Page 62 of Exposure of Murder

He sighed. “It doesn’t hurt anymore. Tanner and Leah and my friends have been working on me to put myself out there, date again. But you know that it isn’t possible until you’re ready to move on.”

“True. I’ve mourned Mike for months. However, I know he would be really upset if I didn’t find someone else to love. Although he’ll always be in my heart.”

For a moment, Ethan thought about Corrine. It was true; he’d never forgive her for leaving him, but she was his first everything—first girlfriend, first kiss, first time making love, and they did have a lot of fun together.

“Well, enough of sad. Tell me about you,” Jane asked.

She picked up her wineglass and took a sip, waiting.

“Well, okay. Condensed version. My family has been in Beaver Creek for generations. I spent some time in the Army before running for sheriff, and I love my job. I like to play pool or cards with my friends, get together with family and camp out.”

She laughed. “Wow, that was short and sweet. You managed to get your whole thirty-five…?” She cocked her head.

“Thirty-two.”

“Condensing thirty-two years of life into four sentences that don’t really tell me who you are.”

“Well, I could say that I’m deeply committed to the community, dedicated to my job and like structure. Also, I’m a skilled marksman and can spot a lie from twenty paces. Some people would say that I am stubborn and judgmental, but I don’t agree.” He smirked. “Does that help?”

She shrugged. “A little.”

“What about you? What makes Jane tick?”

“Hmm.” She tapped her fingers on her wrist. “Jane is determined, passionate, and motivated. She is creative and loves her friends. She is courageous.”

He nodded. “You could add trouble magnet.”

Jane’s green eyes widened, then she broke into a giggle. Ethan couldn’t stop smiling.

“Trouble does seem to follow me.” She sighed, took a sip of wine, and placed the glass down. “This is nice,” she murmured, staring into the fire.

“Yeah, it is,” Ethan replied. He looked over at her. The room seemed to shrink, and she leaned closer to him.

She looked at him, her breath coming a little faster. “Ethan…”

He didn’t need her to finish. Slowly, he reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. His thumb grazed her cheek, and he relished the softness of her skin.

Jane leaned in, her breath warm against his face, her eyes closing for a minute. When she opened them, they were deep forest green, filled with desire.

Ethan’s hand slid to the back of her neck and drew her close. Their lips met with a soft kiss that deepened quickly. The crisp taste of her wine lingered on his lips.

She responded eagerly, pulling him closer. They kissed again but with more feeling. It was everything he’d been missing with a woman. He could feel his heart racing.

He kissed her again and again. When they finally broke apart, the room was filled with the sound of their breathing and the crackling of the fire.

“God, I’ve wanted to do that all night,” Ethan said, his voice rough with emotion.

A smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “Me too.”

She leaned back against the sofa; Ethan followed and slipped his arm around her shoulders. Jane snuggled into his side, resting her head on his shoulder.

Ethan let out a heavy breath. He felt a sense of contentment that he hadn’t felt in a long time.

He didn’t know where this would lead, but he was happy to sit here with the taste of their first kiss lingering on his lips. Shutting his eyes, he took a deep breath.

Movement against his chest woke Ethan up. He looked around. It was dark, but the embers from the fire cast shadows around the room, and for a moment, he was disoriented. A familiar scent of vanilla jerked him back to reality. Jane was curled up in his arms, her soft breath tickling his neck.

Ah shit! He looked down. Okay—clothes still on, that was good news. Not that he wouldn’t have been okay if they had ended up in bed.

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