Page 38 of Wild Justice

“We have too many suspects,” Kai said. “Too many unanswered questions.”

“It’s still early in the investigation,” Lulu reminded him, placing her marker on the end table. “We haven’t talked to everyone of interest yet. Hopefully, by the end of tomorrow, we’ll have a better idea of who is lying to us, and who is telling the truth.”

“What if everyone is lying to us?”

“Then we’re trapped inMurder on the Orient Expressby Agatha Christie.” Lulu glanced at her watch. “I know I sound a little crazy, but I don’t suppose you’d want to go for a walk? I have too much pent-up energy, and I need to walk around to sort out my thoughts. If you don’t, it’s fine. I’ll just go. But if you do go, I’ll make hot chocolate afterward.”

The temperature had dropped since the sun went down and was now firmly in shiver your ass off territory. The last thing he wanted to do was go outside and freeze to death, even if it was with a woman as beautiful and intriguing as Lulu Reilly.

“Sure, that sounds like fun.”

The words tumbled out of his mouth without warning. He’d wanted to be more impulsive, and now here he was. They could put on his tombstone that he died of frostbite and spontaneity.

But it meant he had more time with Lulu.

It just might be worth it.

Lulu wasin disbelief that Kai had agreed to walk with her in the freezing cold. She could see their breath misting as they trudged along the dark quiet streets of the downtown area. They were both bundled up in their coats, plus Lulu was wearing gloves and a scarf. She didn’t mind the cold so much, and it always helped clear her head when too many thoughts were clouding it.

She didn’t have a clue as to how she was going to fall asleep tonight. Images floated in and out of her mind as she pictured Dana’s last day alive. That was something she still needed to put together - the total timeline of the last twenty-four hours for their victim.

“It’s a little chilly out here,” Kai said, his hands shoved in his pockets.

He wasn’t dressed well for the temperature. The coat didn’t look warm enough, and his hands had to be about to drop his fingers.

“You moved here from Los Angeles?”

“I did, why?”

“I’m guessing it doesn’t get cold there?”

She heard his chuckle and saw another plume of mist from his breath.

“It does, but not often and not like this. Plus, I only ever visited my grandparents in the summer. For some reason, I sort of blocked out about how cold it could get here in Montana. This cold is colder, if you know what I mean. I keep reminding myself to get some gloves and a better coat, but I get busy and forget.”

“We can go back inside,” she offered, feeling guilty that he was so cold. “I can think inside.”

“It’s fine,” he assured her. “We’re not walking to Denver. It will be okay.”

She didn’t believe him for a second. He even sounded cold.

Reaching out her hand, she captured his when he momentarily pulled it from his pocket.

“What you need is body heat.”

After the words came out, she realized she’d just said something rather provocative in nature. Yet, her statement was true. The heat of another body would warm him up.

I kind of want that body to be me.

The feeling had been growing all day. Wanting to spend more time with him. Wanting to hear what he had to say about any and all subjects. Wanting to know all the little details about his life.

She recognized the signs. She had all the symptoms.

She was starting to fall for Kai Oliver.

It wasn’t a shock. He was the kind of guy that she found attractive. Quiet, thoughtful, intelligent, with a quirky sense of humor. It didn’t hurt that he was sexy as all hell either. Those silver-blue eyes ought to be illegal in all fifty states.

Don’t get me started on the dimple in his right cheek when he smiles.

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