I stare up at her beautiful face, her striking blue eyes focused solely on me.
“Can I join you?” she asks softly, almost as if she’s afraid of my answer.
“Sure,” I say, clearing my throat.
For some reason, I don’t want to keep her at arm’s length like I do everyone else. But I need to. For her own sake as much as my own. Salena slides in the booth across from me and leans her arms on the table. She’s dressed differently tonight, having traded her leather pants and bustier for a plain black tank, jeans, and leather jacket. I swear, this woman could wear a potato sack and still draw gazes. There’s something magnetic about her.
“How are you?” she asks.
“Fine.”
Salena’s lips tip up at the sides. “You always talk this much?” she teases.
My pulse picks up, and warmth spreads through my chest. It’s a feeling I’m not used to. “Yep.”
She laughs, and damn that sound. My stomach clenches and my eyes drop to her mouth. Fuck, I want to kiss her. I must be staring at her mouth, because she stops laughing, and her eyes spark. Blinking several times, she clears her throat and lowers her voice. “Have you gotten any leads on who the girl was?”
I lean back in my seat, my fingers tapping the table. “No. She hasn’t shown up in any missing person databases yet.”
“Oh . . . Someone’s surely missing her, right?”
“Maybe,” I say, looking off to the side.
I freeze as Salena's soft, warm hand covers mine on the table, my gaze moving back to her. Concern lines her eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay, detective?”
I want so badly to turn my hand over and link my fingers with hers. Instead, I slowly withdraw my hand and reach for my water.
“I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.”
Salena’s brows dip and she chews on her bottom lip. A sick feeling twists my stomach, and I think it's guilt at making her uneasy.
The young waitress returns then, glancing between Salena and I. A small secretive smile pulls at her lips as she places my meal down.
“Thank you, Rose,” I say.
I don’t think she was expecting me to use her name, because surprise shines in her eyes, and she takes a moment to respond.
“You’re welcome.”
Salena stands. “I’ll leave you to it, Detective. Have a good night.”
Salena links arms with the waitress and they walk off to the counter. Rose disappears for a moment then reappears with a bag, and the two walk out the door. Salena quickly glances at me over her shoulder before she disappears from sight. My chest tightens, making it hard to breathe when I can no longer see her. I don’t know why that makes me nervous, but it does. I don’t have time for pretty girls or feelings. But seeing her leave has protective instincts pushing to the surface, and I do my best to rein it in. Now is not the time to let my feelings get the better of me.
Chapter Nine
Logan
Iaddanotherfileto the stack on my desk and settle into my chair with a heavy sigh. I catch a glimpse of Kallie, the lieutenant, out of the corner of my eye as she makes her way toward me. I can’t help how tense my body gets as I grit my teeth in annoyance and count to ten. I get to eight when my phone rings.Thank fuck.
I swipe it up and see the unknown number.
“Hello. Detective Sinclair speaking.”
“Detective,” a voice greets me on the other end, one I recognize.
“Kai?”
“Aww, how sweet. You remember me.”
