After Anna went back to her office, Ethan and Steele took a ride over to the Eagle Security and Protection Agency. While they were having lunch, Chase sent a text to Steele letting him know they had some information for them.

Ethan had met Chase and some of the other guys from ESP a few times at Steele’s place, but he didn’t know them well, and he’d never been to their offices. But he was impressed when they walked in. It rivaled anything he’d come across at Air Force Command, and the command center was top notch.

The team at ESP were all ex-military, either just retired or disabled. Chase had been trying to get Steele to come on board since he’d come to Florida. Their set up was intriguing, but it didn’t interest Ethan at least not now. He didn’t want to be traveling the globe anymore, he was happy to be stuck in Willow Haven with Anna. Being on assignment who knows where and when was not the life for a married man, and he hoped that would be where his relationship with Anna was headed. Although, unlike the military at least their missions weren’t secret, but they could still be dangerous.

After giving them the tour, they sat down in the command center and Chase’s computer whiz-kid, Rock, went over all the information. Rock was his SEAL name, but he’d kept it unlike most of the others. Steele said Chase’s name was Frost when he was part of the Teams. But Rock, well he looked more like a mountain, tall didn’t sum it up, the man had to be close to seven foot, and looked like he could take down a whole football team by himself. Not a man you wanted to piss off. Looking at him you’d think he was a boxer or something, and to find out that his skills were behind the computer was kind of surprising. Just goes to show you that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

“Apparently, one of her employees—Hugh Johnson—has a gambling problem, one is cheating on his wife, another is mortgaged out the wazoo to put his kids through college, then there’s Adria, I know you were worried about her. She looks pretty clean though, she has her widow pay from the military, but she’s been socking it away for her kid’s education it looks like. She doesn’t have any extra income other than her paycheck. There were a few others with a couple of questionable things in their backgrounds but nothing that would indicate what you’re looking for. I’d say your best bet is the Johnson guy.”

“That’s what we were thinking too. But so far, we don’t have any proof. We finally got a warrant for his phone, but nothing has turned up yet. Did your digging come up with anything else?”

Chase shrugged and nodded to Rock. What had they been holding back? And why?

“It looks like Anna Taggart has been taking out some pretty big withdrawals in cash lately. Not sure what she’s doing with it, but it’s big money. Each time it’s cash and just under the ten grand number that would trigger the feds.”

“What? Who told you to look into Anna?” Ethan looked around the room, and his eyes rested on Steele. Of course. Who else. “Why? You know damn well she’s not a suspect.”

“I know, but while we were looking, I wanted to make sure.”

“What do you mean? I was freakin’ with her during the last break-in.”

“Not really. Remember she got home just after you got the call from LT.”

Shit, Steele was right, but he also knew Anna was clean. He knew it with every fiber of his being. There’s no way she’d be involved in this, there had to be a good explanation for where the money was going. “You still had no right. Or you should have at least told me.”

“I’m sorry. But I knew you’d never go for it, and I had to look out for you.”

“Listen, Ethan, I know you’re not happy about this. But Steele had a point. You can’t just eliminate suspects because your gut tells you to. And no, she doesn’t look good for the robberies, but something is definitely up. What the hell is she doing with all that money? It’s close to one hundred grand, that’s not chump change. Maybe someone’s blackmailing her, or maybe she’s up to something. Either way, I don’t think it hurts to dig a little deeper into her and the rest of the company.”

Pain sliced through Ethan’s head at that thought of invading Anna’s privacy this way, but Chase and Steele had a point. Something was up, and she hadn’t mentioned it at all. No one takes large sums of cash out of the bank the way she has without a good reason. “Go ahead, but keep it quiet. I don’t want her getting wind of this. This is my woman, and I know there’s a good reason for this. We just don’t know what it is yet.”

“I sure hope so.”

So did Ethan. The information on Johnson was good, but Anna? That was a whole other ballgame. No wonder they wanted them to come down to the office to talk about it. He was ever happier that only the four of them knew about the investigation. She’d be mortified if she found out this was going on, and he knew she’d end it. And honestly, could he blame her?

***

It took everything he had not to ask Anna about the money when they got back to her house that evening. He knew there had to be a good explanation, but for the life of him he couldn’t figure it out. But with everything else going on the last thing he wanted to do was confront her about suspicions. She hadn’t even admitted to loving him yet, and for him to accuse her of anything would put an end to it.

It made for strained conversation while they ate the homemade pizza he’d prepared. Working the dough helped drive out some of the tension riding him since they’d left the ESP offices. He’d been so pissed at Steele he couldn’t even look at him. But after listening to his partner justify it on the ride back to the station, he knew he was right. They needed to look under every stone no matter who the individuals were or their relationship. But just because he understood and agreed didn’t mean he had to like it.

Anna didn’t get home until after seven, and he was getting ready to text her when she walked in the door. “Hi, sexy detective, I’m home. Did you miss me?”

“Sure did. How was the rest of your day?”

“Great, okay, not so much. I was worried I would say something I shouldn’t every time I had to talk to someone. I pretty much hid out in my office doing paperwork most of the afternoon. I’m sure Adria thinks I’m upset with her by now.”

“Why? You were talking to her this morning when I got there.”

“Yeah but I haven’t called her or sat with her in her office or anything since the meeting. Usually, we have coffee in the afternoon and unwind before she goes home.”

“I’m sorry. You know you don’t have to act differently with her. Right? Why don’t you give her a call after dinner?”

“I would except every word will be overheard. And sorry, even if you’re sitting here listening to the other side of the conversation it’s different than knowing someone is recording every word.”

“I’m sorry, baby. But hopefully this will all be over soon, and you can go back to normal. Then you can tell her whatever you want.”

“I hope so. Did you make any headway today? Figure out who the real suspects are yet?”

“We’re working on it, but so far we still don’t have much to go on. We are working a few leads.”

“But you can’t tell me, right?”

“Right. I would, but then I’d have to kill you. And you know, just don’t think I could find another Anna to love like I love you.” His words had the intended effect, and she smiled. The first smile since they’d sat down to dinner.

“Got it. I don’t really feel like dying yet either. I have a few bucket list items still to cross off.”

“Oh really? Care to share?”

“Nope. You won’t share, I won’t share.”

“That’s not fair. This is work.”

“I know. But I have to keep you guessing about some things, right?” If she only knew just how much he was wondering about he doubted she’d be so flippant. But he had to keep telling himself that he knew this woman, loved this woman, and he knew better than to think she’d be involved in anything illegal.

“So that’s how we’re going to play this huh?”

“Yup. I think so.” She batted her long eyelashes at him and tried to play the innocent card, but he knew better. Her cheeks were already a lovely rosy shade of pink. He loved how she wasn’t afraid to let him see she wanted him. Even with all the other stuff going on.

“C’mere, wench. I think it’s time to teach you a lesson.”

“What? Oh no, you don’t. Ethan Price, don’t you dare.” But it was too late, he’d already walked around the table and picked her up and put her over his shoulder. Then he gave her one smack on the butt for good measure as he took her onto the patio.

She must have figured out where they were going and she started to struggle for real. But he wasn’t letting go. He’d wanted to make love to her in the pool since the first time he’d been in her backyard, and they both needed to get rid of all the built up tension of the day.

“Ethan, put me down now. I told you, I don’t like to be carried.”

“I will just give me another minute or two. I hope that dress wasn’t expensive.”

“What?”

“The dress, was it expensive?”

“Umm, what? Oh no, you don’t. Don’t even think about it. Ethan, put me down now!”

“You want down? My pleasure, baby.” And walked them both into the pool. When he’d gotten to her place he’d changed into shorts and a t-shirt, but she was still in her work clothes. He’d probably have to buy her a new dress, but it was so going to be worth it.

“Oh my God, I can’t believe you…” He cut her off with the kiss he’d been holding back since lunch. This time there was no restraint, he licked and nibbled on her lips then demanded entrance into her mouth with his tongue. He needed her, all of her, and he couldn’t wait.

By the time he pulled back from their kiss, her face was flushed, and she was limp in his arms. Her eyes fluttered open and flashed emerald fire in molten-chocolate. Her words were barely audible and came out more like a sigh.

“I want you.”

“Baby, I never stop wanting you.” He pulled off his t-shirt and kicked off his shorts exposing his huge erection. They were waist deep in the water, and he slid her down the front of him until she stood in front of him. Her eyes never left his. His hands sought the zipper on the back of her dress, and as lowered it, she dipped her shoulders, so the soaked dress slid down exposing her satin bra. Ethan couldn’t remember when she looked sexier, standing in the water, her long dark hair spread out over her shoulders, he lips swollen from his kisses. Like a mermaid, she looked exotic and sexy, and he needed to sink deep inside her.

After removing the dress, he opened her bra and tossed it onto the pool deck, then her matching panties. They were both panting with desire and pent up emotion, almost desperate for each other.

This time wouldn’t be gentle, and he prayed he wouldn’t hurt her. But she was ready for him, and he slid into her like she was made for him. Her muscles gripped him and tried to hold on has he started slowly but soon built up the pounding rhythm they both needed. He wrapped her legs around his hips as he drove deep. Thrusting over and over again while his tongue swept her mouth, taking all she had to offer.

Her nails dug deep into the skin of his shoulders, as she clung to him. She broke their kiss as she orgasmed, clenching so tightly around him she pushed him over the edge.

Making love to her in the water was even more intense than he’d expected. But now he wished they were someplace soft and flat where he could cuddle her and show her just how much he cherished her. Instead, he moved them over to the waterfall and like something out of a tropical paradise he rinsed her hair under the water, and with water drops sparkling on her eyelashes she looked like a sea goddess in his arms.

“I love you, Anna. The words don’t even come close to how I feel, but they’re all I have. But I will spend the rest of my life showing you how much you mean to me if you’ll let me.” He knew what he was doing, it was as close to a proposal as he’d ever gotten in his life, and he had no idea how she’d respond. But at that moment it felt right, and the words had a mind of their own.

“Oh, Ethan. You are amazing.”

Not what he was hoping for, but he’d take it. The words she hadn’t said shone in her eyes as clear as the water they were floating in. He would wait, and when she finally uttered those words, he was so desperate to hear he’d be in paradise.