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ability to connect seemingly random information; she hadn’t
mentioned that when a suspect was on the run, Kevin almost
always knew where to find him. Simply thinking about what
she’d done made her sick to her stomach.
But gradually, over the next couple of weeks, she felt her fears
ebb. Instead of asking her more questions when they were alone,
Alex acted as if her revelations had no bearing on their lives in
Southport. The days passed with easy spontaneity, untroubled by
shadows from her prior life. She couldn’t help it: she trusted him.
And when they kissed, which happened with surprising
frequency, there were times when her knees went shaky and it
was all she could do to stop from taking his hand and dragging
him into the bedroom.
On Saturday, two weeks after their first date, they stood on her
front porch, his arms wrapped around her, his lips against hers.
Josh and Kristen were at an end-of-the-year swimming party
hosted by a kid in Josh’s class. Later, Alex and Katie planned to
take them to the beach for an evening barbecue, but for the next
few hours, they’d be alone.
When they finally separated, Katie sighed. “You really have to
stop doing that.”
“Doing what?”
“You know exactly what you’re doing.”
“I can’t help it.”
I know the feeling, Katie thought. “Do you know what I like about
you?”
“My body?”
“Yes. That, too.” She laughed. “But I also like that you make me
feel special.”