The final message was left at two forty-five. I press Gill’s number and barely hear one ring. “Yo.Finally.”
“Sorry, man. Busy night.”
“She with you?”
“Yes. What you got?”
“We caught someone moving about the property last night. The camera didn’t pick up anyone entering through the front gate, so I’m assuming they came from the back wall. That thing is ten feet, at least.”
“Did you go check it out? Was there more graffiti?”
“Negative to both. We knew you were together, so we waited to hear what you wanted us to do.”
“Okay. I’ll take her home in sixty, and I’ll let you know what I find.”
“Need backup?”
“No. I don’t want her to know what we’re up to. At least not yet.”
“Okay. Call if you need me.”
I hang up and look around the room. “What the hell am I going to do about this?” I mutter.
“Do about what?” she asks, walking into my kitchen wearing one of my old T-shirts. This one has a Chicago Bears logo on it. She looks amazing in it. It falls to her midthigh; her bare legs are there for my eyes only.
“Oh, um, how was I going to make pancakes without any batter?” I lie.
“Do you have eggs? I could cook for you this time.”
“Oh? You can cook?” She slaps my bare chest. Yeah, I’m still naked. “Let me get you a cup of coffee before you expire. How do you take it?”
“Got any cream?”
I grab my nondairy creamer from the fridge. “This okay?”
“Ooh, the good stuff,” she coos. “All right, you go sit down and let me cook you breakfast.” She moves around my kitchen as though she’s cooked in it a million times. I love that idea. She whips up the eggs, puts toast in my toaster, and cooks both at the same time. In a matter of minutes, I’m eating fluffy scrambled eggs and buttery toast.
“Delicious. Thank you,” I say between bites. I lean over and kiss her on the tip of her nose—one of my favorite places to kiss.One of them.There are several others, too.
She smiles as she eats and then blushes as she looks down at my lap. I look down, then at her. I shrug. “You have that effect on me.”
She giggles and bites into her toast. “You have that effect on me, too.”
We eat in companionable silence. Once we’re done, I take her plate and set it in the sink. Georgia, my cleaning lady, willbe here today, so I’ll leave these for her. “Let’s get you home, MacKenzie. I’ve got a few things I need to get done today.”
“Yeah, I’ve got to work on some jewelry. I’m way behind.”
While she gathers up her clothes and changes, I dress as well. I’m anxious to get to her place to see what the hell happened last night.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
THAT’S STRANGE
When we pullup in front of my place, I sense Sam tense up beside me. I smile at him and reach for my door.
“Hang on. Let me help you,” he says, jumping out of the driver seat.
He’s such a gentleman. “Thanks.” I wait for him to jog around to me. Opening my door, he reaches in for my hand. He holds the gate open for me and then takes my hand as we walk around the house to my door. He’s so preoccupied. His eyes are on everything but me. When he finally does look at me, I smile, but he doesn’t return the look.
