Page 17 of Down and Dirty

She’d been nervous when she sought me out. Her warnings about pure evil had been a jumbled mess, and she’d been nervously looking over her shoulder. I was the final keeper. The last bridge to set things right.

I packed up my camping gear and a cooler and stationed them by the door for after my date. Two of my sisters had stopped by to check on me after hearing about my landfill mishap. They’d been mad that I hadn’t waited on them too. My sister Cassie had called to tell me she was tracking our ancestors with Nathan’s help. Sleeping with an FBI agent had its perks, I guess. She said she’d be out of town for a day or two and not to do anything so stupid again until she got back.

Fifteen minutes before seven, my doorbell rang. My lips twitched into a smile. The doctor was early.

I unlocked the door and yanked it open to find Detective Keaton on my porch instead of the doctor. His smoldering gaze held my eyes before dipping to my lips.

“I hope you aren’t here to ruin my date,” I said, resting my hand on my hip.

“No.” He cleared his throat. “I have something I wanted to give you.”

“Why?” I asked before I could stop myself.

“I realize I might have come on a little strong when we first met. I want to fix that,” he said, holding out a single perfect white tulip.

I held his gaze as I lifted it to my nose and inhaled the flowery scent. “It’s beautiful,” I whispered. “White means…”

“Forgiveness and apologies,” he said and leaned in and kissed my cheek. The heat from his lips only lingered long enough for me to lean into the warmth before it was gone. He took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I’ll see you later tonight. Be safe, Faith Bennett.”

I watched him leave while holding the tulip to my face. Keaton Daniels was one cluster of confusion.

I’d closed the door and leaned against it when a knock sounded at my back. I smiled as I turned and opened it. “Did you forget something?”

Dr. Brandon Myers stood on my stoop with a bouquet of pink roses in his hand. He glanced at the white tulip.

“You’re early,” I said, ignoring the heat claiming my cheeks.

“Judging by the guy leaving and the flower in your hand, I’d say I’m late.” His smile softened as he met my gaze.

“Oh, this was just an apology from the detective for being so rude today,” I said.

Brandon held out the bouquet. “Mine isn’t an apology. They’re a symbol of your beauty.”

Oh, he was good. I took the bouquet of roses from his hand and inhaled their flowery perfume. “Thank you. They smell lovely.”

Brandon stuck his hands into his pockets. “Are you ready to go?”

“Oh yeah, give me just a second to put these in water, and then I’m all yours,” I said.

I disappeared into the kitchen and placed Keaton’s flower into a small vase and the bouquet on the counter to deal with later. Only one knife was on the counter this time. The long sharp one that I’d accidentally cut my finger with. It had sliced through my skin without any hesitation. I didn’t bother putting it away and returned. Brandon was staring down at my camping gear.

“You like to camp?” he asked.

“On occasion. Being one with nature helps keep me grounded.”

“From the ghosts you see?”

“Yeah,” I said, grabbing a shawl for my shoulders and my purse and locking up behind me.

Brandon opened the door to his Mercedes and offered support for me to climb in.

When he got in, he glanced at me. “I’m glad you were able to make it. I’ve made reservations at the Spice Cellar.”

“That sounds fabulous. It’s hard to get a reservation there.” I smiled at him as he pulled out of my drive.

His dark hair hung down in one of his eyes. His perfect olive skin looked exotic and warm to the touch.

“I’m surprised our paths haven’t crossed before.”

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