Page 41 of Locked In Ice

“I get that a lot.Truly, I do.So, I’m trying to explain.”Ophelia blew out a breath.“I can’t leave town yet.I need to see the body.That is where I’m going.To view Thomas’s body.”

“Why?”

“Because…I don’t like it.I don’t like that the guywebagged was killed his first night in lockup.I don’t like that the cops went straight to you.I don’t like that I’ve got a lump in my throat because my instincts are telling me that I might have missed something.”

His brow furrowed.“You didn’t find anything in the cell.What on earth makes you think you’ll find anything on the body?”

An excellent question.“Maybe I won’t find anything.Then I’ll leave town.Follow the detective’s orders.”

“And if you do find something?”

“I’ll point it out to the cops, of course.”

“Theycan find things on their own.”

She stared back at him.“I’m sure they can.But I want to see the body.You don’t have to go with me—”

He stepped closer to her.Seemed to block out some of that bright sunlight.“I’m your partner.”

“Good of you to remember.”He was big.Heat seemed to pour from his body.And damn but his mouth was kissable.

Focus.You have a dead body to see.They hadn’t talked about the, uh, extracurricular activities of the night before.They’d been too busy dealing with the cops and a murder suspicion.Maybe they wouldn’t talk about it.Just move forward.

Be businesslike.

Professional.

His hand rose and curled under her chin.Immediately, her whole body tightened with eager need.Just from a touch.

Clearly, she had a problem with professionalism.Her bad.

“Partners stick together,” he murmured.“Lesson five.”

“I’ll add that to our list,” she breathed.His voice had been deep and rumbling, and pretty much what she believed sin sounded like.“So…that means you’re coming with me to see the body?”

“That means I’ll come with you wherever the hell you go.You lead the way, and I’ll walk through the fire with you.”

She swallowed.“No fire necessary.Just some cold storage freezers and a murder vic.”She should back away from him now.Get to business.But…

Something felt different.

No, therewassomething different about the way he looked at her.Only Ophelia couldn’t quite figure out that difference.In her mind, a faint alarm bell began to ring.

He started to pull away, but her hand flew up to curl around his wrist.“What is it?”Ophelia asked him.

A faint line appeared between his brows.

“Something changed.”She couldfeelit.

“You’re my alibi.”

“Well, yes, I was.”Still waiting on that thank you.Though, considering she’d stalked him, she got where he would be hesitant to show gratitude.

“Never had one of those before,” he said in a bemused tone.“If I had, I would never have gone to hell.”

Were her fingers sliding lightly along his wrist?They were.She should stop.“You can count on me.”He needed to understand this.“You’re my partner.I don’t plan to throw you to the wolves.”

“Good to know.”

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