Nari leaned back and scratched his neck with both hands. “It’s okay, boy.” Then she stiffened and looked over her shoulder. “Oh. Um, hi.”
It wasn’t fair that she should look so damn appealing in wrinkled clothes with no makeup on her face. She looked edible, despite the obvious whisker burn down her neck and over part of her jaw. “Hi,” he rumbled.
Her gaze ran down his bare chest to his unbuttoned jeans and she blushed a light peach. “I was just leaving.”
“I can see that.” He held out a hand to help her up, fighting every instinct he had to keep from tossing her over his shoulder and returning to the bed.
The dog whined.
“Knock it off,” Angus muttered. It looked like Nari was already having a tough time saying goodbye to the mutt. She turned and edged away from him, plastering a fake smile on her face. He sighed. “I’d offer to make you breakfast, but I don’t have anything but dog food here. Should we talk about last night?”
She lifted her chin. “What is there to talk about?”
Good question. They’d set the perimeters the night before, and he had to let her go. This was the last time she could be seen with him, because he was going after whoever had killed those two women, Lassiter or not. “I guess this is goodbye.” The idea hurt more than he would’ve expected. Even if the circumstances were different, he wasn’t relationship material. Not even close. “I’m sorry.”
She ducked for her jacket on the floor, quickly donning it and covering her wrinkled silk shirt. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. Last night was our one night.” Her smile came more naturally this time. “I enjoyed myself and so did you.”
Yeah, he had. “You deserve more.” The words were out before he could stop himself.
“I know.” She patted Roscoe’s head again. “So do you, even though you don’t believe that. I hope you find peace back at your cabin with your dog.”
There would be no peace. “Thanks.” He kept his expression neutral.
With her hair all mussed, she looked adorable—and sexy as hell. “Are you really heading out of here?”
“Def initely,” he lied. If a killer was after him, or messing with him, cutting ties to everyone he knew was necessary. He’d been so obsessed with hunting Lassiter that he hadn’t protected his own sister from the monster. She’d died at Lassiter’s hands, because Lassiter had drawn Angus into his game, and Angus still hadn’t recovered from that fact. “One thing. A favor for me.”
Her lips twitched. “I did enough favors for you last night.”
Humor belted him out of nowhere. “True. Very true. And you’re going to give me one more.” He tried to make it sound like a request, but he didn’t come close. So be it.
She tilted her head, her eyes a clear brown, even though he hadn’t let her sleep for long. “What is it?”
“Be safe. Take extra precautions, just until this new killer is caught. I’ll be gone, so it stands to reason that he’ll move on to another target if he is messing with our team. The appearances of the two victims could just be a coincidence. However, I need to know you’ll be safe.” That was as much of his feelings as he could or would admit.
“No problem. Do you think there’ll be another body tonight?”
He shook his head as he relaxed at her easy acceptance. “No. I think we weren’t supposed to find last night’s victim for a while. No serial killer is that prolific.”
“Good.” She faltered, as if not sure how to say goodbye.
He reached her and enfolded her in a hug, holding tighter than was necessary. Her scent, fresh and spicy, filled him, and she hugged him back, pressing her cheek into his chest. Then he stepped away and forced his body to go cold and his mind to go blank. Releasing her physically hurt. What the hell was wrong with him? “’Bye, Nari.”
“’Bye.” She turned and left his apartment without looking back. He stared at the closed door for several moments before looking down at his dog, who had on his cranky expression. “Shut up.” Then he hustled to the window and lifted the blinds, scouting the entire parking lot to make sure nobody was around. Nari soon exited the building and climbed into her car, driving away and out of his life.
Nobody followed her.
“Okay.” He let the blinds fall back into place, scattering dust, his world suddenly empty. “You ready for it to be just you and me again?”
The dog sneezed.
“Me too. Let’s pack up.” Angus turned to gather his meager possessions. “This won’t take long.”
* * *
She was sore. In all sorts of interesting places. Her body ached after a full night with Angus Force. Nari sighed, freshly dressed in a light blue suit with coral kitten heels. How awkward had it been that morning with Angus?
Her soft groan echoed around the elevator.
