His eyes widened. “You think that was it?”
“What was it?” Huck interjected.
Jay shuddered. “Somebody left flowers on her porch, and it creeped her out. She thought it was me trying to get back together with her, and she didn’t believe me when I said I didn’t do it. I did want to get back together but leaving flowers wouldn’t impress her.” He frowned. “She also kept getting flat tires. Just one at a time. Oh, and she accused me of breaking into the house and doing something with her underwear.” He gulped. “Like I’d do that. She was stressed out at her practice, and I figured she was just being dramatic.” He looked past Huck to the body. “God, was I wrong.” Then he turned and vomited all over his boots.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Back at the office, Laurel exited her SUV and headed toward the door, jumping when Huck followed closely behind her. Frowning, she moved for the door and opened it with the hulking officer’s minty breath stirring her hair. In the vestibule, she stopped and turned to face him. “What are you doing?”
His expression smoothed out. “Nothing. Why?”
She looked beyond him to the parking lot and then back. “You were making yourself big and covering my back.”
He didn’t respond.
She tilted her head. “You were covering me. Somebody out there has shot at us once, and you were covering me with your body.”
Again, no answer.
“Why, Huck?” Snow dripped from her boots onto the tile.
He looked away and then back. “All right. If you’re asking if I’m covering your back because you’re my partner, the answer is yes. If you’re asking if I’m covering your back because you’re a woman and half my size, regardless of your job, the answer is yes. And if you’re asking if I’m covering your back because I’ve slept with you, the answer is most emphatically, yes.” He rolled his shoulders in a tough guy shrug. “Even if that makes you mad.”
Warmth slid through her torso. “Thank you.”
His eyebrows lifted. “For covering you?”
“No. For explaining.” Life was so much easier when people just told the truth.
“Uh. You’re not mad?”
She shrugged. “I know who you are and wouldn’t expect you to be anybody else. You’re a man who’d protect a woman for all of those reasons, and that’s about you, not me. I don’t take it as an insult that you don’t think I can protect myself as an FBI agent. That instinct is fundamentally who you are, and I’m well aware of what motivates you.”
His chin dropped. “Some women would be angry, others would think I’m sweet.” He grinned. “I like the wayyouthink.”
“That’s probably a good thing.” She didn’t know how to think any different. “And you are sweet.” She opened the door that led to her office. “Would you like to protect me as I ascend the stairs, or are we good?”
“I also like your sense of humor,” he drawled. “It’s always unexpected.”
She partially turned. “The best humor is.”
He snorted. “All right. I’m going to check out my offices and see who’s in working on a Saturday and what we have on the books, and then I’ll come upstairs and work with you. Deal?”
“That sounds like a good plan.” She turned and walked up the stairs, feeling lighter for some reason. Nobody thought she was funny. Except Huck.
Dr. Joseph Keyes was waiting at the top of the stairs, leaning against the display case. He straightened and drew a bouquet of flowers from behind his back.
She stilled and then took inventory of the floor.
Nester poked his head through the doorway. “You have a visitor. He asked to wait in your office, and I said no.”
“Thank you,” Laurel said, noting that Nester was wearing his gun in a shoulder holster. Was he at the ready because of the shooting the night before, or did he have a dislike for the doctor? “What can I do for you, Dr. Keyes?”
Nester didn’t show any sign of leaving but instead stood in the doorway, watching the doctor.
The doctor cleared his throat. “I would like a chance to speak with you alone.”
“Why?” Laurel asked.
