Page 93 of Not That Complicated

I wasn’t used to being the one to hurt. I’d simply never had that kind of power before, with anyone. I didn’t like the idea that I was clumsy with it.

Adam’s hand rested low on my back and he nudged me up the front steps. I went easily.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Once inside, Adam dropped mybag by the door. I flipped on the hall light and we stared at each other.

I was jumpy and wired, and almost certain I was going to do something stupid. Yep. Definitely going to do something stupid—that was my hand, reaching out and, yep, I was touching him. I wasn’t looking at him, because I’d explode if I had eye contactandbody contact. But those were my fingers, spreading wide over his sternum and flexing lightly.

Adam took in one slow, deep breath, his head angled toward mine, then he moved into me with one long stride. He bumped me back against the wall, cushioning the back of my head with his hand. “Ray,” he said, voice low.

I opened my mouth, and that was when my stomach groaned.

It was the worst, gurgling moan I’d ever heard in my life.

“That wasn’t me,” I said automatically, and glanced up.

His golden hazel eyes were alight with humour. His smile flashed, quick and delighted andfond. “Jesus,” he said. “Don’t ever change.” He held my chin, dropped a firm kiss on my parted lips, and stepped back.

My stomach squelched again. Oh my god.

Adam headed for the kitchen and I hurried after him. When I caught up, he was rifling through the cupboards, pulling things out and setting them down on the counter.

“Put the kettle on,” he said. “I’m making you pasta.” He turned to me, crossed the kitchen and cupped my face. “Go and change the bed, I’ll make you a big bowl of food, and you can sleep.”

“Are you staying?” I remembered asking him that before, in the hotel.

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Why what? Why am I staying?”

“Yes.” I threw my arms out to the sides. “I don’t get it!”

“I know you don’t. Let’s say I’m a nice guy and leave it at that.”

“A nice guy with a service kink.”

“I’ve got a few kinks. I’d be happy to share. Service isn’t one of them.”

I gestured expansively at him.

“What does that mean, Ray?”

“It means you’re always taking care of me!”

“I’m seducing you,” he said, and stroked my jaw. “You fucking idiot.” He closed my mouth with a fingertip under my chin, and tapped my lips.

This man was a caretaker, through and through. “If you want to seduce me,” I told him, “you don’t have to cook for me. All you have to do is strip naked.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“Go and change the bed,” he said with that fond smile again, like I was something cute.

I hadn’t been upstairs alone yet since the discovery of the second body. I grabbed my bags from the hall, turned on all the lights, and pushed through the dread.

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