connection?