Fatal Exposure - By Gail Barrett Page 0,43

life to helping the hopeless. A woman who championed forgotten kids. A woman who confronted hypocrisy head-on, refusing to let society brush these victims aside, no matter how dirty or inconvenient the truth.

But he wasn’t blameless, either. He’d always prided himself on his integrity. He’d vowed not to repeat his father’s mistakes. But he’d never questioned Hoffman. He’d let the man’s position and reputation blind him to his sleazy crimes—enabling him to destroy more lives.

But could Hoffman really be that evil? Could he really be trying to quiet Brynn permanently, as she claimed? Could a man he’d put on a pedestal—who even Senator Riggs lauded as a hero—have molested children for all these years?

“Listen, Parker...I’m so sorry about Tommy,” Brynn said, pain lacing her soft voice.

Realizing she’d misunderstood his silence, he sighed. “I know.”

She took another step closer, her eyes searching his. “I wish... I’d do anything to go back and relive that day, to make it right.”

Her sincerity humbled him. Even now, after everything she’d suffered, she was worried about hurting him.

His throat thickening, he reached out and tucked her fiery hair behind her ear. “It wasn’t your fault. And what you told me... It means a lot to know how he died.” To know his brother’s death hadn’t been wasted, that he’d died a hero, saving her.

“I wish I’d listened to him,” she whispered, her full mouth wobbling, her eyes shining with tears. “I wish I hadn’t been so stubborn. You don’t know how many nights I’ve lain awake wishing so badly he hadn’t died. If I could just go back and do it over...”

He understood. The same guilt had tormented him for fifteen years. “I tried to hold my family together after my father died,” he admitted. “But I couldn’t do it. Tommy ran away no matter what I did. I keep wondering what I did wrong, if there was something I should have changed. Maybe if I’d found a different counselor, maybe if I’d quit my job... And I’d give anything to do it over, to do things differently this time.”

She rested her hand on his arm. Her luminous eyes stayed on his. “Tommy didn’t talk about his family much, but he admired you, Parker. He knew he’d let you down. I think he wanted to go back home, but he couldn’t conquer the drugs.”

Oh, hell. Parker tipped back his head and closed his eyes, emotions piling up on him, the horrible grief he’d harbored threatening to break free. If only he could go back. If only he could see his little brother one more time. If only he could convince him that he wasn’t a failure, that everything would be all right.

A huge lump blocked his throat. He pinched the bridge of his nose, struggling against the crushing remorse. Then he heaved out a breath and looked at Brynn, the compassion in her eyes swamping his heart.

And once again that connection shimmered between them, the awareness that she understood. That she cared. And something around his heart unwound, his self-blame easing up a notch.

The sympathy in her eyes held him captive. A tumult of emotions gripped his heart. Gratitude that she was here. Sorrow for what she’d endured. Regrets that he couldn’t redo the past.

And he realized something else. His feelings for her had gone beyond admiration for her considerable talent, beyond attraction to a beautiful woman, beyond respect for what she’d endured. They’d morphed into something at once primitive and complex.

He stroked the curve of her throat, her slight pulse pattering against his palm. He drew in a breath, filling his senses with her calming scent. He’d never expected her to be like this. He’d never dreamed that the girl whose photo he’d carried in his pocket could touch his heart. He never expected to feel this bond, this rapport, this heat.

He knew he should resist her. He knew she was keeping secrets. He shouldn’t get involved with a potential suspect until he was sure of what was going on. And he had a duty to follow the rules, an obligation to bring her in and let her stepfather handle this. But memories of that kiss muddled his brain, beating down his resistance. And he’d be damned if he could walk away.

Their eyes remained locked. His heart stuttered through several beats. And the need to possess her drummed through him with primal urgency, demolishing his restraint.

She dropped her gaze to his mouth, making his belly clench. He slowly stalked around her, backing her against