“Yes,” I whispered as I pressed my mouth to his.
The kiss was everything a kiss should be. I hadn’t realized how inadequate every other kiss in my life had been until this moment. This definitely wasn’t one of those quick pecks we’d shared earlier. This was lips and tongues and heat.
He crowded me against the back door and pressed his body to mine. My every nerve exploded to life. I wanted more. I wanted Gideon.
But this went deeper than mere lust and the need to get off. I didn’t know how it was possible, but I sensed a profound connection between us settling into place. I arched against him. I lost track of everything except the feel of his body under my hands, the heat of his mouth against mine, the exquisite sense of anticipation…
Someone cleared their throat.
Gideon pulled back. He glanced over his shoulder, but it was like he already knew who was there.
“You don’t need to stop mauling one another,” my grandfather said, “but if you could move over so I could get to the door.”
Oh God.I dropped my head onto Gideon’s shoulder to hide my face. I wasn’t a teenager, but being caught necking with a guyon the doorstep made me feel like one again. Laughter rumbled out of Gideon.
“If you’re staying in the garden, watch for the moonbane,” Elwood said as we shuffled to the side. “You don’t want to touch it while the flower is open.”
Right, I’d forgotten some of Elwood’s medicinal plants were also poisonous if you didn’t use them correctly. I didn’t know which one was the moonbane, but I recognized all the plants closest to us, so I wasn’t worried.
“Thank you,” Elwood said after we’d moved. I heard the door open. “I wouldn’t normally ask this, but if you decide to take this somewhere else for the night. Let me know, okay?” Then he went inside and closed the door.
That was a sober reminder that all was not right in Ravenstone.
“I should…” I pointed to the door.
“Yeah. Me, too.”
Gideon pressed his lips to mine again, but this time it was one of those quick, sweet kisses. He stepped back, and I wanted to follow. I didn’t.
“I’m right there,” he said, pointing to the next building. “If you need anything, anything at all, just shout. I’ll hear you. Iwillcome.”
His promise gave me goosebumps. I’d never had anyone want to be my white knight before.
“I will.” I nodded. “Good night, Gideon.”
“Good night, Declan.”
He didn’t leave.
“Is there something else?”
“I’ll wait here,” he said. “Until you’re inside, and the door is locked.”
His protectiveness made me smile as I stepped inside and dutifully locked the door. Then I waited. I didn’t know why until I heard him say through the door, “Sweet dreams, Dec.”
“You, too,” I whispered.
Chapter Sixteen
I come bearing coffee
Gideon
My mind had been hard at work all night trying to figure out what was going on in Ravenstone, so I’d barely slept a wink. Eventually, I gave up, dragged myself down the stairs, and put on a pot of coffee. It seemed Declan was wearing off on me.
At least Winston’s death had made sense in a way. He was a difficult man to deal with, and he had his fair share of enemies, but Jim? Everyone liked him. He was having money problems, sure, but that was mostly Winston’s fault. His crew all knew that and didn’t seem to blame him for it, so there was no motive there.
I couldn’t find any logical connection between the two murders, but the two had a history and were both killed in the same place, so they had to be connected. But how?
