Shadow of Perception by Kristine Mason Page B

a part of her she’d been too afraid to tap, and she’d realized she was half in love with Hudson. Or maybe all the way. But he’d destroyed those feelings along with any fairy tale thoughts of love five days later.
    And she hadn’t been in love since. Because of her job, there’d been no time for romance. Occasional, bland sex to scratch the itch, yes. But love? She’d learned her lesson. Once bitten, twice shy.
    Still, Hudson had loved that El Camino. Although only a car, it had represented his triumph over emotional pain and had helped him heal.  
    “How could you sell the car?” she asked, unable to hide the accusation and bitterness from her voice. It bugged the hell out of her that he’d tossed the car aside just as easily as he’d tossed away their relationship.
    He shrugged and ran a finger along the Trans Am’s back fender, then turned toward the elevators. “The Camino’s in good hands now. Besides, I get to see her or drive her when I want. Rachel’s good like that.”
    A stab of ridiculous jealousy pierced and pricked. They’d been apart for over two years. Almost two and a half, really. She’d been with other men. Okay, two. Of course Hudson would see other women. Still. “Is she now?”
    “Jealous?”
    Yes, damn it . “Hardly.”
    “Well, just in case you are, Rachel’s a good kid and friend. Nothing more.”
    She quickened her pace toward the parking garage elevators with sick satisfaction tingling her fingers and toes. “I’ll sleep so much better tonight.”
    He half-laughed and pressed the button for the elevator. “I just bet.”
    “Mmmm.” She slid her gaze to his strong profile and realized he still hadn’t answered her question. And she wanted an answer. The night he’d told her the story about the El Camino had been one of her favorite memories of them. She’d felt close to him then, and sure that they had something good going. “So why did you sell the car?”
    Keeping his gaze on the elevator, he shoved his hands into his pockets. “Enquiring minds want to know?”  
    “Something like that.”
    “You sure?”
    He made the sale of the car sound like a dirty, dark secret, which of course made her even more curious. “I wouldn’t have asked.”  
    “It was time for a new project.”  
    The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. “The Trans Am?” she asked as she stepped inside. “You remodeled that car, too? When?”
    Regret, guilt, and need darkened his eyes as he moved into the elevator. “The day after you left me.”
    *
    “Wow. Look at me hobnobbing with a celebrity,” Rachel Davis said as she pumped Eden’s hand and flashed a big smile. “So refreshing after having to deal with Neanderthals like this guy day in and day out.”
    “Ugh,” Hudson grunted, then pretended to take offense. “Someone steal your secret stash of Special K this morning?”
    “I couldn’t eat a bowl if you tried to force feed me,” Rachel replied as she led them into CORE’s evidence and evaluation room. State of the art, large TV screens lined one wall, several computers sat stationed in the opposite corner, and an enormous metal table filled the middle of the room. A white erase board took up the other wall and he noticed Rachel’s bubbly scribble, written in black marker, already filled one side of the board.  
    Thankfully, Eden kept her gaze on everything but him, just as she had during the elevator ride to the fourteenth floor, one of the two floors CORE leased at the Becker Building. Why he’d sabotaged himself and opened his big mouth about the Trans Am he didn’t know. From the moment he’d realized he’d be forced to work with her, he’d told himself he wouldn’t allow old feelings to interfere with the case. Less than twelve hours later, they had anyway. Because they hadn’t disappeared?
    He shoved a hand through his hair and focused on Rachel. Terrible with emotions and relationships, he’d rather put his mind to use on what he was good at.