Page 63 of Hidden Hero

“I’m not speaking hypothetically,” he murmured, his voice rich and earnest. “I’d love nothing more than for you to spend the night here.”

A sigh slipped from her lips, tinged with longing. She kissed the opposite corner of his mouth, her breath mingling with his. “I’d give anything to spend the night with you. To stay here, wrapped up in this.” Her fingers curled a little tighter against his neck. “But Max and Mia are waiting for me at home. I have to go back before the night is through.”

His hands tightened on her waist, his touch firm yet tender. “Then we better make the most of our time, don’t you think?”

Their mouths hovered a whisper apart, the space between them charged with anticipation. She kept her eyes open, meeting the intense blue of his gaze. It was the kind of look that made her feel seen, wholly and completely. “Oh, I absolutely think we should,” she breathed. “Starting right now.”

She closed the distance, capturing his lips with hers. His arms enveloped her instantly, pulling her flush against his solid frame. Her breath caught as the kiss deepened, and her head angled instinctively to avoid the gentle brush of their noses. Her chest pressed against his, and her heartbeat thudded in rhythm with his.

One of his arms wrapped around her with such possessive strength it felt like he was trying to mold her to him, to make her a part of him. His other hand slid lower, gripping her hip, his fingers sinking into the curve of her backside with a deliberate claim.

The kiss ignited like a spark, their tongues tangling in a heated dance that sent shivers cascading through her. His taste was intoxicating—spice with a hint of cinnamon, warm and utterly addictive. She wanted to lose herself in it, to drink him in until nothing else existed.

Still wearing her work blouse, she felt his hands slide between hers, finding the buttons with practiced precision. She arched her back to give him room, their mouths never parting as he worked each button loose. When he slid the fabric from her shoulders, it pooled at her elbows and slipped down her arms, disappearing somewhere on the floor.

His deft fingers made quick work of her bra, freeing her breasts from their confines. As the garment joined the growing pile of discarded clothes, his hands found her, cupping the soft weight of her flesh with reverence. She moaned into his mouth as his thumbs traced slow circles over her sensitive peaks, sending waves of need coursing through her. Her hips moved instinctively, rocking against the hard length pressing against her core.

Before she knew it, he rose from the sofa with her cradled in his arms. The effortless way he lifted her, as though she weighed nothing, sent a thrill through her. A flicker of curiosity crossed her mind—how he’d honed such skill—but she banished the thought as quickly as it came. The past didn’t matter, not his or hers. What mattered was the beautiful thing they were building together.

He carried her down the hall to his bedroom, his strides confident and purposeful. Although she’d been here before, the sight of his space still struck her. The walls were pale gray-blue, paired with navy curtains and a neatly made bed with a coordinating comforter.

She knew it was a sexist thought, but she had imagined a bachelor living in disarray. When she asked him about it, he simply told her that when his job was chaotic, he liked the calm of coming home. Those words impressed her then, and even though she was lost in his kiss, they impressed her again. His words had stayed with her, offering a glimpse into the man beneath the badge.

He set her down gently, the care in his movements making her heart ache in the best way. As he stripped the rest of her clothes away, she watched, her breath catching at the sight of his body. The play of muscles beneath his skin, the strength in his every movement, held her spellbound. When he stripped and sheathed himself, her pulse quickened.

Leaning over her, he tugged back the bed covers and settled her onto the mattress, his weight sinking beside her. “We don’t have all night,” he murmured, his voice low and teasing, “so let’s make the most of what we have.”

Her lips curved into a smile, her arms lifting to draw him close. “That’s all I want. You and me together.”

As he covered her body with his, his warmth enveloping her, she knew her words were true. Everything else faded away.

28

“Toxicology came in on the Parker case,” Janice said. “It’ll be uploaded to your electronic files.”

“Thank you,” Cora barely managed to get out before hustling to the computer. She wondered if Janice had purposely held on to the information of the incoming toxicology report, considering that up until a few minutes ago, Cora was elbow-deep in the chest of a patient who died at the nursing home. The family requested the autopsy, but she found nothing suspicious and had just completed the procedures. She was now washed when Janice made her announcement.

It was probably for the best since she would have been distracted during the autopsy while thinking about what was in the toxicology report.

Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she pulled up the report. Once it was in front of her, she shoved her glasses up on her nose and began reading. She fought the desire to scan the results but wanted to understand the entire panel of tests, absorbing all the information to gain the complete picture of what might have caused Roy Parker’s death. She also wanted to review her notations and observations to have a clear memory of her findings.

She’d noted evidence of heart failure, dilated cardiac chambers, and pulmonary edema. She had also detected microscopic damage to heart tissue.

As she continued to study the various reports, she finally found what she was searching for. Mr. Parker’s blood had elevated levels of digoxin. There were also imbalances in the electrolytes, with a potassium level of 8.2, resulting in hyperkalemia.

The air rushed from her body. Swallowing deeply, she continued to study the report. Digitalis metabolites were detected in the stomach and urine. The lab confirmed the results using mass spectrometry and immunoassay.

“Oh God,” she breathed, sitting back in her chair. She slid off her glasses and rubbed her eyes.

Janice and Carl moved to her side. “What?” Janice asked. “What did it find?”

She twisted her neck and looked up at them. “I have to call the sheriff’s department.”

Both of her technicians bugged their eyes at the same time. “Oh no,” Janice whispered as Carl shook his head. “Fucking hell.”

David walked over, his curiosity piqued. “What was it?”

She stood and pointed at the screen. “David, I want you to review the toxicology report. If you work in mortuary medicine or as a medical examiner at some time, you need to understand what you are studying and what will need to be done.”

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