Page 34 of Obsession

“No.” Emma bit her lip. She never thought the day would come that she could calmly discuss Ryan with Sam. “Sheriff Carter always claimed my brother was only a person of interest, but that was enough for everyone to believe Ryan killed her, especially since he’d taken off for no telling where.”

“Do you think he did it?”

“No,” she said, almost too quickly. Emma pinched the bridge of her nose. But on her worst days, she wondered if it was possible.

15

You’re tired,” Sam said and checked his watch. Eleven thirty? Seemed like it should be much later. He drained his coffee and rinsed his cup, then found Emma’s and rinsed it. “I better head out. What time do you want to leave for Mount Locust in the morning?”

“Seven thirty would be good since I don’t have to get cat food. I want to get started back on excavating that hole.”

“I’ll help you.”

“Really?” She seemed relieved.

“Until we catch this guy, you’re my main concern,” he said with a smile. “Really. Brooke will be back, and while she’s off tomorrow, she would be available if anything came up. Clayton too.”

Emma frowned. “I wonder why she didn’t call me?”

He’d gotten a text from Brooke while they were waiting for the Natchez officers to arrive. “The trial ended late, and she was probably tired.”

She stood, uncertainty crossing her face. “Um ... I think maybe I should give you a key to my apartment in case you ever need to get into the building after six.”

He nodded slowly. “That’s probably a good idea.”

“I’ll be right back.”

Less than a minute later she returned with a key and handed it to him. He put it on his key ring. “Hope I never need to use it.”

“Me too,” she said and walked him to the door. “And thanks for everything.”

“You’re welcome. In the morning, I’ll come to your apartment door to get you after I check out the neighborhood.” Sam didn’t know why, but something inside him had shifted.

Soberly, Emma saluted. “Yes, sir.”

His breath caught in his chest at the desire that swept through him to take her in his arms and kiss her. Emma’s pupils widened. The air between them crackled with electricity. Her full lips were parted slightly, and he wanted to trace his thumb down her jawline. Abruptly, Sam stepped back. Was he crazy? She’d broken his heart once. He’d be stupid to give her the chance to do it again.

“Do you think we could start fresh from tonight?” she asked, her voice hesitant.

Even as he told himself to say no, he nodded. “I think I’d like that.”

He had to come clean with Emma. Tomorrow he would find a way to tell her. Sam surprised himself by bending over and kissing the top of her head. “See you tomorrow.”

He should have told her the truth about the night Ryan left. The thought dogged him all the way down the stairs, and halfway down, he almost turned around and returned to her door. Almost. She was tired. And in pain. There would be a better time.

The Natchez police had finished their work, and Sam paused at the top of the porch steps, scanning the area. He didn’t sense being watched like he had earlier, but then, he didn’t figure their assailant had hung around. His cell phone rang, and he unhooked it from his belt. Jenny.

“I’m on my way,” Sam said by way of answering. “What kind of milkshake does he want?”

“None.” Her tone was curt. “He’s asleep.”

It was late—of course he was asleep. Sam had missed anothernight of saying good night to Jace. When the weather was good, they liked to look out the window over the boy’s bed for a special end-of-the-day moment to see what phase the moon was in.

“Look, I’m sorry, but I couldn’t come earlier. There was a shooting.”

“You’re not hurt, are you?”

“No, but I could have been.”

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