She felt Dan stiffen against her even as Bo replied, “The word is going around that you were involved in an explosion while you were covering the latest arson fire.”
“Yes, I was—but fortunately, the injuries were minor.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Any news about the arson investigation? Are the cops any closer to solving the case than they were before?”
“Not as far as I know,” she answered circumspectly.
“Guess I’ll have to keep reading the papers to find out more, huh? So—is there anything I can do for you? I can bring takeout by your house this evening.”
“Thank you, Bo, but I’m getting lots of help.”
“Okay, well—you give a holler if you need anything, you hear?”
“I’ll do that.”
They ended the call on that friendly note. Lindsey hung up her phone, then glanced at Dan, who was scowling rather fiercely. Still leaning against him, she murmured, “That was Bo.”
“So I gathered.”
“He heard I was hurt and called to check on me.”
“Big of him.”
“He was just being nice, Dan.”
“Did he ask you out again?”
That blunt question made her eyebrows rise. “Again?”
“I know you had a date with him earlier this week.”
“Been listening to gossip, Chief?” She knew she hadn’t told him who she’d been out with Monday night.
“Actually, I saw you with him.” Dan looked briefly uncomfortable. “Riley and I had dinner at Kelly’s Monday night.”
Lindsey was taken aback that Dan had been so close to her without her knowledge. It made her uncomfortable to think of him watching her on a date with another man. Not that anything had happened during that date except some bowling and laughter, but still…
“I went out with him because you made me mad,” she confessed.
“You went out with him to spite me?”
“To move on from you,” she corrected him.
That silenced him for a moment. He looked down at her hand, which still rested on his thigh. “That’s probably the smartest thing for you to do,” he said after a while.
She swallowed before asking, “Is that what you want me to do?”
He covered her hand with his. “No. Damn it.”
The grudging mutter startled another quick laugh from her. “Try to restrain your enthusiasm, will you, Chief?”
“I’ve been trying to restrain myself,” he answered, reaching for her. “It isn’t working.”
Tumbling into his arms, she lifted her face to his. “I’m very glad to hear that,” she murmured just before his mouth covered hers.
There was nothing platonic or fraternal about this embrace. Dan kissed her in a way that left no further doubt that he saw her as a grown woman—and a desirable one, at that. She could tell he was taking care with her bruises, but that was the only way in which he held back.
The kiss thrilled her to her toes.