Free Going Gone by Sharon Sala Page B

as she opened her eyes.
    “Good morning, sunshine,” he said softly.
    She smiled. “If this is a dream, I don’t want to wake up.”
    “It’s real, and so am I.”
    She eyed his sleepy look and the tousled strands of dark hair across his forehead, then reached for his hand.
    “I like waking up to see your face.”
    Cameron’s pulse was racing, but to no avail. He threaded his fingers through her hand and lifted it to his lips.
    “There is nothing I want more than to make love to you right now. But you, my love, still have a lot of healing to do, and I have no intention of making things worse.”
    “You wouldn’t ma—”
    He put a finger on her lips before she could finish.
    “Yes, I would. Not on purpose, but it would hurt you, and abstinence won’t hurt me. So I’m going to get dressed and make coffee. Go back to sleep if you want.”
    “No. I’m so grateful to be home, I just want to walk through the house and center my world, you know?”
    “Yes, I know,” he said, and then kissed her.
    Her lips were warm and soft, and when she cupped the back of his neck and pulled him closer, he groaned.
    “We’re so not going there,” he said, then kissed her again to underscore the warning. “Since you are getting up, make a list of things you need, including groceries. I’ll get everything before I come back.”
    “Okay,” she said, and then smiled to herself as she watched him walk into the bathroom. He was naked except for a pair of gym shorts, and she did love to look at those long legs and broad back.
    * * *
    Cameron had already shopped for groceries and dropped them off at Laura’s house before stopping by FBI headquarters to check in. After a short visit with his boss and an update on Laura, it was decided he would report for work in two days. He was more than ready to resume a regular routine.
    It was just after ten in the morning when he reached his apartment building. There were no surprises as he entered the apartment. It wasn’t any cleaner than it had been when he left. When he got to the bedroom, the clothes he’d tossed aside were still on the unmade bed and the light was still on in the bathroom.
    He’d been so scared while packing to go search for the downed plane, praying Laura had survived, that neat and clean had been the last things on his mind.
    Whatever.
    He refolded, then put away the clothes he’d left behind, took the dirty ones out of his suitcase and repacked it with clean things, ready to stay over again tonight and, he hoped, forever.
    He stepped inside his closet to open his private safe and took out the small black-velvet box sitting on top of his passport. He dropped it in his pocket, then took it right back out and opened it, imagining how it was going to look on Laura’s hand.
    Two carats of square-cut diamond winked as it caught light from above. He shut the box and dropped the ring back in his pocket, took the suitcase into the living room and added his unopened mail and his laptop before heading out.
    As he got in the car and drove away, it began to snow.
    * * *
    Laura was going through mail and paying bills when she came upon a letter from two sisters who had worked as on-site volunteers with her in Louisiana, where she’d first met Cameron when he and his partners had arrived on the trail of a serial killer known as the Stormchaser. She smiled, remembering how funny Peg and Mary were together, like a comedy duo. One played the straight man, and the other always followed up with the funny remarks. They’d been in charge of cooking for the displaced residents. She remembered Peg was taller and Mary was the redhead.
    When she opened the letter, some snapshots fell out. She let them lie in her lap as she read the letter.

    Laura, we heard about the plane crash. Very sorry for your coworkers, but we were thrilled to learn you had survived. Always thought there was a tough cookie beneath that pretty face and blond hair. Peg sends her love, and I’m sending love and