Page 60 of Midnight Secrets

Mouth pressed flat, I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel and looked outside again. “Okay.” Blowing out a breath, I turned back to her.

In the harsh overhead light, the pinch to her face created deep shadows under her eyes. I touched her arm. “You doing okay? How’s the leg?”

“It’s fine.” She glanced down, briefly.

For half a second, I thought about calling her out on the blatant lie. She’d already admitted it hurt, and her face said it hurt more than a little. But that wouldn’t do anything except make her put up her guard and drive a wedge between us.

Though the latter might not be a bad thing. It would help me keep my hands to myself. Because right now, all I wanted to do was haul her into my arms and make her forget her leg hurt.

She looked up again, her gaze locking with mine. Need unfurled in my stomach and heated my blood.

I clenched the steering wheel until my knuckles hurt, trying to hold on just as tightly to my control.

Swallowing hard, I broke the stare. “You should head home. Get it propped up. I don’t need anything else from you here.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted them. They did not come out the way I intended.

Her little harrumph said it all. She slapped the folder onto the dash and reached for the door before I could explain myself.

I scrambled out of the truck, running around to the other side before she could get out. It was a decent drop to the ground, and I’d parked close to the edge of the road. I didn’t want her to fall and reinjure herself.

“Let me help you out.” I reached for her arm, but she smacked my hands away.

“I can get out of a truck, Detective.”

Even in just the glow from the interior light and my headlights, I could see the fire flashing in her blue eyes. “This is going to be a thing with us, isn’t it? I make you mad, and you resort to my title?” I pushed past her waving arms and wrapped my hands around her waist, lifting her out of the truck.

“Since I’m nothing more than a person connected to your case, I think it’s… fitting.” Her voice trailed away, the last word coming out quiet and hesitant as her body made contact with mine.

I knew how she felt. Words were stuck in my throat too.

Through the heavy layer of her coat, warmth seeped into my hands. Her breath washed over my face, the sweet scent like a drug that went straight to my head.

All the reasons why this was a bad idea blew away with the wind, and I did what I promised myself I wouldn’t do again until this case was resolved.

I kissed her.

CHAPTER 21

Claire

Yes!

My inner voice fist pumped and eagerly kissed him back.

It won’t last, my rational side countered.

I opened the soundproof vault in my mind and shoved Ms. Rationality inside, slamming the door. I didn’t care if this lasted or not. It was happening now.

Ozzie backed up, pressing me against the doorframe. He slid one knee between my thighs, letting me rest on it so his hands were free to glide up my neck and into my hair. The press of his long fingers to my scalp sent a wave of tingles racing over my skin. I clutched at the lapels of his jacket and held on.

For long moments, we devoured each other, lost in the sensations overwhelming everything else. I didn’t feel the snow flurries that had started to fall, melting on my face, nor the icy wind whipping around us.

But Ms. Rationality battled her way out of her box. Curling her fingers over the edge of the door and poking her head through, she screamed at me.You’re on the side of a road in the bush, waiting on a tow truck to come get a potential murderer’s car! Have you lost your mind?

Indeed, I had.

I wanted to say I didn’t care. That the feel of our bodies pressed together, the glide of his lips over mine was all that mattered.

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