Finding Her Son(36)

He didn’t know how long he could keep from rubbing his thigh, but he didn’t want to give Emily the satisfaction or acknowledge how much that short, twenty-yard run across an uneven surface had brought the truth crashing down on him. He wasn’t nearly where he needed to be to rejoin SWAT. He might never get there. And then where was he? A washed-up has-been, relegated to desk work.

“Why couldn’t you tell me where you were going?”

Mitch slid her a sidelong glance. Her disappointment skewered him, and unfortunately he knew at some point she would feel the sting of his betrayal. “You have so much hope for the kids,” he said. “Vanessa’s story ended tragically. Kayla’s probably will, as well. You didn’t need that.”

“I face a tragic reality every day, Mitch. Why would you still think I’m too weak to handle the truth?”

He shook his head. “You’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever met. Don’t doubt that. I just don’t want to bring you any more hurt. Most of those kids will end up in places we don’t want them to be.”

“You still coach them. Following in your father’s footsteps.”

“Sometimes I don’t know why. Dad’s in a wheelchair because of that team. A punk my dad helped coach shot him while he was heading to practice. Severed his spinal cord. The boy got convicted but never admitted he did anything wrong. Never even said sorry.” He turned to Emily. “It’s why you have to be careful. You never know who’ll turn on you.”

“Were you coaching with him?”

“I was supposed to be there.” Mitch stopped at a stoplight. Just the movement from gas to brake brought a wince of pain he tried to hide. Not as much pain as the truth, though. Still, he had to make Emily understand she had to guard her heart. Even against him. “He went alone, even though he knew the gangs had resurged into the neighborhood. Some of his kids were at risk. He just couldn’t let it go.”

“And now you’re doing the same thing.”

“That was his neighborhood growing up. He made his way out of it. He wanted other kids to have the same chance. He was betrayed, but I’m cautious.” Mitch met Emily’s gaze. “You can never be too careful.”

Her blue eyes dripped with compassion. “He cared. So do you. That’s not a weakness.”

“You have to listen to me—”

“Yeah, not to care too much.” She put her hand on his thigh, rubbing the ache there. “You care a lot.” She eased her hand up his thigh just a bit. “I didn’t believe in you today. I caused you to hurt. Let me help you now.”

Mitch winced as sharp pains stabbed through him. She shifted her fingertips slightly, pressing hard against the knotting muscles. She released, kneaded again. One step at a time, one section after another she worked through the aching thigh muscle. The pain diminished into a dull ache as she pressed down in a particularly tender area just above his knee. Mitch let out a groan. That was the spot. “You have crazy-good hands.”

“It’s my job.”

She worked through the trembling muscle fibers again. Mitch’s hands eased on the steering wheel as the spasms and pain eased. She had magic fingers. Before the light turned green his leg felt almost normal.

“That’s it,” she whispered softly. “Ease up.” She continued the massage. “You may not know it, but you are healing. If you relieve the strain and don’t let it build, you’ll mend even faster.”

A car honked behind him.

Mitch pressed the gas. No pain.

“Better?”

“Thanks.” Mitch hated he had to rely on her to get him through what should’ve been an easy chase, but this was his new reality. “I’m taking you straight back to Noah’s. Then I’ll call the owners of the wine-storage facility to let us in today.”

“I tried already. No answer. It’s Sunday.”

“Try again,” Mitch said, his voice harsh. Now that he no longer had the cramping and pain to focus on, he couldn’t lose concentration on the slight vanilla of her lotion, the sexy sound of her husky voice or wishing those velvet hands would explore certain other parts of his body.

He adjusted in his seat to try to ease the pressure behind his zipper.

“Another cramp?” she asked as she pulled the slip of paper from her pocket.

“I’m good,” he said. At her skeptical glance, he tried to smile without letting her see the want he knew flared in his eyes. “Promise. Just call.”

Emily glanced down, and her cheeks flushed. She’d seen his arousal.

Squirming in her own seat, she dialed the number. “No answer. Again. Either home or business. They open at ten tomorrow morning, though.”

“We get you to safety first,” Mitch said. “Then regroup.”

Emily was quiet for a moment. “I’m sorry I doubted you. I shouldn’t have.”

Yes, you should. Mitch wanted to scream the words, wanted to tell her the truth, but he knew better. Emily was just stubborn enough, just brave enough, to try to figure this out without help from him or anyone else in the police department.

He didn’t speak, and she leaned toward him. “Can you forgive me?”

She whispered the words in his ear, her breath teasing his skin, making him shiver with awareness. Whether she intended the words to stroke him with sensuality or not, she’d awakened the fire burning just beneath the surface. He swallowed deeply as her unique scent wafted between them. He longed to touch her hair, turn her head to him for a kiss. His body tightened with arousal.