Page 84 of Wild Justice

“No, just that. I don’t think I’m as crazy-wild as I used to be.”

“I’ve heard some stories,” he admitted, his lips close to her ear. His breath tickled her cheek. “Since you and I started seeing each other, a few people have stopped me on the street to tell me a story about your wild youth.”

Oh, my stars. That cannot be good. There were some doozies.

“I’m more mature now.”

“You are, but don’t lose that zest for life, Lulu. Never lose that. I admire that about you. It’s special…and rare these days.”

“You wouldn’t care if I hopped up on the bar and danced? You wouldn’t be embarrassed?”

His arms tightened around her as his hand slid over her shoulders and his lips brushed her temple.

“Nope, I’d cheer and remind myself that I am one lucky son of a bitch. You be you, Lulu Reilly. You let me be myself, too. I’ve never felt so relaxed around anyone in my life. You just accept me for who I am. You’re not trying to twist me into someone you think I need to be. I want to be that place for you.”

While Kai’s parents sounded like mostly wonderful people, Lulu had a feeling that they’d spent a good deal of time trying to make Kai into something he simply didn’t want to be. Like a cutthroat corporate lawyer attending fancy cocktail parties and dating supermodels.

“How about you take me home, and I’ll show you just how much I love you,” she suggested as the music stopped. “And how I don’t want you to change.”

“Woman, you are brilliant.”

She’d take that compliment and cherish it. She wasn’t brilliant, of course, but every now and then she had a good idea.

Getting naked with this hunk of man who was currently looking at her like she hung the moon?

A very smart choice indeed.

She’d leave all her cares and worries for tomorrow. Tonight, she’d concentrate on the man she’d fallen in love with.

It was almostdinnertime the next day, and Kai was putting the finishing touches on an article for the online newspaper about a microbrewery-slash-restaurant opening one town over. He’d interviewed the owner in the morning, and he wanted to get it loaded to the website before he met Lulu for dinner.

Lulu.

He hadn’t planned to fall in love, but here he was, happy as hell. He walked around with a smile on his face pretty much twenty-four-seven, he was so in love with this woman. This amazing, wonderful, full of vinegar and spunk woman. She could dance on bars, jump from airplanes, race her car down deserted roads, and generally make some noise, and he was fine with all of it. He hoped he got through to her last night that she didn’t have to change to be loved.

He loved her. All of her. The good, the bad, the goofy, the crazy, the devoted best friend, and the dedicated sheriff, too.

The door to the newspaper office swung open, and Henry strolled in looking quite satisfied with himself if his smug smile was any indication.

“I have some information for her that she wanted,” Henry said. “But she’s working, so I thought I’d give it to you.”

“We’re supposed to meet for dinner in about an hour. Have you called or sent a text?”

“I did send a couple of texts, but she hasn’t replied yet, so I’m guessing she’s busy. To be honest, I was getting antsy to tell her, which is why I’m here,” Henry admitted.

“She’s probably out handling a call,” Kai replied. “May I ask what you found?”

“It was simple really,” Henry said. “All I had to do was look up the property tax records for the county, and I found it. Ray Ramsey is Allie’s landlord.”

“The town councilman?”

“That’s him. Lulu said you two were looking into people that had access to Allie’s apartment and could have planted the pipe that killed Dana Cartwright.”

“We are, and that’s interesting. I’d planned to look at the property records myself today, but I got bogged down with work.”

“I had some free time, so it was no big deal.”

“I do appreciate it. It’s not all that surprising, though. Ramsey is a real estate agent, and he’s involved with several properties in the area. I just didn’t realize he owned that particular building.”

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