Page 39 of Down and Dirty

I set that file down and grabbed the one for Erin Adams, the reporter.

Her file was much more explicit. The picture of the car and purse contents laying on the ground lay over her file. A headshot from the DMV was clipped to the folder.

This one had many more pages of notes and statements.

“Erin was a journalist?” I asked.

“You could say that,” he said.

I flipped the file to Keaton’s own statement. My gaze shot to his. “You dated her?”

“We dated for three months prior to her disappearance. I broke things off when I caught her snooping in my computer at my case files.”

“She was trying to track down the missing women?”

“She became obsessed with the case, and that was when there were only three.”

“That’s how Karlee recognized you?”

He nodded. “Erin was driven. She could smell a story before it ever even happened. She was that good.”

“You respected her.”

“As a girlfriend, yes, but as a cop to a journalist, it was hard.”

I could see that. Keaton’s face turned solemn as he stared down at the picture. “She’s the reason I’ll go to my grave trying to solve this case.”

“When you questioned Brandon, what did he say?”

“Dr. Myers admitted he talked to her. He claimed she came in making wild accusations about him being an Angel of Death and killing patients.”

“She found a connection?” My mouth parted.

“Apparently she must have found one we missed,” Keaton said.

“Brandon’s not a killer,” I said. “No matter what you believe.”

“He was the last person to see her alive and she accused him of killing patients. Jimbo is checking his alibi and hospital records to try and find a connection.” Keaton’s gaze met mine in a soft caress. “So, you and Dr. Dipshit aren’t dating?”

I shook my head. “No sparks. We decided to be friends.”

His lips twisted into a smile as he touched my arm. “And what about us? Do you feel the sparks?”

I nodded and nibbled my bottom lip between my teeth. “Our sparks could start a fire.”

Keaton pulled me into his arms. “Are you sure about this?”

I nodded. My stomach was in knots, but I didn’t know if it was from the nearness of Keaton or the fact that dead bodies had been found in my home.

Dead bodies.

In my home.

My heart started racing at the thought, and then Keaton’s hands were sifting through my hair, bringing my focus back to him.

The second my gaze locked with his I knew that things were about to change between us. His head lowered to mine, slow enough that I could pull away. But I didn’t want to. The first brush of his lips against mine banished all the dark thoughts from my mind, and I fisted his shirt, bringing him closer. His palm rested against my side as he slid his fingers beneath the hem of my shirt. The heat of his touch ignited something inside me, something that wouldn’t be denied this time.

Keaton took his time, seemingly not in a rush as he explored my body, his lips never leaving mine. When he finally drew away, my breathing was ragged and my heart was hammering in my chest.

I didn’t want to think about death anymore. I didn’t want to think about this case. I needed to feel…sparks.

Slowly, I removed my shirt, watching as his eyes darkened with every inch of skin I exposed. My jeans were the next to go, leaving me in my bra and panties. I watched as he stripped off his clothes, hesitating when he was down to his boxers.

“Faith, I didn’t bring you here to seduce you,” he said, but I could tell the words cost him. He wanted this as much as I did.

“I need you, Keaton.”

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