Page 19 of Investigate Away
“Actually, I was a perfect gentleman. The problem was I couldn’t stop talking about you. I guess I wasn’t ready to start dating again.”
“Are you dating now?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No. You?”
“I don’t have the time with a deadline looming. Speaking of which, I need to know if—”
“You will never get an interview from me for that book, just so we’re clear on that.”
She figured as much, but she realized that since she’d been back in town, she’d never done the one thing he deserved most. “You’ve been really kind to me since I returned.”
“I don’t know about that. Had you not been threatened, I’m not sure I would have given you the time of day.”
“I’m sorry.” Tentatively, she took a few tiny steps forward. “I said a lot of hurtful things to you at my sister’s crime scene and again at home. And what I did to you on national television, well, it was just uncalled for, and if I could go back in time, I’d do that all differently.”
“But you’d still give me my ring back.”
She reached out and cupped his cheek with her palm. “Considering everything, it was for the best.”
He curled his fingers around her wrist. “I appreciate the apology.”
“I had to blame someone that I could see, feel, and touch. The Trinket Killer was either dead or nowhere to be found. You were standing right in front of me. You had lied to me, and I didn’t feel like I could trust you.”
“We lied to each other, and for the record, I had to. I couldn’t tell you those things we were keeping from the public and the press. I was on thin ice as it was because you always seemed to be one step ahead of all the other reporters.” He pulled her to his chest. “And let’s not forget you hacked into my computer and read reports you shouldn’t have. That’s criminal, and I could have—”
“I know. And I’m sorry. I wish I hadn’t done that and I never used that information.” She closed her eyes for a long moment. “Until I tossed my engagement ring at you in front of the world.”
“I’m lucky I have a job, and you’re lucky you’re not in jail.” He wrapped his arms around her waist, forcing her to rest her hands on his strong shoulders.
“We both made a lot of mistakes.” She tilted her head and stared into his deep dark eyes. A year ago, she thought she couldn’t live without him. He’d been everything she wanted in a man.
Or so she thought.
It still hurt that he hadn’t listened to her theories about the Trinket Killer. She knew it might not have saved her sister, but she’d never know because he never looked into it.
“What are you trying to get out of this book?” His hands gently roamed up and down her back, massaging her tight muscles. To be in his arms again felt like she’d come home. Her brain told her to take a step back and protect her soul.
Her heart had other ideas and didn’t seem to care that it would soon be bleeding out on the floor if she caved to any of her desires.
She clasped her fingers together behind his neck. “Closure.”
“We may never find the killer.”
“Have you totally stopped looking? Have you given up completely?”
“No,” he whispered as he pressed his mouth against hers in a sweet kiss. He tasted like a combination of bitter coffee and cinnamon. His tongue eased between her lips, igniting a fire that started in her toes and slithered across her body like a snake, hitting every erogenous zone, ensuring her knees went weak.
His hands cupped her ass, heaving her even closer.
She raised up on tiptoe, ignoring the little voice in the back of her head telling her that this was a bad idea.
But it felt so good.
So right.
But it’s wrong,said that damn voice.
“Jag,” she said, sliding her hand down his taut pectoral muscles. She moaned.
