“Hailey. I need to talk to you.”
I jumped and screeched in surprise as I spun to the door. My hand splayed over my heart as I fought to slow its pace and catch my breath. “Jesus, Luke! You scared the shit out of me!”
He at least looked chagrined. “Sorry, I thought you heard me come in. You really shouldn’t leave the door unlocked when you’re here alone.”
“Well, then I guess it’s a good thing you’re here. Now I’m not alone,” I snarked.
Hands shoved deep in his dark, tattered jeans, he chewed on the inside of his cheek nervously. My gaze narrowed on him as I tried to figure out what was going on.
“Why are you here so early after not having anything to do with me for the last two nights?” I’d told myself I wasn’t going to bring it up because we weren’t in a relationship, but my word vomit overrode my brain.
“What the hell are you talking about?” he barked as he took a step toward me. The closer he came to my airspace, the less control I had over my body and mind. I took a self-preserving step back.
“You blew me off the other night, then I didn’t hear a word from you last night either.” I inwardly winced, knowing I’d told him it wasn’t a good night. My mouth refused to stay shut. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t help coming off as a bitchy girlfriend, which I definitely was not. But he’d created an addiction within me worse than any drug.
I’d become addicted to him.
Two steps farther and he was in front of me, toe-to-toe. Heart fluttering wildly, I moved again, but my back hit the wall. He leaned forward and trailed his fingertips up the bare skin of my arm. A shiver shot through me.
His dark-blue gaze dropped to where my nipples were embarrassingly screaming for his attention. Those perfect lips twitched slightly at one corner before he ran his fingertips over the peaks on my chest. I gasped as I fought the need to shamelessly shove them into his hand.
“You think I blew you off?” he whispered seductively as he leaned forward to run the tip of his nose along the shell of my ear. He deeply scented me before exhaling across my neck. Rough skin lightly snagged along the soft knit fabric of my dress as he moved up to wrap his hand lightly around the front of my throat.
Words escaped me as my breaths came in rapid succession. The pressure of his grip increased only slightly as his thumb stroked under my jaw.
“Cat got your tongue, Hailey?” His mouth teased featherlight kisses along my jaw before he nipped my ear. “I think it was you who was evading me. You didn’t come home for the last two nights. Where were you, Hailey? Who were you with? And tell me. Does it feel like I was blowing you off?” He pressed his erection into my hip as he whispered in my ear. My eyes fell shut as my lips parted wantonly.
A throat clearing made my eyes pop open and dart toward the sound. Officer Edwards stood in the doorway, face impassive and eyes cold. “I’m sorry to interrupt,” he said, and I thought I detected a slip in this calm demeanor. “But I need to speak with you, Ms. Monroe.”
Luke’s head slowly swiveled toward the police officer in the doorway, his nose skimming the surface of my skin the entire way. Nervously, I side-stepped out of his cocoon.
Not a care in the world, Luke sighed. “Give us a second, Eddy.”
Officer Edwards didn’t say anything at first, but his nostrils slightly flared at Luke’s shortening of his last name. His jaw ticked, then he nodded. “Of course.”
He turned and stepped out of the room. Luke moved over and closed the door.
“Did you just metaphorically piss on my leg?” I questioned, aghast at his audacity.
He took a deep breath, ignored my question, and ran a hand over his face. “I have a feeling he’s here to discuss what I came to tell you—before you distracted me.”
“What?” I huffed indignantly. “I did no such thing!”
“Babe, you only have to breathe to distract me.”
Burning like a flame, I knew my face was red at his admission.
He briefly told me about the developments with Danielle but asked me not to let on that I knew. Unable to get past what he’d told me, and knowing he’d likely held back some of the details, I started to cry.
“I’m so sorry. I wish this wasn’t the news I had for you.” He used his thumb to wipe away my tears, then reluctantly opened the door for Officer Edwards, but kept a supportive arm around me when the police officer came in.
“I’m very sorry to interrupt,” Officer Edwards said with what seemed like a bit of an attitude. “I didn’t realize you were busy.”
“Oh! Um, Luke and I were just going over details for the fundraiser,” I stammered.
Luke glared at me, then Officer Edwards.
“Could I speak to you alone?” he asked me as he shot daggers at Luke.
“No,” Luke replied before I could answer.
My eyes flashed to him in question, but he was holding the officer’s gaze.
After clearing his throat, the officer spoke but only met my eyes, effectively ignoring Luke’s presence.
“I thought you might like to know they found what they believe to be Danielle’s body late last night, and I wanted to see if anyone had remembered any other details from the day she disappeared.” Officer Edwards lifted his chin slightly as he finished.
Though Luke had given me a heads-up, he’d said not to give away that I already knew. Playing my part well, I acted surprised. My gasp of horror, however, was real. It wouldn’t matter how many times I
