Page 26 of The Protégé

No woman had distracted me like this. Not since Kate. Guilt yet again nipped at me, and I touched the ring on my necklace.

It’s time to move on, Orion.

Ralph’s words echoed in my head. He knew Kate and witnessed how devastated I’d been when she died.

Though I knew it was true, it was easier said than done.

Elena continued taking pictures of the crowd and surrounding area.

I watched her maneuver around, snapping pictures with efficiency. My feet followed her like they were tied to her.What the hell?

The more I studied her, the more I wanted her.

And the more it annoyed me.

I was losing control of myself.This desire had to stop.

Irritation rose in me when she got close to the crime scene. “What are you doing?”

Her brows furrowed at the sudden change in my mood. “Investigating.”

CHAPTER TEN

ELENA

I could feelhis irritation prickling my skin. What had gotten into him?

Lowering my phone, I asked, “You okay?”

Was Orion having a bad day? He didn’t appear frustrated earlier when he first saw me. Butterflies had erupted in my stomach when our eyes connected. The silky butterflies still fluttered in me, but I was trying my best to ignore them. My attraction to this complex man increased every time I saw him.

How would I survive next week when I had to work with him?

“I’m fine,” he blurted out, still looking annoyed.

He was obviously upset about something.The man’s mood reminded me of the New England weather—unpredictable. I thought I had mood swings, but I always had a reason. But then again, maybe hewas experiencing something he wasn’t comfortable sharing with me. We didn’t know each other that well.

The past few months had been extremely stressful, so I could empathize with him.

The EMT had already taken off with the deceased man. I gestured toward the SUV. “I don’t think it was a mechanical error.”

He looked at me, and the frustration seemed to have disappeared. “How can you tell?”

“Just a hunch. I’ve been investigating strange deaths around the city.”

“Why?”

Shit.

I hadn’t meant to share that much with him.

“Tell me.” His gray eyes darkened.

My inner thighs twitched as though they sensed the lust from him. Was it lust? Or was it my wild imagination?

His gaze didn’t waver from me as I pondered what I should share. I didn’t know if it was the way he was looking at me or how his voice had a huskiness to it that made all my reservations disappear.

“I think it’s suicide.”

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