Page 31 of One Little Memory
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Shaking her head, she shrugged. “Nothing. I can’t remember anything else until I wake up in the car and the man is there, taking my purse.” She met his gaze. “Is that how Gus Marchand died? He was hit by a car? Hazel never said. Neither did you, but I expect it can’t be a coincidence.”
“Marchand was hit by a car, yes.” He couldn’t tell her the rest. That would be a big mistake in the investigation.
“Oh, God, I killed a man,” she said as tears started to stream down her cheeks. He was on his feet in seconds and pulled her up into his arms. He wanted so much to tell her the truth. Someone shot him, but he still didn’t know for sure it wasn’t her. That wasn’t true. He knew.Knewit wasn’t her, but he couldn’t prove it.
“It’s going to be okay, Jo. I swear it will be okay.” He squeezed her to him.
“I don’t see how.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest.
They stayed like that for a long moment. If only he could find the evidence needed to clear her.
She lifted her head and looked up at him. “I’m so sorry. You’ve been nothing but kind to me, and I dragged you into this. It won’t look good for you that I’m staying here. I-I should go.”
“No. Don’t worry about it. You can’t go anywhere.”
“Are you going to arrest me?”
He stared down at her. They still needed evidence, and he was the only one that had heard her confession. Once the forensic guys dealt with the car, then he’d have no choice, but until then…
Their gazes locked. He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers.
This was stupid and dangerous, and he was throwing away his whole career, but it just felt so damn good. “At some point, yes, I’m going to have to arrest you. I’m so sorry.”
She nodded. “But not right now?”
“No, not now.”
“Tonight?”
He hesitated then nodded.
“Then kiss me again.”
“Jo, I?—"
“I promise I won’t tell a soul. I won’t use it to get off or to say your investigation was flawed. I promise. I just… I need this. I need you.”
“Jo, we don’t even know if you’re married or have kids or a boyfriend or anything. This isn’t a good idea.”
“I don’t,” she said in a firm voice. “I haven’t remembered exactly but I just…know. I know I’m single. I’m not a mom. I…feel it. Phoenix, the only time I feel safe, I feel good, is with you. If I’m going to jail tonight, I want to be with you first. I can take that memory with me. It will be the only thing that will get me through.”
How the hell was he supposed to say no to that? It would take a better man than he was. He kissed her again, capturing her lips this time and then deepening the kiss. He ran his hands down over her curvy bottom, bringing her hips against his growing erection.
For something so wrong, nothing had ever felt so damn good.
Her arms clasped around his neck as she deepened the kiss, pressing herself against him and grinding her hips. As he scooped her up, she wrapped her thighs around his waist. He carried her to the bed, laid her down, and then covered her body with his own. Her hands caressed the hard ridges of his chest through his T-shirt, and it sent fire through his veins. He was rock hard and desperate to be inside her. He pulled up her sweater and bra, exposing one breast for him to suckle. He devoured her nipple with his mouth as desire took complete control of him.
“Phoenix,” she breathed.
This was going too fast. He tried to slow down by planting soft kisses along the side of her neck. She let out a moan and grabbed his T-shirt. He leaned back and pulled the garment off with one hand, dropping it to the floor before he surrounded her with his embrace once more.
His lips searched hers while she traced circles around his chest with her fingertips. He pulled back from her and helped to remove her sweater as she shivered beneath him.
“Are you cold?” he asked.
“Not at all,” she replied breathlessly.
He unclasped her bra and pulled it free. He cursed under his breath. She was so goddamn beautiful. When he brushed his tongue over one of her nipples she moaned.
