Evasive Action (Holding The Line Book 1)

on revealing anything now—especially with these heads and bodies showing up.
April’s hands convulsively clutched at the material of the blouse in her hands. This wave of violence couldn’t have anything to do with that prior threat, could it? No, Clay had found that body by the border before she even arrived in Paradiso. Nobody had known she was going to show up here—except Adam. He’d figured it out.
“I had my reasons, Meg, and I don’t want to talk about them.” She plunged her hand into another bag and dangled a pair of stone-colored capris from her fingers. “Cute?”
“I’m sure they look cute on you.” Meg took a swig of wine from her glass and set another on the end table for April. “Everything does.”
“Aw, thanks, cuz.” April gathered the bags and pushed to her feet. “I’m going to put these away, and then I’ll join you for that wine.”
She walked to her bedroom on knees that still trembled. As if sensing her shakiness, Denali popped up and trotted after her.
April put away the new clothes and washed her face and hands before joining Meg. Denali stayed by her side, determined to keep her in his sight. She’d missed the silly pooch almost as much as she’d missed Clay.
“Here you go.” Meg thrust a glass at her as she returned to the living room.
April sat on one side of the couch, curling a leg beneath her, and cupped the wineglass with both hands.
“First, a toast.” Meg raised her glass. “To no more drama.”
April clinked her glass with her cousin’s. “I’ll drink to that.”
“There’s never a dull moment living down here, is there?”
“Or maybe it’s just our family.” April took a sip of the wine, lolling the citrusy flavor on her tongue before swallowing.
“Where are you headed once you collect your stuff from Albuquerque?”
“I’m not sure yet, maybe back to LA.”
“You’re not going to stick around and give Clay another chance?”
April snorted. “I’m sure Clay’s finished with me.”
Meg threw her head back and laughed at the ceiling. “Right. Not even Denali believes that.”
The knock on the door made them both jump, and Denali scrambled to his feet.
“Must be Clay.” April pointed at Denali’s wagging tail. She nudged Denali aside and peered through the peephole. Swinging open the door, she said, “The man and the kung pao.”
“That’s me.” Clay held up the bags and shuffled across the threshold, scooting Denali out of the way.
Meg turned off the TV and strolled into the kitchen. “Glass of wine?”
“Sure. I gotta tell you, word travels fast in this town.”
“News of the second head out already?” April took the bags from Clay and followed Meg. Was it too soon to ask for a second glass of wine?
“Yeah, there’s some grim competition going on to find the other body.”
“Ugh.” April swung the bags onto the counter, once again feeling her appetite recede.
“Let’s talk about something else.” Meg thrust a wineglass at Clay, and the golden liquid sloshed over the rim.
Clay tipped his head. “Got it.”
Sitting on the floor, gathered around Meg’s coffee table, the three of them managed to avoid the subject of heads, headless bodies, drugs and the border for the entirety of their meal, finishing the last of it by cracking open fortune cookies and assigning absurd meanings to the fortunes within.
Meg wiped a tear from her eye and drained her third glass of wine. “Oh, wow, I needed that.”
“The wine or the laughter?” Clay tapped her glass with his chopstick.
“Both.” Meg yawned. “I’m going to fall into a deep sleep tonight.”
“Otherwise known as passing out.” April crawled on the floor toward Meg and took her arm, pulling her up. “You go to bed. Clay and I will clean up.”
“You’re welcome to stay the night, Clay. Both of the extra beds are made up, or you can stay in someone else’s bed.” Meg gave an exaggerated wink, distorting her mouth in the process.
April’s cheeks warmed, and she tugged harder at Meg’s arm. “You’re tipsy, cuz. Off to bed with you.”
Meg giggled as she staggered to her feet and weaved down the hallway.
“Lightweight.” Clay held up Meg’s empty glass to the light.
“She did drink more than both of us put together.” April collected the rest of the glasses and dishes. “She needed it. She comes across as feisty but the head really spooked her.”
“And you?”
Clay touched her arm, the pressure of his fingertips making her weak in the knees all over again—but in a good way.
“I’m okay. I didn’t see anything this time except a little blood. No more images to add to my nightmares.”
“Do you still have nightmares?” The touch on her arm turned to a featherlight brush.
“Not often.”
“Do you want me to stay? In another room, of course.”
“I think Meg would like that. If she mentioned it, she meant it.” She stepped away from the warmth that emanated from his body and carried the dishes into the kitchen.
He followed her like she knew he would and leaned against the counter. “And you?”
“I think both Meg and I would feel safer with you and Denali here tonight.” She dumped the dishes in the sink. “Do you want to help me with these?”
“You rinse, and I’ll put them in the dishwasher.”
They worked well together, just as they always had in the past, and it all felt so natural. She wanted this again. She wanted Clay. She’d been a fool to believe Jimmy could ever replace him.
She held out the last plate. “That’s it. Do you want me to search through Meg’s cupboards for a toothbrush?”
As he took the plate, he curled his fingers around hers. “I missed you.”
Tears pricked the backs of her eyes and she blinked. She couldn’t do this with him.
She slid her hands from the plate, grabbed a dish towel and flicked it at Denali’s head. “I think he did, too.”
Clay’s jaw tightened as he hunched over the dishwasher to put away the plate. “Don’t blame me if he jumps on your bed to sleep with you tonight.”
“I’d like that.” April spun away from