Free ChasingShadows by Erin Richards Page B

breasts crushed provocatively against his chest, kindling a desire
he raged against. The heady scent of her familiar floral fragrance created
mayhem with his senses.
    Not until his tongue slipped between her soft, luscious lips
did her arms wrap around his neck, pulling his mouth harder onto hers. Her
mouth tasted of mint and simply Juliana as his greedy tongue probed and battled
hers. When his hands moved to cup her firm, rounded butt, reality whacked him.
    What the hell was he doing?
    Abruptly, he broke off the kiss and jerked out of her arms. The
ties that once bound them were racing back with such velocity that his tightly held
control had slipped.
    Uncertainty tinted her rosy cheeks.
    “I’m sorry.” He stared at the posters on the wall, the files
stacked on his desk, at the carpet, anywhere but at Juliana.
    The energy between them proved volatile. He feared breaking
the fragile bond if he moved, yet he needed distance from her.
    As if she felt the same need, Juliana eased back and the air
stirred around them, tension-laden. She bumped into his leather chair, caught
the back with her hand. “I…it’s okay.” Her voice was thick, husky.
    Silence loomed between them, and Alex experienced an intense
desire to read her mind.
    As if on cue, James flung open the door, dispelling the
sexual edginess pervading the room. Renewed focus on the case provided the
welcome diversion Alex craved.
    From Juliana. And from what once was.
    James stopped mid-stride into the room and flashed Juliana
his trademark crooked smile.
    A seed of jealousy sprouted inside Alex. Grimacing, he tossed
off the unsettling mood and motioned for James to take a seat. “Let’s go over
the interviews.”
    He let Juliana have his chair as he sprawled in the other
visitor chair next to James.
    James plowed right in. “Do you think the perp’s name is Campbell?”
    “Campbell’s a Scottish clan name. Under each clan, there are
variously named septs.” Alex adjusted his chair so his line of sight included
both James and Juliana. “He may be a Campbell, or not.”
    He ignored the interrogation list James shoved at him. James
let it drop on the desk. “No one has a clue who could’ve snatched Lisette.”
    Alex rested his elbows on his knees, chin in his palms. “Give
me the short list.”
    “Grandparents. Jasmine, the twenty-year-old they hired as
part-time nanny—”
    Alex’s perpetual disgust of Lisette’s grandparents exploded
from his voice as he said, “Lisette’s supposed to spend time with her
grandparents, not some damn babysitter.” He slammed a fist on the desk. “They
have her one damn weekend a month.”
    A clerk pushed the door open, delivered dinner and fled the
squirrelly atmosphere. Thankful for the diversion, Alex dug into the bag and
produced deli sandwiches and canned sodas. Juliana stretched across the desk to
grab the sandwich he offered.
    She unwrapped the turkey and cheddar cheese sandwich. Her
eyes widened in hunger and awe. “You remembered my favorite.”
    His mouth twisted in a wry smile. He didn’t know if she
hungered for the sandwich or for him. And why the hell did he care? He massaged
the nape of his neck.
    “This is heavenly,” she said after a couple of bites.
    “Best deli in town,” James agreed, his mouth full as he
tackled his own hefty sandwich.
    Alex’s stomach flip-flopped at the sight of his untouched
meal. “Where were we?”
    “The list,” Juliana replied.
    James chugged down half a soda and continued, “The
ultra-rich grandparents, nanny Jasmine, Sharon and Matthew Douglas and Bremley.”
    “Who’s Bremley?” Juliana sat back and rubbed her stomach.
    “The Chambers’ butler,” James mumbled through a mouthful.
    Alex tore the wrapper off his hoagie and bit off a large
bite. The normally superb roast beef was tasteless tonight. He swallowed
roughly and set the sandwich down, pushing it aside. “Andrea hates that
bastard.”
    “He’s a tough nut to crack,” James said. “Icy,