“Maybe.”Her gaze dipped lower, slow and deliberate.“Either way, the view helps.”
I lifted a brow.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand.Sharp.Insistent.
We both froze.
I reached for it without moving my other arm.Spade’s name lit the screen.
Duty shoved everything else aside.“Yeah.”
His voice sounded wrecked.“Got something.You and Jade need to come in after breakfast.Bring coffee.I’ve been staring at this shit all night.”
My gut tightened.“The SUV?”
“That and more.”A pause.“I think I found your girl’s insurance policy.”
I went still.“You have the drive?”
“Yeah, and we found something else.”Another pause.“Face-to-face.Feed her first.”
The line went dead.
Jade watched my face.“What’s wrong?”
“Spade dug up something tied to Jason,” I told her.“He wants you there.”
Fear flickered, then settled into something steadier.“Okay.”
“You want a few minutes?”I asked.“No rush.”
She shook her head.“If I stay here, I might never leave.That feels dangerous too.”
A grin tugged loose.“Not the worst danger you’ve faced.”
“Still pacing myself.”
We untangled slowly.Cold air bit as soon as she slid out from under the blanket.She made a startled sound and grabbed my hoodie from the end of the bed.
I watched her pull it on.Sleeves swallowed her hands.The hem hit mid-thigh.She already wore my shirt.She looked like she’d robbed me and planned to do it again.
She caught me staring.“Coffee first.Then staring.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
We moved around each other in the small space, shoulders brushing, hips bumping.She claimed the bathroom for a few minutes.I pulled on jeans, a clean shirt, then my cut.The new patch still felt stiff across my back.
In the kitchen, I started coffee and scrambled eggs.Routine helped.Control helped.
Jade sat at the table, arms wrapped around herself, watching me.
“Keep feeding me this way,” she warned, “and my standards will skyrocket.”
I shook my head.“I only make eggs, bacon, and grilled cheese.”
She smiled anyway.
We ate in comfortable silence.I slid extra toast onto her plate.She accepted without hesitation.
