CHAPTER 1
Maddie Cooper opened her laptop and typed so fast she misspelled her password. No surprise, with shaking fingers and only two hours of sleep under her belt.
At last, pictures from yesterday’s excavation filled the screen. She leaned closer, her gaze riveted on the images, and zoomed in on the one that took her breath away.
The clay-baked animal she’d uncovered stared back at her. The piece, small enough to fit in the hand of a child, had been sculpted to resemble a wolf. Maybe a father had made it for his son or daughter. Good chance the toy belonged with the Iroquois collection.
She clicked another photo, a close-up of the wolf boxed on the shelf. After double-checking the catalog number to her records, she eased back in the chair. Good. No mistakes, despite the long day and the late hours.
The safekeeping and accurate documentation of each piece in the climate-controlled storage room fell to her as the project manager. Every time she entered the cool, dark building, her pulse quickened. Her team had almost filled the facility with clay pots, arrowheads, tools, and weapons over the last year. So much history to share. Wait until the Seneca Nation tribal leaders saw the figure. They’d be ecstatic.
This rare find would be part of a special exhibit in the proposed museum that could put the small town of Tuckerton, New York, on the map. Sure, she missed traveling on digs, but she’d trade that in a second for the wealth of history her team had uncovered. Each piece gave a glimpse into the past culture of the Native Americans. Now the tribal leaders, working with the museum, would have the opportunity to share that culture and educate people.
She stood and stretched. In one month, the grant money would run out, and they’d have to be done. Too bad she wouldn’t be around to help set up the exhibits. She’d check in to make sure the tribal leaders were happy with the displays and return to visit the finished museum next year.
All of this had been a big boost to her career. At twenty-nine, she’d earned the respect of the archaeological community, but making sure the history was preserved mattered more.
Early May meant cool weather in the Finger Lakes region, so she grabbed a jacket. She’d given her team the morning off after the long, late night, but she had responsibilities and deadlines to meet. Her tired body screamed for caffeine.
She drove into town, her body still amped from the thrill of the find, and parked her car in a slushy, gray puddle in front of the Corner Café. Mist accumulated on the windshield and drops merged, sliding down like tears. But it would take more than dreary weather to squelch her spirits.
One step out of the car and her keys plopped into a puddle. With a curse, she bent to retrieve them. Before she could, a man’s hand reached down and plucked them out.
“Here you go.”
She froze. That voice. Deep, but as smooth as honey.
It had haunted her dreams for two years. It couldn’t be him. His fingers brushed hers as he handed over the keys, sending shivers through her body that had nothing to do with the temperature. She raised her head to stare into the unforgettable sea-green eyes of Scott Evans. Her bruised heart slammed against her rib cage. Where had he been for the last two years?
He’d left for an undercover DEA job and promised to call.
Only he never had.
He blinked as if shocked to see her and then rubbed his forehead. His dark hair fell over the tips of his fingers.
Her gaze traveled down his fit body. Well-defined chest muscles outlined the crisp, white button-down shirt and tie. A black leather belt cinched his narrow waist. The gun he always carried hung in a holster on his hip. Muscular thighs stretched the fabric of his dark suit pants. She’d once sat on those strong legs, cradled in his lap, while he’d stroked her hair and watched the sunset over Central Park. They’d made sweet love that night, their first time together.
He straightened. “How are you, Maddie?”
Polite. It took guts to do polite after she’d bared her soul to him, something she’d never done with another man, and he’d left her with a hollow heart. Two years had passed without a word from him. Not a call. Not a text. Not a letter. She shoved her keys into her jacket pocket. “Shouldn’t you be in Mexico catching bad guys? What are you doing here?”
He grimaced. “You haven’t changed. Right to the point.”
“Excuse me. I’m in a hurry.” She tried to step around him, but he blocked her way.
“I owe you an explanation.”
“Two years ago, you owed me an explanation. A year ago, an apology. Now, you owe me nothing.” This time she managed a step around him before he placed a hand on her arm.
“Wait.”
“What, Scott? What can you possibly say? I thought the time we spent together meant something. Clearly, you didn’t. It’s fine. I know when I’ve been kicked to the curb.”
“It wasn’t like that.”
The lines of his face hardened, and pain flashed deep in his eyes.
He glanced at the ground and then back to her. “It’s…complicated.”
She fisted her hands to stop herself from reaching out and touching him. Even pissed, she still had the urge to smooth away the sad creases. If she didn’t leave now, he’d suck her back in for another round of hurt and disappointment. “I’m sure. Well, I gotta go.”
She dropped her gaze to his hand, still on her arm. Warmth radiated from his touch right through her coat. Damn his effect on her.
“I didn’t realize you were here.” His mouth drew into a thin line. “And now I need to ask a favor.”
He had to be kidding. She’d given him everything, and it hadn’t been enough. Painful memories threatened to swallow her whole. She shook her head and focused back on him. “I really can’t help you. I have to go.”
“I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important.”
His grave expression made her pause. Despite their history, she couldn’t turn her back on him. “What?”
“Please don’t talk to anyone about my former job with the DEA.”
“What do you mean? You don’t work for them anymore?”
“No. I’ve been in the States for a while.” He let go of her arm.
And there it was. The stinging slap to the face. Her hope that he hadn’t called because he’d been off the grid in Mexico disappeared like a stone dropped into a lake. Her chest ached. “You’ve been here?”
He waved a hand at the coffee shop. “Not here.”
She wouldn’t have this conversation. Didn’t need the details. He’d been in the country. “Sorry. I’m out of time.”
With tears stinging her eyes, she pushed past him and headed to the shop. She swung open the metal-framed door and hurried inside, shutting out the cold morning fog. The comforting aroma of cinnamon buns and hazelnut coffee filled the air, but her erratic pulse refused to calm. She took a deep breath and set her priorities.
Get coffee. Go to the storage building. Forget Scott.
Yeah, right. That hadn’t worked when he wasn’t around.
She glanced about the room. The five small tables were empty, but Tom, dressed in his police uniform, stood by the register. Ugh. They’d been friends long enough that he’d know something was up, and she’d rather chew glass than discuss Scott. If only she could fall for someone nice and reliable like Tom. Tall, athletic, with sandy hair and brown eyes. Women revved their engines and sped past him on purpose so he would stop them. Except for Maddie. He reminded her of a big, strong teddy bear. Not her type. Nope. She’d left her type standing outside on the sidewalk.
Tom, who always had a smile for everyone, wore a grim expression.
Nikki came out from the kitchen, wearing her pink-and-white waitress outfit. She held a finger up to Tom. “Your breakfast sandwich will be ready in a sec. You want your usual, Maddie?”
Maddie did a doubletake before nodding. Nikki sported yet another hair color, this one blond with bright magenta streaks. She changed her looks more often than a chameleon. Then again, so did most nineteen-year-olds.
Nikki filled two cups, put lids on them, and slid one across the counter to Tom. “I’m sorry about the promotion. It really sucks that you didn’t get it.”
He frowned at her.
“Oops, sorry. I didn’t know it was a secret.” She scrunched up her face and bit her lip.
Maddie blinked. “What? You didn’t make detective?”
“Nope. Looks like I stay on patrol.” His shoulders slumped.
“I’m really sorry.” Her heart sank for him. Everyone had expected Tom to take the place of the retired detective. “Who filled the spot?”
“Some hotshot New York City cop. Name’s Fisher. No one knows him.”
Maddie shook her head, paid Nikki, and stuffed money in the tip jar. “Well, whoever he is, he can’t be as good as you. I’m so sorry.”
“Eh, life goes on. I don’t want to talk about it.”
Nikki snatched a foil-wrapped sandwich from the kitchen window counter and handed it to Tom. He thanked her and called over his shoulder, “Catch you guys later.”
Damn it. Tom had been so excited about that promotion. Maddie fought the urge to follow him, but he’d made it clear he didn’t want to discuss the subject.
Nikki wiped the counter. “I don’t care how hot the new guy is. Tom should have gotten that job.”
“How do you know the new hire is hot?” On second thought, she didn’t have time for gossip. “Never mind. I need to get on the road. Thanks, Nikki.”
Maddie’s phone rang with an unknown caller ID. She stepped to the corner of the café.
“Hello?”
A woman asked for Madeline Cooper and then continued, “I’m Gina, calling from the office of Victor Mole, the developer of the proposed resort property next to Lake Caswego.”
“Yes. I’m familiar with the area and project.” Maddie frowned. The tribal members were concerned about the construction, with good reason. The land had a high probability of containing Native American artifacts. All the publicity over her team’s successful excavation had drawn attention to the area. People were buying private land left and right, no doubt hoping to dig up and sell whatever they could with no regard to the historical importance of the objects. Infuriating.
“Your name was on the list of practicing archaeologists of New York. We need a field survey before we can get our permit to build, and we’d like to meet with you to discuss this.”
Maddie nibbled at her lower lip. This could be big. If she found historically significant pieces, she could help preserve Native American history. But she’d planned to travel for work again in a month. “Can I get back to you?”
“I’m sorry, but time is of the essence. If you aren’t available—”
“Hold on.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. It couldn’t hurt to meet with the woman and figure out how long the job might take. She hadn’t committed to another dig yet, and the tribal leaders would appreciate having someone they knew and trusted conduct the survey. “Okay. I can fit a meeting in on Wednesday morning. Around eight?”
“I was hoping for something sooner than two days. I’ll put you on the schedule, but please call me if anything opens up.”
“That’s the best I can do right now.”
“Okay. Can you meet us at the site?”
Maddie agreed and hung up. After spending a year in one place, she itched to be on the move. She wasn’t a put-down-roots kind of person, but until she knew what might be at stake, she couldn’t walk away.
Coffee in hand, she hurried from the café to her car. She balanced the cup on the roof and dug out her keys.
“Maddie?”
She whirled around, and her almost-back-to-normal pulse quickened again. Scott hadn’t left. “Now what? Are you stalking me?”
“We have to talk.”
“Well, you had lots of chances over the last two years. So—”
“I know you don’t want to talk about us”—he held up a hand—“but what I asked you a few minutes ago has nothing to do with us.”
She hit the unlock button on her waterlogged remote. Nothing happened. Great. As she inserted the key into the lock, she glanced up at him. Big mistake. Those eyes that changed shades depending on his mood made her insides flutter.
He gave a slight shake of his head. “Look, I’m sorry to press, but can you please do me a favor and keep my past quiet?”
Quiet. The irony again. All she’d had from him was silence. So close, and yet so far away. Once, he would have drawn her into his arms and kissed her senseless. Now, an invisible wall stood between them. But her foolish heart kept pounding against it.
To break eye contact and end the agony, she yanked up her sleeve and checked her watch. “No time.”
“Maddie—”
“Gotta go.” She opened the car, dropped into the seat, and slammed the door shut. Her hand shook as she threw the vehicle in gear. When she pulled away, the coffee she’d left on the roof tumbled down past her window. She hit the brakes and cursed as she glanced in the rearview mirror.
Scott stood by the curb, a hand on one hip. The mist blurred his features, but it didn’t matter. She’d memorized them.
Pressing the accelerator, she left him in the fog.
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