Page 41 of Down and Dirty

Keaton was still shirtless when I stepped out of the bathroom. He caught me around the waist as I was walking past and leaned in, boxing me against the doorframe. His dark eyes were a lighter shade of blue today. “I didn’t give you a proper good morning.”

His fingers tangled in my damp hair, and he leaned in, pressing his lips to mine in a kiss designed to make me melt.

I shoved against his chest, his body unmoving. “You start that, and we’ll never make it to the station. Get a shower, stud.”

He winked and kissed me again. “Your wish is my command.”

I opened the motel door to find Jimbo leaning against the railing, watching the people carrying their luggage out and stuffing it into their cars. He had two cups of coffee in his hand and handed me one. “I thought you could use that.”

“Thanks,” I said and sipped. “So, what was so urgent that I needed to give my statement at seven in the morning?”

“Don’t be mad. We always have coffee at seven, and I thought you might be worried about this,” he said, pulling Mary’s satchel out of his pocket.

“Your house is a crime scene, Faith. We had to look for clues and I thought you might to hang on to that.” His face lit up fifty different shades of red.

“Thanks.” I clutched the bag tight in my hands. “Did you find any clues?”

“We found tracks outside your backdoor, not to mention the rats. We pulled a lot of prints from the basement, and we’re running them, but it’s going to take some time.”

“There’s no telling how many you’ll find down there. I bought the house from an old couple who had about fifteen grandchildren, and that used to be their play area.”

“Good to know,” he said, returning his gaze to the red taillights pulling out of the motel. “I’ll rule out yours and any of the other previous tenants that I can find on file.” He cleared his throat. “So, Daniels, huh?”

“Keaton is…” I sighed in a good way, remembering the way he kissed me. “Yeah, Keaton and I are…figuring things out.”

“I noticed,” Jimbo said. “You were wearing his shirt from yesterday.”

His shirt smelled like pure Keaton. I hadn’t wanted to take it off. I wanted his scent to linger until it was the last thing I smelled when I closed my eyes. A girl could get used to that. Maybe when he left, I’d keep one as a keepsake just in case he didn’t return. “He’s sweet and funny and smart.”

Jimbo sighed. “You’ve already fallen, haven’t you?”

“What? No. I hardly know the guy other than the time we spent camping in the woods and then at my house and then here. It’s not possible to fall for anyone I’ve known for less than a week. My head has never been up in the clouds, you know that.”

“But you like him?”

A smile slid onto my lips. “Yeah, I like him.”

Jimbo nudged my shoulder. “At least you chose a cop. I’ll rest easier knowing someone besides me is watching your back, but you might want to check in with your sisters before they go postal looking for you.”

“Oh, God, you’re right. I need my car,” I said.

“We’ll pick it up when we leave here, and you can follow me to the station,” Jimbo said.

Keaton walked out of the motel room. His hair was still wet, and it looked as though he’d just run his fingers through the strands. He had his badge clipped at his waist and was wearing his shoulder holster with his gun strapped inside.

I licked my lips as I let my gaze wander down his body and back up, meeting the sparkle in his eyes. He winked.

“Reel it in, Faith. You look like you’re ready to devour him,” Jimbo said, walking away.

“Later.” Keaton kissed me once more before resting his hand on my back and leading me down the stairs.

Today was full of all kinds of promises. The heavens were starting to shine on me, until I slid into the backseat of the SUV and Jared appeared next to me.

“I don’t like him.”

Jared’s calm voice was scarier than if he’d been pitching a fit.

I glanced down at him. “You’ll get over it.”

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