Page 107 of The Case of the Missing Love Stone

Scarlet’s fingers still in her hair. “Do we know whether she used that flyer or bought from the old post office booth?”

“No.”

“Whether the bundle caused the episode?”

“No.”

“Whether Magnolia supplied it?”

“No.”

I move closer until I stand behind her. “Tom is checking permits and vendor contracts. We’re meeting him at the rental.”

She nods, but concern gathers beneath her scent.

I set one hand at her waist. She leans back into me without hesitation, and the ease of it does funny things to my chest.

“You all right?” I ask.

“I will be.” Her eyes stay on mine in the mirror.

“That woman is going to look at her pack and see strangers. We don’t know what state she’ll be in when we arrive.”

“No.” Scarlet covers my hand with hers. “But maybe I’ll be able to help.”

I bend and kiss the side of her neck, slow enough to feel her soften beneath my mouth. My hunger stirs at the scent of her skin and the memory of how she tasted this morning. For one sharp second, I want to lift her onto the counter and take another taste before we leave. The want is vivid enough that I let my mouth linger at her pulse until it passes.

There will be other mornings.

She turns her head and meets my mouth. The kiss is warm and unhurried, a slow dance of tangling tongues and sliding lips. Scarlet kisses me deeply, and just when I’m starting to rethink my decision about not tasting her, she draws back just far enough to speak.

“You came upstairs to deliver information.”

“I did.”

“You look distracted.”

“I am.”

Her gaze drops briefly to my mouth. “By the investigation?”

“No.”

The corner of her lips lifts. “Oh.”

I kiss her once more before stepping back. “Finish your hair,” I say. “Then come show us how the old post office catches foot traffic.”

Scarlet reaches for the hair tie beside the sink. “That almost sounded like a request.”

“I’m adapting.”

“Slowly.”

When she returns to the kitchen, her hair is braided over one shoulder, and the moon pin holds her cardigan closed.

Roman sets fruit beside her plate. “Three bites before criminal activity.”

“I ate before my shower.”