Page 48 of Thunder with a Chance of Lovestruck

Blood rushed to Drest’s ears as his entire body lit with need.

Rachael was as beautiful as ever. She was wearing a pair of jeans and heeled boots, making her long legs look even longer. The black shirt she had on was made of a stretchy material that clung to her, showing off her body in a way that left him painfully aware of just how long it had been since he’d had sex.

Her long hair was down and bounced as she walked, giving her an air of carefreeness that he’d not seen in her since before the finding of Nile’s body part collection. It reminded Drest of when he’d stepped into the dining room at the manor, from the kitchen, after calling in to work, to find Rachael dancing with her brother, being lighthearted and filled with joy.

He wanted to wrap her in a protective bubble so that she’d always be surrounded by nothing but happiness. So that the pain and heartache she’d endured over the past twenty-eight months could never again dim her light.

The redheaded woman said something to her and Rachael tipped her head back, laughing loudly.

Go to her. Say you’re sorry. Beg for her forgiveness.

He grunted as he realized his inner voice was quick to flip when she was near.

Drest had been wanting to make amends with her, but the time had never seemed right. Plus, he’d not actually been sure how she’d react to his apology. It had been ten months since the courtroom brawl with Nile. Since Drest had shut down her attempt to touch him and speak with him. Since he’d treated her with mock disdain in hopes of throwing Gil and Farin off her scent.

And just as long since Nile had been found criminally insane and whisked off to a prison designed to hold him.

The smart thing to do would have been to walk away. To ignore his inner voice’s encouragement to go to her. But his feet were moving before his head even had a second to land on a decision. He was nearly to her when she glanced in his direction and froze.

“Drest, erm, I mean, Detective?”

He flinched, hating that he’d had to put an emotional wall up with her in front of Gil and Farin at the courthouse. The pair would have gone out of their way to make matters worse if they knew how he really felt about her.

The women with Rachael turned their attention on him.

The redhead grinned. “Mm, get a load of this tall drink of water.”

Drest was used to attention from women and normally enjoyed it. Right now, it made him uncomfortable. He offered a semi-pleasant smile to the redhead before focusing on Rachael. “Hi,” he blurted. It was a far cry from I’m sorry, please forgive me.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, no warmth in her voice. Not that he deserved any. He was just happy she hadn’t kneed him in the groin like she’d done to Nile.

The blonde woman to her left looked surprised by Rachael’s reaction to him. “Who is he and why does he look so familiar?”

“He’s nobody, LeAnne, really. Just one of the detectives from my uncle’s case,” said Rachael, giving a partial truth. Since Nile’s body-part snatching had made national news, there was no need to hide the truth of that part from humans. Her comment about him being nobody stung, but it was deserved, and he knew it.

“Oh,” said LeAnne, her gaze darkening on Drest as she and the redhead moved in closer to Rachael in a protective manner.

“Can I talk to you?” asked Drest. “In private, please, Rachael.”

Rachael cocked her head slightly. “It’s not a required meeting time and I don’t report to you any longer. Rhys is who I check in with now. And I’d appreciate it if you called me Ms. Frankenstein. After all, it’s what you prefer, right?”

LeAnne put a hand on her hip. “It’s pretty clear she doesn’t like you. Go away.”

Drest didn’t budge.

The redhead jutted out her chin, taking a step toward Drest as if to challenge him. “Say the word, Rachael, and I’ll lay the law here on his very attractive backside.”

Oddly, Drest believed the woman.

It was clear she was loyal to Rachael. That was good. It’s what Drest should have been.

The need to mend fences with Rachael was so overpowering that Drest nearly went to his knees to beg. Instead, he met her gaze. “Please.”

LeAnne rubbed Rachael’s shoulder. “Want me to let Sherri attack him? You know how much she loves resorting to violence.”

“Oh, yeah. I love it,” said the redhead, before narrowing her gaze on Drest. “I’m also very creative with my violence.”

Drest resisted the urge to cup himself, though he strongly suspected the form of punishment the woman was entertaining would involve going for his prized possession.

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