Page 46 of The Last Close Call

“I meant it about my offer,” she said. “If you want to give me the name, I really think I could help. Or you could give me the adoptive parents’ names, and I could find them.”

“Thanks, but I’m fine.”

They stopped at her bumper, and she looked up at him with impatience. He wasn’t fine. Clearly, he was frustrated.

“I do this for a living, Jack. I’m good at it.”

“I know.”

She huffed out a breath.

“I’ll handle it,” he said.

“Suit yourself.”

She glanced up, and he was gazing down at her with a look she couldn’t read. She hugged her arms closer, studying his bottomless brown eyes.

“What?” he asked.

“I’m trying to understand you. If you really didn’t want my help, why’d you come all the way out here?”

The corner of his mouth ticked up. “You haven’t figured it out?”

“No.”

He leaned down and kissed her.

It took her off guard—so much that she kept her arms clamped around her body. His mouth was warm and seeking, and soon she melted into him. His arms came around her, pulling her against the solid heat of him and lifting her to her toes.

She slid her hands over his shoulders and combed her fingers into his thick hair. His body was like a heater, dispelling the chill around her as he pressed her against him and explored her mouth until her limbs melted and she started to feel light-headed. The kiss went on and on, and her body began to pulse.

He eased back, holding her in his arms, as she blinked up at him in the dimness.

“I’d like to see you again,” he said.

She stared up at him, still absorbing his warmth.

His phone buzzed. He stepped back and pulled it from his pocket, and a chill wafted over her as he connected the call.

“Hey, I’m on my way.” Pause. “Yeah, I got it. Gimme fifteen.”

He pocketed the phone, and Rowan looked down at her feet. Obviously, he was rushing off to some crime scene. This was the problem with police work—or one of the problems. It never stopped.

He took her hand and gently squeezed it. “Can I call you?”

She looked up at him, her lips still numb and tingly.

“I want to see you again.”

She cleared her throat. “Maybe. I don’t know.” Her brain was scrambled. “Let me think about it.”

He smiled and dropped her hand as he stepped away.

“Think about it.”

TEN

Jack grabbed his keys off his desk and checked his watch. “You coming?”

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