Midnight Exposure (Midnight #1)(59)

Reed turned off Main Street and urged his truck way past the speed limit. Jayne had a good head start on him, but her Jeep was old. If he pushed it, he might be able to catch up with her. She’d be on the state highway for at least thirty miles before she hit the next town. It was the only main route south.

Becca Griffin had looked disappointed when he’d declined dinner. But she knew there wasn’t any attraction on his part. And Scott’s comment had pierced Reed to the heart.

Why’d she leave? She didn’t have any money or anything. Aren’t you worried about her?

Why had he let her go so easily? Why hadn’t he tried harder to make her listen? Seeing that old headline had shocked the hell out of him. The black print had looked so bold above the full-color glossy of him exiting the police station after identifying his wife’s body. He’d been transported back to that afternoon. The warm Southern sun shining on his head had felt like an abomination with Madeline’s body lying cold on a stainless-steel table in the morgue. The whirring and clicking of cameras had followed him to his car, his house, Scott’s school, even his wife’s funeral. Reporters had stalked him for months. When the case remained unsolved, and he hadn’t been arrested, the press had screamed corruption. He’d quit the force. Hell, he’d quit living—until this week.

So the real reason he’d let Jayne leave was fear. He was afraid of the feelings she drew from him. Things he hadn’t felt in a long time, maybe ever. He wanted to live again. But allowing himself to hope he could have a second chance was opening his scarred soul to another potential wound.

The snowy landscape rolled by, monotonous and endless and bleak, until two vehicles on the side of the road caught his attention. Nathan’s SUV was parked behind Jayne’s Jeep. Smoke seeped from under the Jeep’s hood. Nathan was throwing Jayne’s duffel in the back of his truck.

Jayne turned. Her gaze settled on him through the windshield, and she lowered the cell phone from her ear. Her hair caught the sunlight like a halo. Relief bubbled up in his chest, and his heart jumped for joy. She was safe. How could he have let her take that risk?

Sheba caught sight of Jayne and whined. The dog put both front paws on the dashboard and wagged her tail. Exactly.

He pulled over to the side of the road and jumped to the ground. “What happened?”

Jayne froze. Something hard flashed in Nathan’s eyes. Was he jealous? Did he have designs on Jayne? Well, too f*cking bad for him. Reed was not letting her endanger herself a second time.

Nathan smoothed his expression. “Jayne’s car overheated. I was giving her a lift into town.”

“I’m here now. You can get home to Aaron and Evan.” Reed stepped forward.

“Jayne. Would you rather go with Reed?” Nathan asked. His words and tone were amicable, but his jaw clenched as if he had to bite the words off.

Jayne hesitated.

Reed caught Jayne’s gaze. “Please,” he said. “I’ll explain everything.”

Her eyes searched his. She turned to Nathan. “Thank you for the offer, but I’ll go with Reed.”

Reed would’ve preferred Jayne be more excited at the prospect of coming home with him, but he’d take what he could get. Once they were alone, he’d explain that he hadn’t meant to be a total ass—and he’d tell her all about the disaster of his life in Atlanta.

Reed stepped forward and tugged her duffel from Nathan’s grip. The mayor held on for a split second too long. Nathan definitely wanted Jayne for himself. He didn’t move as Reed steered Jayne toward the Yukon.

On the passenger side, Reed tossed her bag in the backseat and opened her door. “Sheba, in the backseat.”

The dog hopped over the console. Reed climbed behind the wheel. “Do you need anything else from your Jeep?”

“No. It’s all in the bag.”

Jayne reached over the seat and gave Sheba a head rub.

Reed K-turned back onto the road and headed toward home. In the rearview mirror, Nathan was still standing on the shoulder as Reed pulled away.

With his eyes back on the road, he felt Jayne’s stare on his face. “I need to apologize and explain about that article.”

“I know what happened in Atlanta.” Jayne held up a hand. “It’s OK.”

Shock burst through Reed. “You know?”

Jayne lifted a shoulder and turned toward the passenger window. “I called a friend and asked him to check out the article.”

“I’d still like to explain. There was a lot of information that didn’t make it to the press.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Jayne said. “I know enough. I should’ve trusted you, but I had a bad track record. I was na?ve once before, and I almost died.”

“It matters to me.” Reed exhaled and lowered his voice. “I don’t want any more secrets between us.”

Reed glanced sideways. Her chin was up, her jaw tight, and her face pink from the cold as she stared out the window.

“OK.”

Reed turned into the driveway and parked. Dusk was an hour off, but the sun had dipped behind the trees. Shadows reached for the house.

Reed grabbed her bag and led the way up to the door. Ice and rock salt crunched under their shoes on the porch. Sheba pushed past their legs and trotted into the house.

In the kitchen, Reed made a quick call to the auto shop. “The mechanic said he’d call later tonight, after he’s had a chance to look at your engine.”