Raw by Jo Davis

you’ll think this is an attempt to hurt you like you hurt me, but that’s not the case at all.
    You were doing your job. I understand that. You had to catch the men involved in the drug ring, and I’m glad you did. In the end, you saved my business.
    But it’s the rest I can’t put out of my mind. I was falling for you, hard. If I weren’t, I wouldn’t be so lost at finding out you weren’t who I thought. That I was just a suspect you needed information from, at least in the beginning. I know you fell for me, too, but you still played me. You went too far.
    As for what happened in my office, seeing you kill two men frightened me. Worse, seeing you almost die—that terrified me more than anything. So much that I can’t sleep. Even if I can forgive you, even if I can give us another chance, you’re still Grayson Sloane, FBI agent. Your enemies will try to kill you.
    And one day, if one of them succeeds, I wouldn’t survive losing you. Not like that. I don’t have it in me to take that chance with my heart.
    Maybe I’m a coward for cutting my losses, but I can’t deal with all of this. I need time to think, and as hard as it is for me to say, I don’t expect you to wait for me. I honestly hope you find what you’re looking for.
    Heal fast, please. I’m so glad you’re going to be okay.
    Love,
    Anna
    â€œI already found what I’m looking for,” he whispered. The letter fell from his hand, and his eyes burned. Inside, he was scraped raw and bleeding.
    â€œAnd I won’t be okay until you come home.”
    ***
    Anna was sprawled in a lounger on the white sand of Aruba, soaking up the Caribbean sun.
    Too bad it couldn’t melt the chill inside.
    Three days she’d been here, and she was no closer to an answer. She used the time to relax and unwind from the stress of what had happened in New York. Stress from making the restaurant successful, too, pouring her heart and soul into the place. She hadn’t realized how tightly wound she’d been from that alone.
    Should she call Gray? She missed him. But would that solve anything, or just make things worse? She didn’t know what to do.
    â€œExcuse me, is this seat taken?”
    Shielding her eyes, she peered up at the man standing under her grass umbrella. Her mouth immediately went dry.
    The man smiling down at her had tanned skin, natural, if she had her guess. Raven hair was swept back from a face that would make Antonio Banderas weep from shame, and his teeth were a slash of white in his angular face. He was tall and wearing Speedo swim trunks that barely covered the essentials and left not one thing to the imagination.
    More than being gorgeous, he was imposing. Even mostly naked, he had a commanding presence that suggested his question was a mere formality. He’d asked to sit next to her, but he clearly expected her assent. The old Anna would’ve bristled and snarled a rejection, but she’d come here to relax, after all. Who said she couldn’t do that while talking with a sexy man?
    And he was the most stunning man she’d ever met—except for Gray. Quickly, she pushed that name aside.
    â€œWho’s asking?” she said, keeping her tone playful. Light.
    His smile deepened, revealing grooves bracketing his mouth that she suddenly wanted to trace with her tongue. “I’m Joaquin,” he said. “And you?”
    â€œI’m Anna.” She studied him, cocking her head.
    â€œIs something wrong?”
    â€œNo, it’s just . . .” She shrugged. “I thought I’d heard that name before recently. It’s kind of unusual. So, what brings a man like you over here to talk to me?”
    â€œI’ll confess: I’ve been watching you since I arrived yesterday.” He took a seat without waiting for confirmation that he was welcome.
    She arched a brow. “Oh? Stalking much?”
    He shook his head