Page 20 of Demon
“What I’m trying to say is that the Devils are dangerous.”He waved one hand in the air, as if dismissing what he’d been saying before to say this now.“Jim Bob won’t hesitate to fight or hurt you just because you’re a woman.”He shook his head.“I hate saying this about anyone I’m related to, but it wouldn’t be the first time.If you can, get someone with serious training to ride along and assist.Taking him in will not be easy.Honestly, I’d say if you have to do it alone, to knock him out first.Find a way to incapacitate him or he’ll either hurt you or run.”He paused, taking a deep breath.“Hell, it’s probably a good idea to knock him out even if there are two of you.At least with two, you might get the drop on him, and it will be easier to carry him to the car.I assume once you get to the station, you can get some of the cops to help get him out.”
She stared at him while she thought about what he said.Was he right that the guy she was after would fight?Probably.He wouldn’t be the first, though most tried to outwit her or out run her instead of getting violent.
If she didn’t take Jack with her, who could she take?Gavin was the obvious option, but she would have to check with him.She didn’t want to put his job at risk if she didn’t have to.If she couldn’t get her brother’s help, who could she trust to help her and not make the whole situation worse.Dad was out.Not the least because he’d just tell her to take Jack, after all, that was his job.Plus, if Dad had assigned her this skip to make her look bad, or knowing what she knew now, maybe he wanted her hurt.
She didn’t think Dad wanted her hurt seriously, but hurt enough that she would give up, she wouldn’t put that past him.
“Okay, I believe you.I’ll keep looking and I’ll take someone with me once I think I know where he is.”
Joe nodded.“If you’ll text me the name of who posted bond, and their address, I’ll see if he’s there, and let you know if he is or where I find him.”
Joe watched her a moment, as if trying to see through her.What was it he was trying to decide?Did he have more to tell her?More threats?Well, not threats exactly but it had felt like it when he’d told her she needed someone with her.
That wasn’t a threat, she reminded herself, that was a warning.She might recognize them better if her father didn’t use warnings as threats.He would tell her she should do something his way, then engineer it so she had the problems he’d predicted if she didn’t do exactly as he’d instructed.But not everyone was like that.She took a deep breath and forced herself to let it out slowly as she focused her gaze on the floor.If she couldn’t see him then his resemblance to her TV crush couldn’t make her all hot and bothered.Then she remembered that he was waiting for her to respond.
Ronnie nodded.“I’ll text it to you when I get home.I’ve still got the card you gave me with your number.”
“Good,” he said after a moment.“Now I have a totally unrelated question.”
She waited, but he said nothing.After a moment she lifted her head and fought to ignore the way her stomach churned as she met his gaze.The bright blue staring back at her made her think of the sky on a clear summer’s day.She could even feel the warmth of the sun on her skin.
Was that desire?No.She must be imagining it.
“What?”she asked when she couldn’t take the tension stretching between them any longer.
“You got a man?”
Ronnie scowled.
“What?”
“Do you have a man?”he asked the question again, slower this time.“I don’t see a ring, but with your job, I might not either.Wait.Let me back track a moment.Do you like guys?Or are you into chicks instead?”
She stared at him, not sure what to say or how to answer him.Had he really asked if she liked guys or chicks?Wait, was he hitting on her?Her heart felt like it was about to pound out of her chest.
“Um, guys and no, I’m not seeing anyone right now.”This was not where she thought this conversation would be going.She stared at him, eyes wide as she wondered if maybe she was dreaming?
Yeah, that had to be it.She’d dreamed this whole thing.
“And you’re not married?”He leaned closer, until she could feel his breath moving along her skin.
Ronnie shook her head, but didn’t bother to tell him that she didn’t date.By the time she got through with work, she was usually too tired to worry about going out so she could meet someone.
“Good.”He leaned in closer.“I’m going to kiss you.If you don’t want it, say so now.”He moved slowly, leaning down so their faces were only millimeters apart.His gaze flicked down her face as he hesitated for a moment, as if waiting for her to say stop.
She wasn’t going to say it.This was the closest she would likely get to ever having anyone who was anything like her long-time crush, and since there was nothing stopping her, she was going to enjoy every second of it.
He brushed his lips across hers so lightly she thought she might have imagined it, then he came back with a little more pressure.She felt his arm hook around her middle as he coaxed her lips open.The soft tickle of his moustache on her skin only heightened the sensation as she lost herself in his touch, in his taste.The arm around her back tightened, holding her against him.She leaned in, unable to keep from relaxing against him as she quickly forgot where they were or why they were here.All that mattered was this.Here.Now.
He pulled away slowly, as if he wanted to stop as little as she did.She blinked then realized how close she was pressed against him.Ronnie’s face heated and she forced herself to stand up and move away, not that she could get far.The tiny room had boxes stacked in nearly every square inch of floor space.Holy hell could he kiss and DAMN.He tasted better than she could have imagined, if she had imagined kissing him.Which she hadn’t, she told herself, but she knew better.Why did she insist on lying to herself?
“I’d better go,” she said, struggling, and failing to keep her voice steady.
“Go ahead.”He opened the door and held it.“You know the way out or if you’ll give me a minute, I’ll walk you out to your car.”
“I can go on my own.”
“I know you can, firecracker, but it’s dark out and I’d prefer to walk out with you, make sure you’re safe.”
