Page 21 of For Dear Life

This guy’s definitely looking at me the way Rowan does, and not in his ‘I want your blood’ way. I clear my throat. “Edge of what?”

“Trying to kiss you.” His fingers tighten. “Problem is, if I fall over that edge, I’ll hurt myself. Or rather you or your father will. Shit, he was worse than I imagined.”

I’m still chest to chest with Grayson and encompassed by the thought of how he’d taste if I kissed him as much as another taste of his blood and desperately keep my mind on the runes and magical items.

Because I swear, he’s about to nudge himself off that ledge.

“Do I need to suspect Holly now?” I ask flatly.

A new sensation replaces the one that’s been with me all the time with Grayson. A twisting in my stomach at the disbelief. Somebody fooled Violet Blackwood?

“Wasn’t she on your suspect list?” he asks, neither of us moving away.

“No.”

“That’s not logical for a detective.”

I scowl. “Neither is killing someone, Grayson.”

He scoffs. “At least I wasn’t fooled by a human.”

“Excuse me,” I growl. “Why would I suspect the girl who’s nice to me?”

“Are you serious? That’s enough for you to discount her as a suspect? Your human roommate and your things disappearing? She’s probably connected.”

Any yearning for his mouth or blood melts away. “Don’t speak about Holly like that. She’s a friend.”

“I’m a friend, but you suspected me for a long time,” he retorts. Grayson’s breathing now speeds to match mine. “The great Violet Blackwood, with all her superior intelligence, has been fooled by a mere human because the girl was nice?”

The mocking edge to his tone sets my hackles rising. “We have no evidence against Holly.”

“What the hell is that, then?” He gestures behind me.

“Not enough evidence,” I correct. “And your presence in this closet could’ve created a huge problem.”

I make to step back and yet again, his hand takes mine. “Yeah. Not sure how you’d explain why you’re making out with me in your roommate’s closet.”

The words are finally spoken, and I’m aware how easily I’ve allowed the blood attraction to wind around us both. He’s touching me and every place our skin meets Grayson’s blood pulses against mine. For once, I’m happy he’s taller and that he’d need to dip his head to bring his mouth any closer.

“I don’t think you should help me with the investigation anymore,” I say softly.

“Why?”

“Because you get in the way and do unhelpful things like separating suspects from their hearts.” I clear my throat.

And distract me.

“Am I a suspect again?”

“No. But it’s safer for us both if you stay away.” I manage to disentangle myself from the strange Violet that wants to entangle with the guy. “Specifically, by leaving this closet.”

“Before you kiss or attack me?”

I gawk at him. “No. Before Holly returns for a different colored scarf.” He watches how my hand shakes when I brush the front of my shirt. “And this airlessness won’t help with this next panic attack you appear to be heading towards.”

Grayson closes his eyes and bites his bottom lip hard. No. Is he about to draw blood to tempt me? “Like I said, I’m close to the edge sometimes.” He places both hands on my shoulders and maneuvers me away from him, sucking in a huge breath. Then he pushes through Holly’s dresses towards the room. “If you don’t investigate Holly now, you’re an idiot, Violet Blackwood.”

“I will investigate her,” I retort.

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