But she wouldn't imagine that.
"Why do you care so much? Is this your protective police side coming out for the damsel?"
He almost smiled but he shook his head slowly, his eyes roving over her face, his expression serious. "You're no damsel in distress, and I wouldn't do this for just anyone." His large hand cupped her cheek and something inside of her welled. How could this man, this deeply caring, handsome, kind, strong man, not be able to love? She closed her eyes briefly, letting herself feel his warm palm against her skin, letting herself soak in the tenderness she hadn't felt from a man in longer than she cared to think of.
But then she opened her eyes and gave him a nod. "Alright. Thank you," she said. "But only to sleep. I like being in The Lost Souls House with Ursula."
The relief on his face was vivid and when he dropped his hand her cheek lamented the loss.
"How do you feel about cats?"
His head tilted at the abrupt shift. "This town is crawling with them so I respect them but I don't cuddle them."
"Same. They tend to follow me around. Especially Sulphur and Georgia, so they might sneak in here."
"You have a cat named Sulphur?"
"Not my cat. Ursula's. Or," she frowned and pursed her lips, "maybe she belongs to the house. Not really sure."
"Not a problem. You and Salem cats are welcome. I'll give you the quick tour and then take you home."
Later that night as she walked up the steps to The Lost Souls House, she had the thought that even though they agreed to nomore physical intimacy, her heart was becoming attached to the detective in a way that it had no right to. In a way that could cause serious harm if she wasn't careful.
20. Bourbon and Curses
That evening was spent with Ursula and Eloise playing cards, drinking cocktails and eating honey butter popcorn while they laughed and listened to music and fell back into step with each other. They were three rounds into a game of hand and foot when the doorbell chimed and Casper unfolded his lanky body to bark at the intruder.
"One of the girls?" Eloise guessed as they both made their way to the front door.
"We should probably call them to talk over everything going on," Ursula said, then smiled at Eloise. "But maybe tomorrow."
Eloise nudged her shoulder with her own. "You're such a softy cheeseball and I love it."
When Ursula opened the door both women looked up, up, up and tilted their heads in a synchronized routine. The man standing there must have been over six feet, five inches tall. He had a rugged handsomeness and somehow was making a mustache look attractive. But what put them on edge was what he was wearing; a police uniform.
"Officer," Ursula said. "Sorry, I don't think we've met."
He nodded his head politely. "I take it you're Ursula Cambridge and Eloise Willow?"
"We are."
"I'm Chief Landry. Nice to meet you. Could we have a chat?"
"Is this a friendly get-to-know-the-new-Chief chat?" Eloise asked with a raised eyebrow to which he carefully kept his face blank. The atmosphere took on a sharp edge, the air catching a chill they both felt. Eloise caught the smell of snowflakes and clean air before a winter storm.
"Afraid not."
"Let's sit on the porch," Ursula said. "Can I get you anything? Water, tea, honey butter popcorn?"
"An old fashioned?" Eloise added.
His face, again, remained blank but Eloise swore she saw his mustache twitch the slightest.
"No thank you, ma'am. I'm right as rain."
"Where are you from, Chief?" Ursula asked as they took seats on the wicker furniture. Before he could answer Casper barked from inside the house and then jumped up against the large window causing them all to turn and look at the goofy facepressed against the glass with Sulphur's feline head next to his paws.
"Do you have a wolf inside the house, Miss Cambridge?"
