“Heimpliedit.”
“How?”
“Well, he got mad when I grabbed his gun to pursue the stalker.”
A pause. “You took his department-issued firearm during an active investigation?”
“I didn’tstealit. He dropped it. I picked it up.”
“He is a law enforcement officer. Had you fired the weapon, don't you think this might have jeopardized his position?”
“I guess. But there was akillerout there.”
“So you believe your actions were justified.”
“Exactly.”
“So why does his opinion matter so much to you?”
I glare at the ceiling. “I'm not sure anymore.”
“Are you lying to me, lying to yourself, or do you truly not know?”
“Screw you, Herman.” I jab the screen, fling open the bathroom door—and nearly jump out of my skin.
Kade’s leaning against the wall, arms folded, smirking.
“Herman?” His brows rise.
“He’s my AI shrink. Okay? Satisfied? You were right. I’m nuts. Happy now?”
He doesn't say anything… only stares at me.
The stupid idiot's knowing grin softens into something almost tender.
Chapter 27
Kade
“I’m sorry, Flygirl.” Throat dry, I tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “It was a figure of speech, that’s all.”
“You said, and I quote, ‘Are you nuts?’ Not a lot of other ways to interpret the phrase.” Her eyes lift to mine—the sparks of anger dissolving.
When her dark pupils widen—my cock stirs. This woman is going to be the death of me.
“What Ishould’vesaid is I care a whole lot about you—how I don’t want you hurt.Weshould wait until morning.”
Her gaze drops, so I gently lift her chin. “If you go into the woods, let me be clear—I will follow you. I’d take a bullet for you, honey.”
Eyes wide, she searches my face for a lie. Finding none, she slips from my grasp, cupping my cheeks.
“Same.” The soft admission barely rises above the chorus of crickets, peepers, and the mournful hoot of a lonely owl.
Everything around us stays the same—yet my whole damn world just shifted. I’m betting neither of us understands what love is, but hell, we may be getting close.
My body aches to go back to the bedroom, stop talking, and show her how I feel. A few brain cells protest—reminding me we’ve got a killer to hunt come first light.
Clearing my throat, I turn toward the living room. “We need shuteye. You can take the mattress.”
