Page 49 of Lost Truth
What had come over him? Why on earth had he kissed Cady? Not only kissed her, but wished he could go on kissing her. Not for a minute. Not for an hour. Not for a day. For infinity.
Had he completely fallen for her? The kiss sure made it seem like it. His heart had soared. His skin tingled. He felt lightheaded. Not in a dizzy, ‘he was going to fall’ way, but in a wonderful spinning of joy. These emotions were most definitely going beyond physical attraction.
He glanced at Cady, her attention glued to her computer where it had been since they entered the conference room. Had she found what she was looking for or was she avoiding him?
On the patio, she’d pulled away and fled from him as if he’d done something wrong. Dare he hope she’d taken off because he’d done something right, making her struggle in the same battle he was facing?
But did hereallyhope for such a reaction? They would still go their separate ways when this was all over, and this type of connection would simply cause misery for both of them.
Nolan strode into the room. “Just heard back from Sierra at Veritas. She’s glad to do the job, but the partners need to weigh in on the pro bono status. They have a meeting at eight in the morning, and she’ll get back to me when she has a definite answer.”
“That sounds encouraging, though,” Hayden said.
“Yeah, I got the feeling she thought they would do it, but let’s keep it between us for now in case it falls apart.”
Hayden could read between the lines. Nolan didn’t want to give Mina hope, and then disappoint her. Made total sense.
Cady’s head popped up, and she made eye contact with Hayden. “I found something. A news story. A Chinese refugee named Emei Gau came to our country illegally with her family on a ship and boat.”
“Just like our women,” Hayden said.
She nodded. “Emei escaped after she was loaded in a van to be delivered to a man in California. Malnourished and dehydrated, she collapsed on the side of the road. A good Samaritan called an ambulance, and she told her story to the police. She was blindfolded and didn’t know the exact location where the boat landed or the route the van had taken.”
“Was she able to give them any details to find and arrest these parasites?” Hayden asked.
Cady shook her head. “But the detective found a safe place for her to live and arranged for a reporter to write the story in hopes of locating her family.”
“Did they find the family?” Abby asked, an unusual hint of optimism alive in her voice.
Cady shook her head. “The only good outcome noted in the story is that she was able to get free.”
“We need to talk to her,” Hayden said, his mind firmly back on the investigation.
“I already sent an email to the reporter,” Cady said. “If he’s like most reporters, he’ll check his email often and reply right away. If not, I’ll call his newspaper in the morning.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Hayden smiled at her, doing his best to keep anything personal out of the smile.
She gave a crisp nod and avoided his gaze.
“Maybe when Mina looks for the family of the women we rescued, she can look for Emei’s family too.” Abby’s hopeful tone had turned hesitant.
Hayden knew how important it was for a former law enforcement officer who was used to being disappointed by outcomes and investigations to find a positive outcome in the one they were working. All law enforcement officers hoped for good, but wouldn’t put voice to it. Likely in fear of dooming the outcome, because no matter how hard they hoped—prayed—in their field of work, disappointment was the norm.
“On an encouraging note.” Jude crossed over to them in his usual lighthearted saunter. “I got a hold of the guy who heads up the birdwatching group. He’s agreed to gather as many members as he can to meet with you in the morning at eight.”
“Thank you.” Cady smiled at Jude.
Hayden gritted his teeth. Just as he suspected. The tension in the room from the investigation hadn’t stolen her smile. It was worse. Way worse. It was what happened between them on the patio. The kiss. The amazing, life-changing kiss had turned her off to him.
But even worse, he had no idea how to fix it or even if he wanted to.
