He lifted her into his arms again, both of them completely bare, before stepping under the stream of water.
She cupped his cheek, her gaze exploring his face. “Thank you for saving me today.”
“I didn’t save you. I just fought for you.”
“Youtrustedme.”
“I’m sorry it took me so long. I’m sorry I was so late.” He wasn’t just talking about today and how long it had taken him to find out what had gone down. He was talking about everything that had happened since she’d arrived in Misty Peak. He should have gotten to this place of trusting her faster.
“But you’re here now,” she whispered, hearing every one of his unspoken words.
She placed one light kiss to his lips, a kiss that seeped right into his soul. It wasn’t sexual—it was so much more than that. Then she placed her head on his chest, trusting him to hold her.
CHAPTER 26
“Kayden, stop the car.”
He shook his head, a hint of a grin on his face. “No. I told you. Cody said not to bring anything, so we’re not bringing anything.”
Goddamn this stubborn man. “I am not going to your first family dinner empty-handed. You stop the car right now, or I’m opening my door and ninja rolling onto the sidewalk.”
Was that a thing? Did ninjas roll out of cars?
Kayden gave her an assessing look, as if trying to figure out whether she would in fact follow through on her threat.
Of course not. She was nowhere near the adrenaline junkie she’d need to be to do such a thing. But he didn’t know that.
“I’m doing it.” She touched the door handle.
“Fine.” He sighed. “Just, let me park close to Sugar and Spice.”
She grinned. “Interesting. I thought I wouldn’t win this one.”
He pulled over and undid his seat belt, but before climbing out, he leaned over and hovered his lips over hers. “I will always cave for you.”
The kiss was far too quick and left her wanting more. A hell of a lot more.
She grumbled as she followed him out of the car but felt better when he slipped his hand into hers.
“How are you feeling today?” he asked as they headed toward Sugar and Spice.
Almost a week had passed since she’d found the watch in her drawer. In that time, she’d hired a lawyer but hadn’t been called back into the station. Kayden had been doing an amazing job of keeping her distracted. She’d also been working from home, mostly so she didn’t run into Jake. He obviously thought she was involved in Macy’s murder and possibly his shooting, so it was easier for everyone for her to keep her distance.
“I’m trying not to think about everything,” she said quietly. “I’m trusting my lawyer and the justice system, and hoping your brother finds the real person responsible.”
The watch had been tested for prints, and yes, it obviously had hers on it, but also another set of prints. Unfortunately, that someone else wasn’t in the system, so there was no way to identify the person.
“Eastern’s working overtime on this case,” Kayden said as he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “He’ll get there.”
She gave him a small, slightly nervous smile. “I hope so,” she repeated.
They stepped into Sugar and Spice and, like every other time, any tension in Tilly immediately eased, not just because of the smell of sugary dough, or the bright colors, but because this was another place her mother had often taken her. Mrs. Sandler had opened the shop when Tilly was little, and it had become an immediate favorite of her and her mother’s.
Mrs. Sandler wasn’t in, but that wasn’t a surprise. She’d flown to Atlanta for her granddaughter Sadie’s wedding.
The young girl behind the counter smiled at them. “Hi, what can I get you?”
Tilly stepped forward. “I need a variety of your best desserts. Maybe a dozen?”
