Page 16 of Katherine's Last Hope
Cody dipped his chin. “Sure thing.”
“All right, looks like we all know what needs done. Dad, let’s head out,” Owen said. “You get ahold of Tommy and see if he has any information while I call Officer Sawyer. Cody, let me know when Katherine’s all settled so we can loop you in.”
Mike wrapped her in another hug then turned to Cody. “Keep her safe, Hogan.” He marched to Owen’s cruiser and climbed into the passenger seat.
Owen sighed. “He’s scared shitless.”
Katherine let out an indelicate snort. “I know the feeling.”
“We’ve got you, Sis. All of us are determined to catch this guy. I’ll be in touch.”
Once Owen was behind the steering wheel, she faced Cody and her stomach did a funny little dip. “Thank you.”
He lifted a shoulder. “Just doing my job.”
The side of her mouth lifted at the casualness in his voice. “I know what your job is, and you’re going above and beyond. I love my family more than anything, but right now I need a little space so I don’t have to temper my own reaction to all this just to make them feel better.”
“I get it,” Cody said. “Glad I can be here for whatever you need.”
No matter how innocent his words, they brought something to life inside her that had lain dormant for months.
She needed a ride from him, and that was all. Or at least that’s the lie she told herself as she followed him to his car.
The airin Cody’s car was thick, the energy practically vibrating. He was painfully aware of every sound Katherine made, every movement. She filled his space with her femininity in a way that made him want to forget about his job for the rest of the day. Made him want to uncover everything he could about the woman he’d steered clear of for most of his life.
“I’m the third house on the left.” She flicked her wrist out the window, indicating the large brick colonial.
He couldn’t stop the low whistle from coming out of his mouth. “Nice place. Big yard.”
“Yeah, it’s not fun to mow but Ollie has plenty of room to run around.”
Parking in her driveway, he glanced her way with his eyebrows hiked high. “You mow?”
She laughed, the sound like a warm spring rain in his ears. “Is that so hard to believe?”
Shrugging, he opted to step out of his car instead of answering.
She met him at the hood of the cruiser and planted her fists on her hips. “I’m not letting you off the hook. Don’t I look like a woman who can handle a mower?”
He swallowed hard. Hell, she looked like the kind of woman who could handle anything he threw her way, but he couldn’t say that. “That’s not what I meant,” he said, searching for a way out of this mess. “I’m sure you have your hands full with taking care of Ollie and working as well as everything else you have going on. Yard work is the last thing you should have to worry about.”
Her stance relaxed and a genuine smile touched her lips, deepening her dimples. “Smooth.”
Grinning, he followed her up the walkway.
“This won’t take long.” She pulled out her keys and unlocked the door. When she pushed it open, the screech of an alarm echoed into the afternoon sky. She keyed in numbers to the panel by the door and the screeching stopped.
He took a step inside and studied the panel. “Nice system.”
“With family in law enforcement, no way they’d allow anything less than the best. I have to run up to Ollie’s room. I’ll be back in a second.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets and nodded. “Mind if I have a look around the first floor? Just to make sure everything’s secure.”
She wrapped her arms around her midsection. “Do you think that guy knows where I live?”
He worked his jaw back and forth as he considered his words for a second time. “It’s a possibility. He knew you’d be at the hospital last night. He followed you from Pine Valley today. There’s no telling how long he’s had his eye on you or what patterns of yours he’s picked up. You have a great security system in place, so you’d know if he tried to get inside, but it’s always a good idea to double check the house. It just takesthings slipping through the cracks one time for something bad to happen.”
She blew out a long breath. “Makes sense. Do whatever you have to.”
