Page 76 of Armed ’N’ Ready

I never should have touched her.

Afterward, when he’d told her he loved her, it had only screwed things up more, and she’d thought the worst—that he’d only said it because he was using her again, this time for sex. Ironically, they were the truest words he’d spoken in a very long time. Fact was, she’d been so beautiful, lying beneath him on the moss…he’d never forget her face as he watched her shatter in his arms. He’d been unable to hold back what was in his heart. But then the hurt had returned to her eyes, and he’d felt like a dick of the highest order, which was exactly what he was.

If you don’t quit kicking yourself, you’ll be useless.

He repositioned on the sofa and began reviewing everything they’d learned during the interviews last night. Both he and Eric believed neither Feldman nor Chief Nelson was the man they were looking for.

Turned out Feldman was a corporate salesman peddling ladies cosmetics to department stores, an occupation he was embarrassed about, so he kept it on the down-low. Said he was sick and tired of being called an Avon lady. That explained why he’d been so cryptic when Nick had tried to figure the guy out. Feldman answered all their questions and let them look through his phone log, photos, texts, and email for anything linking him to Myer or the attempted kidnapping.

They were astounded at the money Feldman was raking in. His income was off the charts, to the point where he could make his own hours and afford to swing by the DPC for grub so often and at any time of the day. Plus, he’d admitted to having a thing for Meera, and the DPC was a neutral location where he could easily bump into her.

Their next stop had been to Chief Nelson’s house. To say the chief had been pissed about being interrogated was a major understatement. The guy had gone ballistic. It had taken them a good ten minutes just to get him to let them into his house, then another twenty to calm him down enough to answer questions. For a moment there, he’d half expected the chief to either lawyer up or call Nick and Eric’s bosses demanding they back the fuck off. An hour later, they’d left the chief’s house with the same unexpected result. The chief was innocent.

Chief Nelson not only wound up answering all Nick and Eric’s questions, but explained, albeit in a voice angry enough to shrivel most men’s gonads, that a rich uncle had died, leaving him enough money to fill a five-car garage with Porsches. He even showed them his uncle’s will and the six-figure amount he’d inherited.

Unable to lie still a moment longer, Nick got up and poured Saxon some of the kibble he’d picked up last night at his house. At the dinging sounds of the kibble hitting the bowl, Saxon pushed to his feet, ears erect, totally awake as he trotted into the kitchen and began munching away. He freshened Saxon’s water bowl, then grabbed his uniform and overnight bag before heading into the downstairs bathroom.

One look in the mirror told him he looked exactly the way he felt—like shit. Worse really. He needed another four hours of shut-eye before he’d feel or look remotely awake. His sleep cycle had been totally shot to hell by the gnawing in his gut that said something would go wrong today. Not that he could pinpoint why, but the worry was there, eating away like acid in the pit of his stomach.

He yanked open his bag and dug out his electric razor, wishing he could hit the reset button on what had happened yesterday. His timing had sucked, but he didn’t regret saying those three little words. Not for a second. He really was a lucky bastard. Never in his godforsaken life had he ever expected to fall in love again. But he had, and with a depth and intensity he hadn’t thought possible.

Andi was an amazing woman, and now she was in the line of fire, driving him that much harder to bring down the dealer.

I have to finish this.

Not only for Andi and Tanya, but for every innocent victim of gun crime. And who was he kidding? He wanted this over so he could have a chance with Andi. It would be one hell of a steep climb to get her to believe a word he said, but he had no intention of giving up.

The upstairs shower came on, and he glanced at the ceiling. He couldn’t keep his mind from wandering, or from wishing he were in that shower with her. Sliding a bar of soap over her smooth skin. Stroking every inch of her beautiful body. He’d made love to her without a condom. Stupid. Juvenile and stupid.

Snatching up the razor, he turned it on and began moving it over the dark stubble on his face. Though she’d told him there wasn’t any chance she’d get pregnant, he wouldn’t mind if she were. If they had a child together, it would bind her to him. Unfortunately, against her will.

You’re fucking pathetic.

Nick was fully dressed, sipping his first cup of coffee in the kitchen by the time Andi and Stray came downstairs.

Stray padded into the kitchen first. Saxon gave her a morning sniff in greeting, wagging his tail. The two dogs had become friends to the point where it didn’t seem to bother Saxon that Stray was hovering so close to his food bowl.

Next, Stray came to Nick for attention, her body wriggling and tail wagging furiously. He leaned down to pet her soft ears, glad to see she was recovering well.

When Andi walked into the kitchen, all their heads turned. As she leaned down to give Saxon and Stray a sound ear-scratching, his throat tightened. He could easily imagine starting the day with her like this every morning.

She straightened and looked at him. Eyes that had once gazed up at him with passion and desire were now totally impassive. He understood precisely what she was doing, and it was more effective than if someone had slammed him in the gut with a battering ram.

She wasn’t only distancing herself from him. She’s trying to cut me out entirely.

Which only fueled his determination to win her back.

As she took in his uniform, a discernible frown came to her pink-glossed lips, as if she were only now reminded of who and what he was and didn’t like it much. To him, she looked as beautiful as the day they’d met. More so, and while she fed Stray, he couldn’t keep his eyes off her.

The snug sleeveless blue dress hugged her body, coming to just above her knees, and emphasizing every graceful curve of her body. A strand of tiny pearls hung around her neck, with matching studs dotting her earlobes. Her hair hung loose, and with the sun streaming into the kitchen from the window behind her, it framed her face like a golden halo.

“Any coffee left?” Without looking at him, she headed for the coffee maker on the counter behind him.

As she moved closer, he breathed in the scent of freesia, much as he had the first time he’d ever kissed her. He cleared his throat and shifted aside so that she could reach for the cup he’d already taken out for her. “There’s plenty. I made extra for Matt and Kade. They’ll be here any minute to follow us to the courthouse.”

She poured herself a cup then went to the refrigerator for milk. “How did the interviews go last night?”

Grateful though he was for her talking to him at all, her tone was flat, emotionless, and she did her best to avoid his gaze, sending him only a quick glance before pouring milk into her cup and setting the carton on the counter. The chill between them had grown into a full-blown wall of ice, and it was driving him crazy.