Page 11 of Before We Were Us

The elevator ride to the fourth floor has me wondering how I let Connor talk me into this. All his big words, and I’m jumping in my car driving across town and burning through the front lobby of some high-end building.

Now I’m thinking I should have thought it through more. Maybe call and ask her to meet me for coffee, or a late breakfast.

The car dings announcing my arrival and the doors slide open. I step out onto the tiled floor and look down the hallway.

Taking a deep breath I start toward apartment 4C. Just as I lift my hand to knock, the door opens and there she stands. A yellow tank top, cropped showing off a small section of her stomach. Matched with a pair of black leggings that fit her like a glove.

“Well hello, Detective.” Suddenly Taylor appears over Brynn’s left shoulder, grinning like she’s got some kind of secret. “To what do we owe this house call?”

“I wanted to deliver the news personally.” I had it all planned out, how I’d ask her to dinner, but now that I’m here, the words seem to have escaped me.

“News?” Brynn crosses her arms over her chest and damn it if my gaze doesn’t drop to her chest. She’s built beautifully.

“Mr. Wills has been found.”

She looks back over her shoulder and the two women share what appears to be a sigh of relief.

“He’s being transported back to our district where he will be charged with the murder of Ms. Hill.” Brynn finally shifts back to face me. “We’ve completed the collection of evidence and have cleared the floor at the hotel. We’ve got all the footage, dusted for prints, and have pulled out all our men.”

Taylor grins. “You do know all of that could have been shared by one simple phone call?” The woman reminds me so much of Connor, neither of them weighed their words, they just said what they were thinking when they were thinking it.

“If you’ll excuse me I have a hot shower calling my name.” Taylor offers me a wave and backs away, smiling at both of us. When she is out of sight, Brynnlee faces me once more, leaning her shoulder against the doorframe.

“She’s right you know.” I find her confidence attractive. “You could have called and saved yourself a trip.”

“Yeah.” I match her smile. “I know. But I wanted to be face to face when I asked you to have dinner with me.”

Her throat bobs as she swallows, and she doesn’t once look away from me. “Did you consider that I may say no?”

“I did.” I don’t remember the last time I felt this playful and excited in regard to a woman. I’d forgotten what it felt like to flirt with all the possibilities.

“And you took a chance anyway,” she gleams. “Impressive.”

“Figured if you said no I’d have a better chance of persuading you if I was standing in front of you.”

She watches me, her smile not fading. “That smile of yours works on all the women?”

“What, you like my smile?” I can’t control it, I smile even bigger.

“It’s all right.” She shrugs her shoulders and wrinkles her nose. I can tell she wants to smile as it tugs at the corner of her mouth.

“Tomorrow evening, I promise to smile often.” I give it another push. “Seven, I could pick you up, we could?—”

“I can drive,” she interrupts and again I’m reminded that I’m dealing with a woman that has no problem standing on her own. I have a strong feeling she’s been brought up with the mentality that she doesn’t need any man, she is strong enough on her own.

“Rosalie’s?”

“Sounds good.” She stands, lowering her arms to her sides. “I’ll meet you there.”

“Can’t wait,” I add, backing away though I don’t want to leave quite yet. She is so incredibly beautiful and alluring, I can’t help but want to know all there is to know about Brynnlee Webster. Every little thing!

eight

. . .

Brynnlee

“Damn girl.” I look up into the mirror to see Taylor standing in the doorway behind me.

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