“It’s not that easy. When is sex ever really just sex? Emotion always creeps in.” He dropped down his chopsticks onto his plate. “I have all this guilt over my girlfriend, and sex, it’s like the ultimate letdown of all your guards, you know? I think it’s dangerous for me to lose control.”

“Why? Because if you lose control, you might have to admit that it’s okay to live, to have a good time, without your girlfriend?”

He looked defiantly at her. “Yes. You should recognize me in yourself.”

That was why she understood him so well. That was why she was certain they were both damaging themselves further by letting the guilt eat at them. “So if I push it, and you eventually give in, I’m the bad guy, aren’t I?”

He shook his head. “No. I won’t give in. And eventually we’ll both lose interest.”

“Oh, really?” She had to admit, that infuriated her. “You have it all figured out, don’t you?”

“Absolutely.” He nodded with confidence.

“Then why the hell did you kiss me?” She wasn’t sure whether she regretted it or not. It had been a fabulous kiss, and she had been curious what it would be like, but on the other hand, now she knew their chemistry was real, yet he was telling her they couldn’t do a damn thing about it.

“Because I’m an idiot.”

Which was the male answer to everything. They seemed to think if they just admitted their stupidity, somehow it exempted them from responsibility for it.

“I can’t really argue with that.” It was snarky of her, but she didn’t want to play those games. Not with him. Not now.

He just smiled. “You shouldn’t.”

Sara stabbed a carrot, still feeling irritated. “You didn’t find out who sent those pictures, did you?”

“No. But I think we should inform the police, both here and in Naples.”

That was the last thing she felt like doing. “They’ll just make me fill out a bunch of paperwork, then they’ll never do anything with it.”

“You’re not just some random person showing up with gruesome pictures. This might have some bearing on their investigation.”

“What investigation? They think they found their man. They’re done, and whether he was convicted or not, as far as they’re concerned the case is closed.” Sara had tried to tell herself she wasn’t bitter about that, but hell, she sounded bitter. She was.

Gabriel didn’t call her on it. He just said, “It’s up to you. We can say something or we don’t have to.”