Jill Elizabeth Nelson by Legacy of Lies

keepsin the heart department, but nothing more than friendship could happen between them.
    Nicole slipped into her pajamas and crawled between the sheets. Her weary body ached, and the wide mattress and soft pillows invited her to let tension fade into them. But her mind kept churning over thoughts about her grandmother, the baby’s remains, Hannah and her disturbing Elling relatives, and then back to Rich.
    And Glen.
    She and Glen had wanted children in the worst way, but mere days before he was killed they got the news. Glen wasn’t able to father a child. Nicole was willing to talk adoption. It didn’t matter to her whether the baby was of their blood. He or she would become theirs through love. Glen wasn’t ready for that option. Nicole figured if she gave him some space he’d work his way out of the funk and open his heart to a child who needed a family.
    He never got the chance. Had his distraction about fatherhood contributed to him getting into the line of fire during the robbery?
    Nicole rolled onto her side and punched her pillow. She’d never know. Tears wet the pillowcase, as they had too many nights to count. She still missed Glen far too much to consider another relationship, even if the sight of Rich did crazy things to her pulse.
    Not only was Rich a cop, but he’d already raised his family. He had a grown daughter! It wouldn’t be fair of Nicole to expect him to change his job and start over in the baby department. If and when she was ready for romance, Rich wasn’t a candidate.
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    Back in uniform the next morning, Rich adjusted his gun belt around his hips then strode out the hotel room door. He wasn’t as rested as he’d like to be, but then, currentevents hadn’t exactly been conducive to a good night’s sleep. If he was honest with himself, though, it wasn’t the rose garden baby case that had disturbed his slumber, but a pair of wounded brown eyes.
    Nicole was a long way from done grieving her husband. What had he expected? She’d take one look at him and realize she was ready to love again? Maybe he should reconsider his interest in her. She had a thing against cops as husband material. And there was something else bugging her, too. Something that was still too painful to talk about. What could be more devastating than the death of a loved one?
    Rich arrived at Nicole’s hotel room door and knocked.
    â€œWho is it?” Her voice carried through the portal.
    He identified himself. “Are you ready for me to take you back to the hospital before I go over to the forensics office?”
    Silence answered for several heartbeats. “Not quite. You go on. I’ll take a cab over.”
    Rich frowned. Was she really not ready, or had his affectionate touch on her cheek scared her away? He should have denied the impulse, but his fingers had seemed to possess a mind of their own. She hadn’t pulled away. If anything, she’d looked ready for the next step. A kiss maybe? If this sudden avoidance was the aftermath of allowing a moment of contact, then it was a very good thing he hadn’t pushed for more. Maybe he’d better not push her now, either—prove he wasn’t a threat to the emotional space she needed.
    â€œAll right.” The words left his lips reluctantly. “I’ll stop by the hospital and check on you and your grandmother later today.”
    â€œSounds good.” The tone carried a wave of relief. Because he was leaving or because he was going to stop in at the hospital when he finished at the MBCA?
    On the drive to the bureau headquarters in St. Paul, Richgot on the radio and checked in at the office. The dispatcher reported that a two-one-one had been called in early this morning. Rich groaned. Another robbery. The thefts seemed small potatoes compared to the assault on Jan Keller and the possibility that Nicole had uncovered the remains of Samuel Elling. But the persistent thefts of