The look in Edge’s eyes could have sliced a man to bloody bits. “Brian. What’s his last name?”

Conn shook his head. “No way. He’s out of the picture and no longer living in Denver. I’ve told you what you wanted to know—now leave it alone.”

Jaw hard, Edge turned and strode to the door. “Thanks for telling me.” He reached for the doorknob.

“One more thing,” Conn said, stopping him. “Don’t hurt her, Edge. Skye’s been hurt enough already.”

Edge’s jaw hardened even more. Jerking the door open, he strode out of the office.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

EDGE DIDN’T WORK THE REST OF THAT DAY. INSTEAD, HE TOOK TIME off to get his head on straight about a couple of things and recover from mission failure.

That was how he saw it. True, they’d gotten Callie Delaney out of the compound safely, as well as Molly Lockhart. Their work had managed to send Daniel Henson packing, which had freed most of the rest of the women, but it was more than likely Henson was still in business, just setting up shop somewhere else.

Trying to catch up on sleep lost during the all-nighter they had pulled in Blancha Springs, Edge caught a late-afternoon nap. It was dark when he awoke. He spent a little time on the computer, digging for info on Henson, came up with mostly old news.

The afternoon faded, and darkness crept over the city. He felt caged and restless, his mind going back again and again to the story Conn Delaney had told him about Skye. As he sprawled on the comfortable burgundy leather sofa in his living room, Conn’s words echoed in his head.

Don’t hurt her, Edge. Skye’s been hurt enough already.

The last thing he’d ever want to do was hurt Skye. He wanted her, yes. More than any woman he could recall. And after that kiss in her kitchen, he was pretty damn sure she wanted him, too.

But there was no way to know if a relationship between them would work. Over the years, he’d dated plenty of women, but none of the affairs had lasted more than a few days or weeks. Everything about Skye felt different, his need for her somehow deeper, almost vital.

Still, there was no real way to predict what might happen, and he didn’t want to jeopardize a friendship he valued so greatly.

Along with that, sooner or later, he’d find a way to clear his name and return to the Green Berets. It was what he was trained for, what he was meant to do. He’d rain justice down on Major Bradley Markham and get his life back.

What if they were together? He’d be deployed most of the year. It wouldn’t be fair to Skye to tie her to a man who wouldn’t be there for her.

It was dark outside the tall glass windows in the living room, the lights of the city sparkling for miles in all directions. Edge tried to motivate himself to go into the kitchen and fix something to eat, or at least call for a pizza delivery, but after his conversation with Conn, his appetite had waned.