Page 59 of Innocent Intent

“What you’re saying and not saying sounds like regret, Cass.”

She quietly shook her head. “No regrets. I’m only being practical.”

“I hear you loud and clear,” he muttered before popping the trunk and getting out of the vehicle. He rounded the back, lifting Cassidy’s travel bag. When she got out and tried to intercept it, he turned slightly, moving the luggage out of her reach.

“I got it.”

“You don’t have to walk me to the door.”

“I didn’t have to sleep with you either, but I did. The least I can do now is be a gentleman.” He could sense that Cassidy wanted to object further, but she allowed him to carry her things to the porch and put them inside once she unlocked the door, and the two of them stepped into the foyer.

“Well, thanks for allowing me to tag along . . .”

She shifted awkwardly, and Nate smirked, stepping into her personal space. Without much notice, he had one hand gripping the back of her neck, pulling Cassidy into a kiss that left them both breathless. When he stepped back and saw her flushed cheeks and dilated pupils, Davis felt he’d accomplished his goal. Give Cassidy a reminder why pressing pause might be practical, but it wouldn’t be easy.

“Looks like neither of us is big on following orders.”

Nate chuckled, nodding. “Appears that way.” His eyes moved around her house. “I guess I’d better be going. I’ve got a suspect to track down.”

“Yeah.” She smiled softly.

“I’ll call you.” He paused. “About the case.”

After another nod from Cassidy, Davis walked out the front door, closing it behind him. He only made it a few steps before his phone vibrated in his pocket, notifying him of an incoming call. Once he had it in hand, he frowned at the screen, immediately recognizing the number. Davis answered dryly, not in the mood to hear any of his captain’s shit, assuming word might have gotten back to him by now that he hadn’t been alone in New York.

“Yeah, Captain.”

“Davis, where the hell are you? I’ve called you three times and left you several messages.” The annoyance in his captain’s voice was hard to ignore. There had been messages, but Davis elected not to check them, knowing that he would be on his way to the precinct after he got Cassidy home. Whatever had crawled up his captain’s ass could wait until then.

“I was on the plane. Just got back . . .”

“Wanna tell me why you dropped the ball on the most important part of Evans’s case?”

“What are you talking about?” With a tight expression, he lowered his head, peering at the running shoes on his feet. Dressed casually in jeans and a long-sleeved tee for comfort on the plane, Davis wasn’t in his usual attire of slacks and a dress shirt.

“Running a list of firearms that might match the one used to kill Williams. How the hell did you miss that?”

“I didn’t; just hadn’t gotten around to it.”

Fuck.

Davis silently cursed himself for doing precisely what he was being accused of—missing a vital part of the investigation. He had been sidetracked with so many other things that led to dead ends he hadn’t considered tracking down the gun. Nothing pointed him in any real direction of finding it, and there was no ballistics linking the bullets to anything in the system.

“Well, you should have. We have the gun, Davis. It was dropped off anonymously at a local firehouse, and guess who it’s registered to?”

Don’t say it . . .

“Cassidy Evans.”

Fuck.

“It’s time that you get your ass in gear, Davis. Wherever you are, drop what you’re doing and bring her in, unless you need someone else to do it for you.”

“I’m perfectly capable of bringing her in.” Davis’s tone was clipped.

“I used to think so, but now, I’m not so sure if you can be partial where she’s concerned.”

Davis laughed cockily. “I see someone’s been pillow talking with you, Captain.”

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