Longing and Lies by Donna Hill Page A

feelings for years. And then this case comes up, and the memories get dredged up again.”
    For several moments, Elliot was at a loss for words. The guilt that Ashley carried, whether real or imagined, was an enormous weight that had chained itself to herlike an anchor. “Did the police exhaust every avenue?” he finally asked.
    â€œSo they said. There was a blip in the media for a couple of weeks and then that disappeared, too, just like Layla.”
    â€œWhat about videotape, sign-in logs?”
    â€œTwenty-two years ago security was almost nonexistent in hospital nurseries. Most casualties were baby mix-ups. A lot has changed since then, but not soon enough.”
    â€œDid your family try a private investigator?”
    â€œThey tried everything. But between my mother’s breakdown, paying a detective, attorney fees and trying to live, my dad pretty much exhausted all of his finances. It wasn’t until five years after the fact that the hospital accepted responsibility and agreed to a settlement. Believe me. My folks tried everything.”
    â€œYou didn’t have me,” he said, surprising himself with his pronouncement.
    â€œWhat?” She pushed herself into a sitting position.
    â€œI’m saying I’m going to help you. This case, the information, it’s everything you didn’t have twenty years ago. And you have my help now.”
    â€œWhy?” she asked, the disbelief rippling through the single word.
    â€œI want to.” He drew in a long breath and released it slowly. “Every case that I have been on throughout my career has always been for the ‘good of the government.’ It was a job that never touched me beyond the surface.I did what was necessary and moved on.” He paused for a moment needing to make sure that he said the right words. “When I got this assignment I felt the same way. Just another job. Get in, get out. Everything looks different now.”
    â€œDifferent?”
    â€œYeah.” He kissed her cool forehead. “Let’s get some sleep. We’ll talk more in the morning. We have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow.”
    Ashley sighed in contentment and nestled against the warmth of Elliot’s body. It had been a long time since she’d been so open and vulnerable with anyone, letting them in on her darkest secret, her hopes and fears. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep, silently praying that she hadn’t made the biggest mistake of her personal and professional life.

Chapter 12
    E verything seemed different in the light of day, Elliot thought, as he stood under the pulse of the hot shower. Last night with the scent and sensations of Ashley deep in his pores he was liable to say anything. And he did. Truth be told, he was no knight in shining armor. He never had been and had no desire to be one now. But if he was nothing else, he was a man of his word. He wouldn’t back down from what he promised to do.
    He held his face up to the steamy spray. He’d been a fool to get caught up in her tears. Drawn in by her need. Now he was sure she believed that there was something more to what happened last night than what it really was—just two adults satisfying their basic needs.
    He turned off the water. That’s the way it had to be,he determined. When this case was over, they would go their separate ways and pick up their lives where they’d left off. Simple.
    Elliot wrapped the towel around his waist. If it was so simple, why did it feel so complicated?
    Ashley poured her second cup of coffee into her mug and sat down at the kitchen table. She heard the water in the shower stop, and instantly a vision of Elliot’s naked body emerged in front of her, rippled and dripping wet. She squirmed in her chair.
    There was no question that the sex between them was exquisite. As close to perfection as she’d ever experienced, but that didn’t excuse the stupidity of it. She knew better.