“Jesse…hi.”
His thumb rubbed her hip again, causing a shudder to roll down her spine. “I can almost hear you thinking.”
“You can’t hear someone think.”
“Maybe not. But by the tensing of your muscles and the fisting of your hand, I know something’s going on in your head. Want to share?”
No. That was the last thing she wanted to do. Like smack dab right at the bottom. Plus, her head was such a mess, she didn’t even know how to articulate her thoughts.
“It’s nothing. I just…I overthink things. Hazard of being an author.” Hazard of being Aspen.
Concern flickered over his features. “What are you overthinking?”
Us. The word stuck to the tip of her tongue like glue.
When she took too long to answer, he rolled them so he hovered over her. “If it’s us…”
Bingo.
“…I might have some work to do.” He lowered his head, and she gasped when his lips touched her neck. But the gasp quickly turned into a moan as he grazed little kisses across her skin.
Holy hell, how did he always know exactly how to touch her to make thinking so hard?
His hand smoothed down the side of her body, and when he lifted his head, she immediately wanted to tug him back down to her. Demand he kiss all the parts of her body he’d missed.
His intense, dark gaze collided with hers. “I’m sorry again about Luke.”
The reminder of Luke and his conversation with Bea about her mother crashed her back to reality, making her heated skin suddenly feel a bit cooler.
“What was the callout?” she asked. The question was one she probably should have asked last night, but her head had been a mess.
“She blocked the external cameras at the Airbnb where she’s staying. The owner asked her to uncover them, but it looks like she then messed with the Wi-Fi router. The owner asked us to drop in and get it back up and running.”
Aspen frowned. “Why would she do that?”
“I asked her, but…”
“She wouldn’t tell you. Sounds like my mother. She’d probably just concoct some story about being watched. It wouldn’t be the first time.” She shook her head. “I hope she leaves soon.” But when had Karen Davies ever done what Aspen wanted?
“I’ve asked the owner to let me know when she checks out.” His hand grazed back up her side. “You didn’t eat last night. I need to feed you.”
“Food sounds good.” As if her stomach heard, it gave a huge, everyone-in-the-neighborhood-probably-heard growl.
Oh, God.
Jesse laughed while Aspen covered her face with her hands. “I’m so embarrassed.”
“Don’t be. It’s a reminder that I’m not feeding you enough.” He kissed her neck again, and she groaned.
But when she lowered her hands, Jesse’s smile had dropped.
A bad feeling churned in her belly. “What?”
“I know you don’t like working at the station, but if you don’t, I’d like you to stay here, with the doors locked, while I’m at work.”
“Because of the person in my window the other night?”
There was a pause, and that pit in her belly deepened.
