Page 68 of All the Missing Pieces

She swallowed hard, her gaze dropping to Bowser as she scratched behind his ears. “My research for the case.”

Interesting. I itched to see what she had, to know if there was some piece that we’d missed. “They’ll bring the van out here when they’re done processing everything.”

Ridley’s shoulders slumped, and she suddenly looked so damned tired. “Thanks.”

“Come on, I’ll show you to your room.” I picked up Tater’s carrier and headed down the hall.

“Your house is stunning,” Ridley said.

Her voice was neither soft nor loud but the sound of it still hit. And I liked the words a little too much. “Took way too long to build,” I admitted. Largely because I’d been an obsessive asshole when it came to construction, making sure everything was just right. Sometimes it felt like the house was a piece of my soul.

“Worth it,” she murmured. “Feels like you’re floating on water.”

Which was exactly what I’d wanted. I led Ridley toward the end of the hall, picking the guest room closest to mine. I told myself it was just a precaution, but I knew I was a liar.

Opening the door, I stepped inside. The bed faced a wall of windows so Ridley would be able to see the sun reflecting off the lake each morning. There was a chair in one corner that was more decorative than practical and a dresser on the opposite wall.

“There’s a bathroom through there.” I gestured to another open door.

But Ridley stood stock-still in the open doorway. “It’s gorgeous. I—thank you.”

“It’s no big thing.” I set the cat carrier on the bed so Bowser wouldn’t have easy access to it. “Let me get the litter box. We can put it in the bathroom and close the room off from Bowser. Do you, uh, need something to sleep in?”

The barest hint of pink stained Ridley’s cheeks. For a woman who’d given me shit when I walked up on her taking a shower, the fact that she was now blushing was adorable.

She nodded. “That’d be good.”

“Coming right up. Bathroom is stocked with toiletries, but let me know if there’s anything else you need.”

“Okay,” Ridley whispered.

I hated the softness in her tone, the lack of fire. It made me want to wrap her in my arms and tell her everything would be okay, which was goddamned ridiculous. So instead, I strode out of the room and toward my own.

Heading for my dresser, I pulled out a worn tee and some sweats. I went for the smallest stuff I had even though Ridley would still be swimming in them. But it was the best I could do. Hopefully, the asshole who’d hurt her hadn’t ruined her clothes too.

Dipping out of my room and back to the guest room, I saw that the bathroom door was now closed. I crossed to the bed, Tater glaring at me the entire time. “I’m trying to help,” I muttered to the cat as I set the clothes on the bed.

Tater hissed in response, swiping at the carrier’s metal grate.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ve got some stuff for you too.”

I turned back and headed for the kitchen, snapping my fingers for Bowser to follow. He didn’t come right away. He wastoo busy gazing at the bathroom door longingly. My damned dog was already half in love with Ridley.

“Bowser,” I hissed.

He glanced my way but didn’t move.

I sent him my best I-mean-business stare. My dog wasn’t moved.

I gave in and asked, “Want a treat?”

Those ears twitched, and he lumbered to his feet. I rolled my eyes and headed for the kitchen. Bowser ambled in behind me, and I found him a rawhide to keep him busy and out of Ridley’s room. A pile of cat stuff lay on the kitchen table with a note from Trey.

Got all the essentials and took the Bow-Man out around eight-thirty. Hope Ridley’s okay.—T

I pawed through the bags and scowled. The essentials apparently included half a dozen toys, a scratching post, five kinds of treats, and a catnip plant. Trey was making too much money on the side playing poker if he'd bought all this.

Still, I grabbed the cat box, litter, and a couple of the toys, and headed back to the guest room. The door to the bathroom was still closed, and I could hear water running inside, but the pile of clothes was gone.

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