Page 53 of Heat of Justice

”I must admit I can’t find it in me to be sorry,” she said.

“Naturally. Now I understand a lot better why you decided to leave Texas and start fresh in another place.” Cody returned the embrace.

“Yes. I tried to go back to work, but the spark had gone out of it. Also, I was so angry…”

“Can’t blame you for that either.”

Cody could not help sounding a little rough as she said this, and Kim kissed her softly.

“I suppose not. Thank you for understanding.”

“Of course!”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m okay. And you don’t have to thank me. I hate that this happened to you with a vengeance. I wish I’d been there to help you at the time… I hope—”

“What?” Kim prompted very gently when she stopped.

“It’s crazy.” Cody shook her head. “Ah… Forget I said—”

“No, please,” Kim insisted. “Tell me. You can be open with me, Cody. It matters.”

You know it, so don’t be a coward.Cody looked her straight in the eye and said it. “I hope I can be there for you from now on. Equally, for the good and the bad.”

“Oh, babe.” Kim flashed her a look of such pure tenderness that it eclipsed everything else.

The way she kissed her then was both calming and exciting at the same time.I’m lost,Cody thought.So deeply lost...Also, she had never felt more grounded.

“Hey,” Kim murmured.

“Hey.” Cody opened her eyes.

“I think we both have to stop saying our connection is crazy every five minutes.”

“I think you’re definitely right about that.”

“Yes.” A flicker of amusement flashed across Kim’s eyes. “I think you’ll find I usually am right about most things.”

“And you’ll find that’s my line.”

“Oh, yeah?” The smile blossomed. “Sorry, not anymore.”

“We’ll see about that,” Cody challenged with a chuckle.

“I look forward to it. Although,” Kim went on, “I did lose a lot of my confidence for a while. I’d been so sure this guy was innocent…”

“Well, he was for this one case you worked.”

“True. But as for my special gift, well… What good was it if it didn’t even protect me? I was furious about that especially. It felt like such a betrayal.”

“No wonder you seemed reluctant about it when you first talked to me. This makes more sense now too.”

“Yes. When I moved here, I thought I’d left this part of my life behind. In the two years I’ve been in Lewiston, I did not have a single flash or vision. Cassie was the first one and stronger than ever before. I don’t know what it means.”

“Maybe it’s a sign of healing.”

Kim looked surprised, then thoughtful.

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