Page 8 of Cold Case Murder Mystery

Just as he’d predicted, his sister turned away. “Maybe we’re all lucky,” she muttered and then strode for her truck where one of her ever-present dogs sat in the passenger side.

She didn’t go to the driver’s side. She opened the dog’s door and shooed it out, then gave it an order to stay.

“I don’t need a dog,” Zeke said, not quite sure what she was up to as she made her way to the driver’s side of the truck.

But she didn’t even look at him. She got in her truck, closed the door and leaned out the open window as she backed away.

Carlyle pointed to the house. “She might.”

Chapter Three

Brooke was still in the kitchen. She didn’t know what to do with the fact she’d just met a member of Zeke’s family.

She’dknownhe had siblings. He’d never named them, and hadn’t spokenmuchabout them, but every once in a while he’d let it slip that he had a brother—older—and a sister—younger. And Brooke had foolishly filed every little detail away andstillremembered them, apparently.

Now she’dmetthe sister. Carlyle. A pretty, wild thing who didn’t look too much like Zeke. Nor did she act like Zeke, who was all still gruffness. Even when she’d seen behind that steely guard of his, there hadn’t been a lot of... untamed in Zeke Daniels.

Well... except possibly in one place that it would really not do her to think about at the moment.

She heard a strange noise and looked up to see a large dog trotting inside, Zeke behind it. But she didn’t look at Zeke, because the dog came right up to her and pressed its enormous head against her leg, pushing his head under her hand.

Demanding to be petted.

Charmed, and almost immediately in love, Brooke did just that. Slid her hand down its silky head. “Well, hello. What’s your name?”

“Consider him your loaner guard dog.”

Brooke blinked at Zeke. She’d figured this was his dog. “What?”

“Carlyle and her... Well, you’ve met Cash Hudson. They train dogs together. She left this one for you.”

“My rental doesn’t allow pets.”

“Guess you’ll have to stay here then.”

She sighed, trying not to let the frustration win. She had to be reasonable. “Zeke, I’m not staying here.”

“You were scared. You called me because you’re scared.”

“Yes, but...” What was thebut? She didn’t know. She just... had made a mistake, clearly. Letting fear and instinct lead her to the wrong decision. Because she should have known, even with the past firmly in the past, he would take over. He would be high-handed and too...him.

“So, it’s me and the dog protecting you and you stay here, or we tell the detectives. Your job or your pride. I’ll let you pick.”

Had he always been so unreasonable?

Yes.

She kept petting the dog in an effort to keep herself calm. It didn’t work. “I’m not your responsibility, and in fact, when I was even a little bit of your responsibility, you didn’t handle that very well.”

His expression didn’t change. Because he was expressionless. Blank. Yes, she remembered that quite well—especially at the end.

“No, I didn’t.”

That admission felt... heavy. Shifted too many things inside her, made her heart pick up a little. Especially the way he justlookedat her, those serious, intent dark eyes. Four years and the way it had ended should have dulled whatever impact those eyes could have.

But they didn’t. She felt too warm and could remember all too well the way...

No, Brooke, you are not letting yourself rememberthat.

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