JJ knew there were signs, but she found nothing in his past signifying he’d ever hurt anyone. And yes, maybe she was being deceitful in her pursuit of dirt, but she knew abusers tended to leave a bloody trail behind them. Former co-workers, neighbors, school friends. She couldn’t imagine Ava was the first person he’d laid hands on.
“I got an update from Trey,” Baz called out from downstairs. “He’s goin’ to see if they can find Ava’s best friend from high school. Her name’s Jane Ross. He wants employment history.”
“I’m still diggin’ into the husband. Could you do that?” JJ hollered back.
“Yeah, sure.”
JJ stayed completely focused on her research. She could not afford to be distracted by Baz. She found it too easy to let herself be seduced by him, even when he wasn’t making any effort to do so. It was safe to say she was smitten, and in times like this, it didn’t help matters. Just thinking about the man had her blood running hot. If they hadn’t had an active case, there was no doubt in her mind she would’ve found a way to be alone so they could scratch that itch one more time.
“Not an option,” she whispered. “Not yet.”
However, tonight, when they reached a stopping point, she would be getting that man naked—and keeping him that way if she was lucky.
Half an hour later, JJ was frustrated with her inability to find that string that would lead to who Harrison Rivers had been before someone had glossed over his past and given him this squeaky-clean identity. She’d searched all the databases, tried variations of his name, looked for relatives but came up empty at every turn. She was just about to get up and seek input from Baz when she heard footsteps coming up the stairs.
JJ turned in time to see him ambling toward her, his gaze moving over her slowly. She could practically feel the heat coming off of him, and damn if that wasn’t a heady sensation.
“Don’t worry,” he said with a grin, “I’m not here to seduce you.”
“Aw, shucks,” she teased, spinning in her chair to face him. “If not that, then why’re you gracin’ me with your presence, Detective?”
“Can’t I come see you without having a reason?” He smirked, leaning closer until his lips met hers.
Unable to resist, JJ cupped his face, let herself fall into the kiss. His lips were firm and warm and oh so skilled.
“I was thinkin’ about you earlier,” she whispered when he pulled back.
“Is that so?”
“I was thinkin’ about you naked.”
His smile widened as he stood tall. “Tell me more.”
“I’ll just have to show you. Tonight,” she added quickly when he leaned in.
“Is that a promise?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“I’m gonna hold you to it.”
JJ knew he would.
It was weird, this light feeling she had. JJ couldn’t remember a time when she’d felt quite like this. Having something to look forward to. Someone, actually.
Her cell phone rang, and she snatched it up, hoping it was someone who would keep her mind off of the detective who held her heart in the palm of his hand even if he didn’t realize just how hard she’d fallen for him. She might’ve been plagued with this fluttery feeling nearly every minute of every day, but she was trying to play it cool to a degree. Letting him know how hot she thought he was seemed to be an innocent way to keep the embers burning.
“You got an update for us?” Brantley asked.
Knowing she was on speaker, JJ explained what she had so far. “It’s like the guy didn’t exist before he married Ava,” she said after she’d explained the searches that continued to come up empty.
“Clearly, he did,” Brantley grumbled, “which means you’ve gotta keep lookin’.”
“Trust me, I am. Where’re y’all headed?”
“Over to the grocery store she worked at her senior year, see if they can tell us anything about who she is. According to Harrison, that’s where they met.”
JJ snorted. “Harrison Rivers did his own grocery shopping? Doubtful.”
