“What are the chances the sheriff shows up and not some deputy who has no idea who I am?”
“No.But it’s a small town.A guy at my house will strike up a lot of interest, and it won’t take long for people to figure out who you are.”
He shrugged.“Not really that worried.”He kept his hands on her ankle, moving his thumb to the arch of her foot and gently stroking.She leaned back in her chair, now appearing almost relaxed by his contact.
“There’s something I need to show you,” he said.
Her eyes lifted slowly to his.“Why do you say that so ominously?”
He applied a little pressure at the ball of her foot and her eyelids flickered.“It’s been so long since I’ve had a foot rub.”She blushed and pulled her toes from his grasp.“Thanks.What did you need to tell me?”
Christ.Was this what it was going to be like?A little push a little pull?Of course it was.Because he was an idiot and couldn’t stop himself from crossing the motherfucking line.
“Frasier Donohue.”
Awareness dawned in her light brown eyes.She flicked her gaze away.“What about him?”
“Are you aware he has a thing for you?”
She squirmed.
“Jos?”
Seconds ticked.She kept her gaze down.He pulled his keys from his pocket and removed the thumb drive.“Can I use your laptop?”
She straightened in her seat.“What’s that?”
“Proof that Frasier might have been involved in Liam’s death.Where is it?”
She pointed to the living room, her face tight with angst.“Couch.”
He stood and made his way to the living room.The device had some kind of astrology sticker on it.He took it to the kitchen and placed it in front of her.Then he dragged his chair closer to her and waited while she fired up the laptop.
She turned it toward him and he stuck the thumb drive in the USB port.Reaching over her, he tapped the mousepad and brought up the Bonfire folder.
“What are these?”
“Hold on.”
He made the images larger and clicked through.The first shot of Liam and her lit the screen.She didn’t make a sound but brought her fingertips to her lips.A knife cut through his insides.No matter what he did, he brought more pain to her.
But there was no help for it.
He clicked rapidly through the group pictures then moved slowly through the dozens of pictures of her at every angle.
She slapped the laptop closed.“Holy shit,” she breathed.“Where did you get these?”
Quin’s eyes darkened.“Never mind that.”He gripped her elbow with his fingertips.“He’s got a thing for you...clearly.Did you know?”
Her teeth scraped over her bottom lip.“Yes.Well, no.No.I had no idea he’d gone to this extent...at least not after—”
She got to her feet and her knees instantly shook.
He stood and caught her shoulders.“Sit, dammit.You’re hurt.”
She shook her head, and he didn’t have the fight in him to force her.Not until she said what she wasn’t telling him.“Jos—”
“He followed me one night.Liam beat the shit out of him.”The words came out like a tsunami.Fast and destructive.
