“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 of 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.
He raised her hand and kissed her palm. “I need to go shower. I have to be at the office in a half hour. I left you a set of keys on the kitchen table. Promise me you’ll keep me up to date on your whereabouts? I’m taking that note seriously, and if I had the manpower, I’d have someone on your tail twenty-four seven.”
“Other than meeting Bitch Bailey, I plan on staying right here on this front porch and working.”
He pointed to the corner of the house. “Just an FYI. I’ve got cameras covering all entrances.”
“And inside your home?”
“Just in your shower.” He chuckled. “I’m kidding. I have no cameras inside. I left you a detailed sheet with internet and all that on the table. You can call me if you need me. I’ll drive by when I’m on patrol.” He kissed her nose, and with that, he turned on his heel and left her standing there with her fingers on her lips, wondering what the hell just happened.
Callie sat on the rooftop of Georgio’s Bar and Grill and stared out over the water. She could get used to this kind of life, only she would definitely miss fast food, since about the only place you could find that on the island was at the ferry depot.
And that wasn’t the kind of fast food she craved.
She glanced at her watch. God, she hated it when people were late. When she worked as reporter and journalist, she always made sure she was at least five to ten minutes early for any prearranged meeting.
She pulled out the paper copy of the manuscript and a pen. She might as well make good use of the time.
The waitress pushed through the door and headed in her direction. “Are you sure I can’t get you anything while you wait?”
“Yeah. I’ll take a glass of your house Pinot Grigio. The nine ounce.” Normally, Callie wouldn’t dare think of having a glass of wine before five, but screw it. Three in the afternoon wasn’t that far off. Getting through any meeting with the likes of Bailey would require taking the edge off.
“I’ll be right back with that.”
No sooner did the waitress disappear than Bailey burst onto the rooftop with her perfectly styled shoulder-length dark hair. “So sorry I’m late. We’re doing a piece on the distillery, and we went over a little.”
“So, your camera crew is with you?”
Bailey nodded. “They are getting burgers down the street. I didn’t want you to think I was going back on my word.” She adjusted her chair and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “It’s so good to see you again.”
Callie couldn’t say the same, but she’d do the fake bullshit ex-coworker thing because there was no point not to. “You as well,” she said. “I’ve caught a few of your reports over the last few months. You’ve settled in nicely.”
“Thanks. Your shoes were tough to fill.”
Of course they were. Oh, she really needed to stop being so resentful. The girl was just doing her job. Something Callie used to do and not much differently.
“I want to make sure all of this is off the record,” Callie said just as the waitress reappeared, setting her glass of wine in front of her. She actually wished she hadn’t ordered it now. Especially when Bailey ordered a sparkling water. They both ordered the salad special.
“Full disclosure. We’re doing a piece on your return whether you like it or not,” Bailey said.
“Why am I not surprised,” she said with a sarcastic laugh, shoving the manuscript back into her bag.
“There’s a lot of buzz now that you’re back and a lot of discussion about the book deal. I have a conference call with your publisher and editor. Your agent hasn’t returned my call. I was hoping you’d be able to facilitate that.”
“I’m sorry, but I’ll be asking my agent not to speak to you. That said, I’m sure my publisher will enjoy the publicity.” Bad press was better than no
