Page 95 of Trigger

I would probably regret those words for the rest of my life, but Icouldn’t take them back. They were the perfect ending in the sad chapter of mylife called “Never Fall in Love with a Straight Guy,” but I couldn’t let go ofDominic Carter just yet.

So, I told him to stay so we could look at the crime scene photostogether again.An excuse, because I wanted to spend more time with him.Afterthat, I offered to make dinner because I had leftovers from lunch.A lie. Imade a quickie risotto while he was on the phone with John Smith.Duringdinner, we chatted about inconsequential stuff, trying to forget the crimescenes and the dead people and the wounds healing on our bodies. We tried notto think about the lost friends and the lost opportunities. We were just twoguys hanging out and having a good time.

After dinner, I suggested we watch a movie together to forgetabout things.A deflection. Another excuse. Another lie.We settled onthe bed in my bedroom because the TV in the living room wasn’t working. I wasstaring at the TV with my head resting in his lap, which he allowed onlybecause “your leg hurts, and you might die.” Still, the photos of Sophie Malikand Roxie Brokowich kept swirling in my mind. I tried to make sense of it all,but how to make sense of what was ultimately senseless—taking a human life?

“Something is wrong with these two cases, Carter,” I said, turningmy head to look at him. “We’re missing something.”

He looked away from the TV, and his eyes found mine.

“We’ll figure it out,” he said, combing his fingers through myhair absentmindedly. “Sophie Malik is the answer. I just know it.”

It was the one thing that made my life less miserable—his hand inmy hair and the way he did it—so spontaneously, so… unaware of his actions. Itmade the words I was about to say die in my throat.I need to tell yousomething, Dominic.

When his phone rang, Carter turned on the speaker with his freehand while running his fingers through my hair.

“John?”

“It’s bad, Carter. Physically, nothing we haven’t seen before.Psychologically, it’s disturbing. This guy didn’t make a cut on her bodywithout thinking about it first. I never saw something like this before.”

“Can you send us the photos? Or whatever you have ready?”

“Will do. And say hello to Tye for me.”

“I will.”

When Carter hung up, he looked as bad as I felt. I opened my mouthto speak when he jumped out of bed with a loud, “Fuuuuck!”

He opened the window and yanked off his T-shirt, then catapultedit in the corner of the room.

“It must be a hundred degrees outside. What kind of September isthat?” he growled.

I was out of bed in an instant.

“Steady, partner,” I said, knowing it wasn’t the heat thatbothered him or my AC not working. It was the case.

Trying not to stare at his tattooed body, I stood behind him andwrapped my arms around his waist. “Calm down. Breathe.”

He shook his head in frustration, but my presence seemed to calmhim a bit.

“How are you always so cool?” he said with a voice that slightlytrembled.

“I just hide it better, Dominic.”

He seemed as if he was still kind of… simmering inside.

“It’s only a matter of time before we catch him,” I said, watchinghis strained expression. “You’re smart, and I’m smarter. We’ll get him sooneror later.”

He frowned, looking at me over his shoulder. “Wait, did you justsay you’re smarter than me?”

“Well, you’re the pretty one,” I murmured, sliding my finger downthe line of dark hair below his belly button. “Which means I’m the smart one.”

“Not if you don’t remove your hand, you’re not,” Carter said,chuckling. “And I know what you’re doing. You’re trying to distract me, so Idon’t lose my shit.” He hooked his finger around mine and pulled it away fromhis happy trail, but he let our fingers intertwine. “You’re also wrong.”

“Oh? What about?” I said, as he turned, and his teasing junglegreen gaze found my eyes.

“I bet those baby blues of yours have charmed more than oneunsuspecting victim,” Carter said, grinning. “And that hair…” He raised hishand and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Damn…”

Fuck. Me.

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