Page 60 of Tell Me Your Desires
“I know, I know.” Jaime held up a hand, choosing to place her beer down for now. She wasn’t sure it would fit anyway. “Having a relationship with my microwave isn’t good.”
Max eyed Jaime as he sipped his beer. “Everything okay with you, Baros? You seem… different tonight. Though, to be honest, you’ve seemed less stressed the last day or two.”
Jaime wouldn’t go into deep detail about her stress relief, but she was happy Max had noticed her change in demeanor. It meant she wasn’t imagining it all in her head. “Yeah, I’m good.”
“Sure?” He asked, still eyeing her suspiciously. “Cuz, I dropped by your place last night, and you weren’t home.”
Just come clean. He’s not your fucking dad!
“I was with Anya,” Jaime said as she searched Max’s face, ultimately failing to read what he was thinking. “I actually wanted to speak to you about that. Friend to friend, you know?”
Max’s brows rose as he cast his gaze on his beer bottle that rested on his knee. “Right.”
“I’m into her, Max. I haven’t felt like this since I was dating Taylor. And I know you’re going to tell me I’m out of my fucking mind, but that’s not going to change how I feel.” Jaime shook her head. “It won’t make me want to date her any less. So, if that’s what you’re about to say, don’t waste your time.” She exhaled a long breath, then relaxed back in her seat. She hoped the confidence she felt inside was visible to Max. It had been so long since she felt confident that there was no way Max wouldn’t notice.
“You finished?” He laughed and shook his head. “I knew something was going on. You’ve been different, but it’s good to see you like this. You’ve had a rough road, Baros. I watched you struggle for a long time. If Anya is who you see something with, then I’m happy for you.” He reached out and squeezed Jaime’s knee. “And maybe it won’t work out, but I think it’s something you have to try. If nothing else, it means Rosanna will stop giving me a headache about you being alone.”
Huh. Jaime had expected far more of a reaction than that. Now, she didn’t know what else to say. “Well, thanks. For being supportive and all that.”
“It’s not ideal, not right now, but you’re a good detective, and I know you’ll focus on the job. Maybe more than you have been now that you’re… involved, shall we say?”
“I know I haven’t been the easiest person to work with, but Iamin a better headspace now, Max.” Jaime wanted to bring up her plan again, but she didn’t want to disturb the calm she felt for at least another moment or two. God knew it would be anything but calm once Max knew she was serious about the next steps they needed to take. “She’s great, you know…”
“Well, when this case is over, and we’ve caught the fucker, I hope I’ll have the chance to see that for myself.”
Fuck! What a thought that was. Jaime already felt high on life after taking Anya out for dinner. The idea of her being more involved and meeting one another’s friends had Jaime itching with anticipation. Still, it was something to look forward to when this was all over.
There was one thing that Jaime wasn’t frightened of… and that was love.
Then the nightmare she’d had early this morning forced its way back into her mind. “You remember I mentioned those nightmares I was having? The recurring one when I find Taylor dead in the alleyway?”
Max nodded. “I remember.”
“I had one this morning.” Jaime sat up straight in her seat, picking at a nonexistent spot on her pants. She chewed her lip, aware that this conversation was about to turn. “But it was Anya in the alleyway. Not Taylor.”
“That’s kind of understandable with everything that’s going on. You’re interested in this woman, and you’re dealing with a rough case… the brain does these things, Baros.”
“Maybe, but it just makes me want to catch the bastard doing this even sooner. If he touches her, Max.” Jaime clenched her hand into a fist, her nostrils flared. “I swear to God I’ll rip his fucking throat out.”
“Whoa. Relax. We’re going to catch him before he can hurtanyother women.”
Jaime snorted. If Max was so sure about that, why hadn’t they caught him already? “You don’t know that. You can’t be sure that he isn’t going to come after Anya next. Sheisthe reason he’s doing this. We have to be prepared for whatever he plans to do next.” Jaime swallowed as she gazed back at Max. “I have a bad feeling he’s coming for Anya.”
“Baros—”
“About the plan I mentioned to you before,” Jaime blurted out, not giving Max the opportunity to try to placate her for another second. “I know it’s… unconventional, but it’s a good plan.”
Max pinched the bridge of his nose. “I already know what you’re going to say, so save it. The department willnotgo for it, and I have to wonder if you’re out of your mind.”
“Actually, I’m thinking far more clearly than I have in a long time. I’m ready for this, Max. It’s time we brought him down, and the only way to do that is to follow the plan.”
“We don’t even know for sure that Anya’s reasoning is correct. The fact she’s slept with the victims could be a complete coincidence.”
“Really?” Jaime deadpanned. “Youactuallybelieve it’s a coincidence?”
Max’s right eye twitched as she glared at her. He knew it was the reason behind the attacks. Whether Jaime wanted to imagine Anya with other women or not…it didn’t change the fact that the unsubwaskilling women who Anya knew on an intimate level.
“Well?”
