Her eyes held a familiar look. Part dazed, part hungry, and I loved that. Hell, I loved her.
I tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “In case I haven’t told you. I love you, Raegan.”
The dazed look gave way to surprise. She closed her eyes for a moment and after a deep breath she opened them. “I’ve always loved you, Clint.”
“Even when you were married?” I asked, but wished I could pull it back. I hadn’t meant to throw that out there, and it was dirty pool on my part. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that,” I whispered.
She reached up and cupped my cheek. “No. Don’t be. It’s weird or maybe it says nothing good about me, but even when I was married, I still loved you, in some way. I thought I loved my husband, but looking back, we didn’t have a healthy relationship. So, right or wrong, I’ve never stopped loving you.”
In an odd way, that made me feel ten feet tall. I gave her a tight hug. Then I tagged the remote from the arm of the couch and turned on an NFL Pre-Game show.
Raegan snuggled her cheek against my chest. She kept blinking her eyes, and I sensed she was drowsy.
To my surprise, she blurted, “You changed your cologne.”
She stiffened and raised her head a little. Regret written across her face, and I gave her a squeeze to reassure her.
Then, she lowered her eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that.”
I squeezed her again. “It’s okay, baby. And, just to say, you changed your perfume.”
She turned her eyes up to me. “I always liked variety. That hasn’t really changed.”
I arched a brow. “Well, many things change in nine years, honey.”
She settled against me again, mumbling, “Yeah.”
With my free hand, I muted the TV, which got me her attention again. I set the remote on the coffee table.
“You aren’t planning to go back to New York, are you? I didn’t say anything in front of company, but that won’t help what we’re rebuilding.”
She nodded. “Yeah. I realized that as soon as you glared at me. So, I’m sorry I said that. I just can’t believe someone wants me dead.” She tried to sit up, but I wouldn’t let her. She shook her head at me. “And can you believe some dumbass killed my sister because they thought it was me? God, I could kill myself for taking that damned interview. I should have fucking been here!”
I rubbed her back. “Honey, you’ve got to calm down. I’m not happy that Wynnie’s dead, but I’d be fucking devastated if it had been you.”
She stared at me for a moment before face-planting into my chest.
“God,” she mumbled into my shirt. “When I think this shit couldn’t get any worse, I’m always so damn wrong.”
It took some effort, but I rotated so she had her back on the couch and I loomed over her. “You can’t think that way, baby. Murder is the worst thing there is, and you knew her death wasn’t an accident, and we both know she wasn’t the type to commit suicide. So, stop. Everything about her death is the worst, but dwelling on that doesn’t get us anywhere. We have to focus on what we can do to make this better.”
Her eyes went to the side, and back to me. “Well, if you have ideas, I’m all ears, Clint.”
I slid my nose alongside hers for a moment. “Pains me to say it, but I think we should be at my place. Let your mother be here, and if Tommy has someone he can set up to keep tabs on the house, we should do that.”
Her eyes widened and I knew she was gearing up to argue. I put a finger on her lips.
“Just wait a moment. There are things you don’t know about Debenedetti, though you probably put it together that he’s not a good guy.”
She nodded.
“He wants to keep Penny safe. I think we should let him. Gives me one less thing to worry about. Well, that’s not true. It gives me one less woman to protect.”
She turned her head away as she rolled her eyes. Since that move exposed her neck, I took advantage and nuzzled her.
“I’m serious,” I said as I pulled away.
“Are both of us that hard to protect?”
I arched my eyebrows. “With this split floorplan, a little bit. But, if you’re the target, getting you away from Penny isn’t a bad idea. I just don’t want you away from me.”
Her head started bobbing with short nods. “Yeah. Okay, that’s probably a good idea.”
“Good. When Penny gets up, we’ll ask her about her connection to Tommy, and make arrangements.”
“All right. Are we going to take a nap, too, in the meantime?”
I grinned. “Was gonna watch some football... but, I could spend some time in your bed with you not sleeping, if you’re up for that.”
Her body beneath me jostled with a silent chuckle. “If I get a nap afterward, I could go for that. Especially since Mom mentioned I missed out on shower shenanigans with you this morning.”
I planted my face in the crook of her neck as I laughed at that visual. “God, I forgot how damn funny you and your mother are together.”
Chapter 18
Another Missive
Raegan
MY EYES OPENED WHEN I felt a warm finger trailing my jawline. That feeling reminded me of other things Clint did with his finger before we took a nap. I wanted a repeat, but I knew we didn’t have time for that.
Clint’s eyes moved from watching his finger to my eyes. “Your Mom’s up, sleepyhead. You ready to find out how she knows a criminal mastermind?”
I chuckled. “Never thought I’d hear that question pertaining to Mom.”
Clint shook his head once. “Never thought I’d ask it, baby.”
I leaned up on an elbow. “No time like the present, but after I hit the bathroom. Okay?”
In the living room, I found
