Unexpected Temptation. Samantha Hunter

stop.”

      Her eyes were wide. She trembled under his touch.

      “Sorry,” he breathed, getting control of his emotions and pulling her in close.

      Vanessa had been through too much in one day, and he should have known better than to pile more on her. Though when he saw her with the file, he knew he’d have to tell her. She had to know the truth.

      She burrowed into his chest, wrapping her arms around him, too. After a few minutes, the trembling stopped.

      He’d meant to break the contact, but he didn’t.

      “Vanessa,” he murmured into her ear, “after what happened at the police station, in the parking lot, I was seeing if you really were Nicky. She had a tattoo, right here,” he said, touching the spot lightly. She trembled under his touch and he withdrew it. “This isn’t what it seems to be.”

      The attraction, the emotions overwhelming him at this moment, they weren’t real. It was the adrenaline, confusion and who knew what else mixed in.

      She pulled away, but not entirely, as he brushed some thick curls from her cheek. She nodded.

      “I know. I know you love her. Or loved her, once. And I know it’s probably difficult, wanting her so much, and I look so much like her,” she said, her voice tight. “I understand.”

      Luke wanted to protest. He wanted to tell her that he didn’t love her sister and probably never really had. He’d slept with her, enjoyed her, but back then he wasn’t even sure he was capable of love. Nicky sure hadn’t been. It was why, in some respect, he’d thought they were perfect for each other.

      But Vanessa...she was soft. She had a heart. She was hurting, and he wanted to make her feel better. In all kinds of ways.

      But it was better for her to believe what she thought was true. Better for both of them. So he didn’t deny it.

      “Thank you,” he said.

      Disappointment and regret flashed across her features, but only for a second before she regrouped.

      “Regardless of that, nothing changes. I have to find her. It would be better if you went to the police.” Maybe she would listen to reason now.

      “No. No matter what, I want to find her, too. I want to help—her and you. There has to be more to the story. I won’t believe she’s as bad as you say until she tells me to my face. I want to know what’s really going on. I want to be there for her, if I can.”

      Admiration swelled in Luke’s chest, but he didn’t dare touch her again. If he did, all of his good intentions might go out the window.

      “Fine. We should get some sleep and think about our next move tomorrow.”

      “Okay. Good night,” she said haltingly.

      “Good night.”

      What had he gotten himself into? He shouldn’t have given Vanessa a choice. He should have delivered her to the police and walked away. But something about her made it difficult to walk away. He headed to his room, too, pausing outside her closed door before he went inside. Resisting her could be more trouble than he’d counted on.

      * * *

      “PSSSST. VANESSA.” Luke’s voice WAS close. Low and sexy. Vanessa wanted that voice to keep talking to her, to tell her what he wanted and that she was the only one for him.