“Both, please. Thank you.”
Outside, fat flakes still fell, the landscape covered in white, evergreen branches drooping with the weight of the snow. As beautiful as the sight was, the sense of unease that had gnawed at him all night didn’t let up. He knew damned good and well why.
Sasha.
He’d enjoyed yesterday more than he could say. Getting pro climbing lessons had been a trip. Watching the townsfolk shower love on Sasha had touched him. They’d even opened their arms to him. But those hours alone with Sasha…
He’d been on a handful of dates this past year with women he’d met through dating apps or on the job. One had been a prosecutor. Another had worked for an investment firm. Another had worked in public relations. They’d all been beautiful, interesting, successful women. But none of them had gotten inside him the way that Sasha had.
What was it about her that made her different?
Yes, she was beautiful, intelligent, and kind, but it was more than that.
He’d watched her making her way through Knockers to the Team table yesterday, and he’d seen how easily she connected with others. Her smile was as genuine as her concern for the people around her, and they loved her. She was open and trusting, her big heart worn where everyone could see it.
But she was also the victim of a violent crime and emotionally vulnerable. As the detective assigned to her case, he had no business getting involved with her.
Even so, there’d been a part of him that had wanted to stay—not to sleep with her necessarily, though he would’ve had a hard time turning her down, but just to be close to her, to hear her voice, to see the sparkle in those blue eyes, to be on the receiving end of that smile.
He understood now why she chose to live in Scarlet Springs. If her parents couldn’t be bothered to show up even when she was in the hospital, he doubted they’d given her all the love and nurturance she’d needed growing up. But here in Scarlet, she’d found a way to fill the emotional gaps. The Team was like a family for her, and she had friends here who loved her and would bend over backward to help her.
It floored him that she was still single.
And you’re hoping to do something about that, are you?
He couldn’t, not now anyway, not as long as he was working on her case.
Darius should go back to Denver and tell Chief Irving that he’d crossed a line. Irving could send someone else, while Darius assisted from Denver. Except that Darius didn’t want anyone else on the case.
It doesn’t matter what you want, does it?
He finished his breakfast and thanked Sandrine, who was wiping tables. “The croissants are delicious.”
“I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed them. Are you staying with us longer?”
“I’m not sure.”
If hewasstaying, he needed to do laundry. Darius had packed for a week—work clothes, exercise clothes for running or climbing, and the clothes he had on his back today. “Is there a washer or dryer here I can use?”
Sandrine began to clear away his dishes. “No, but Bob and Kendra might let you use their washer and dryer. I can ask for you if you’d like. We know you’re working hard to help Sasha.”
“No, thanks. I was just checking. Thanks for breakfast.”
“You’re welcome.”
He went back to his suite, shoved his dirty laundry into his duffel, and carried it down to his vehicle, the cold sucking the breath from his lungs.
Austin Taylor was busy shoveling snow, woolen hat on his head, sunglasses hiding his eyes. He stopped when he saw Darius. “How’s it going?”
“Do rangers shovel sidewalks here?”
Austin grinned. “It’s my day off. The Inn belongs to my father-in-law. I try to help him out, mostly to keep him from doing something stupid.”
“That sounds like a big job.”
Taylor laughed. “You have no idea.”
“Any luck with the dashcam footage?”
