She shrugs. “Take me to my computer and I’ll show you.”
“Get in the truck.” Relieved I may not lose my job, I drive her back to the inn.
Alone in her room, the double bed cries out to me. I could lay her down, kiss her like crazy, and tap into the hot lava of her desire.
Done daydreaming, I clear my throat and sit my ass down on an uncomfortable chair, away from temptation.
She folds her legs on the bed, opens her laptop and types while I try to figure out how to hide my hard on. Seeing her PJ’s folded up and her panties drying on a rack in the bathroom makes it difficult to concentrate. Of all the women in the world, why does my cock fixate on her?
“Done.”
Standing, I walk over and glance over her shoulder. “What did you do?”
“It’s complicated but those recent postings will fade into obscurity. They won’t disappear entirely, but neither will they go viral. Let’s just say, what happened is a nonevent.”
“Thank you.” For sure, the scene in the student center was not my finest hour.
I rasp a palm over the whiskers on my chin, needing to get out of this room before I do something stupid like brand her with a searing hot kiss.
“Can you drop me back at the college? You made me abandon my car.”
Nope. I don’t want her anywhere near Jeff Kincaid.“I’ll get it.”
“What? You don’t trust me?” Her pretty face registers hurt.
Holy fuck, I am so over my head, I tell the truth. “Stacy’s husband has threatened to file a restraining order if he even senses you driving by the college.”
Sighing, she hands me her car keys. “Fine. I’m parked in the second to the last spot. It’s a white Ford Escort, not a Beemer, nor a Jaguar, nor a Porsche. You can’t miss it.”
I recognize the resentment in her tone but don’t blame her. We both grew up dealing with entitled, spoiled, rich kids.
I stop in the doorway and turn. “Wait. One more thing. What did you learn?”
“Nothing tangible.”
“Out with it.”
“Oh, fine. Jeff cheated on Stacy with former students, a lot.” Her phone bleeps and the moment she pulls it out of her purse, I snatch it.
The text message is sent from someone named Sam Spade. Rolling my eyes, I turn the screen so she can read. “Who is Arianna Patel?”
“Just one of Don Juan’s many conquests.”
“For the last time, Danni, stay out of this. Let the police handle it. Now, bolt the door and not just the chain. I’ll be back in a few.”
“Anyone ever tell you how bossy you are?” She clicks the lock into place and I trot down the stairs.
In the lobby, I call my brother, pick him up, and stop beside her car. “Thanks for helping me out.”
“Did you really arrest Danielle?” He fingers the door handle and shoots me his favorite older-brother scowl which I shrug off. His look hasn’t affected me in years.
“She’s going to get herself hurt.”
“Then talk to her, dumbass, don’t lock her up. What is wrong with you?” He holds his palm out for my keys, stomps around my truck, and I follow.
“You think I didn’t try? She won’t listen and want to know why? She belongs to a group of amateurs who help solve cold cases. Hell, I’m sure she’s got them involved.”
I stand in front of my vehicle so I can get the last word in. “You don’t understand. Stacy’s autopsy came back and the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.”
