Baz frowned, canting his head to the side as he studied her.
JJ felt the scrutiny in his gaze and was compelled to explain. “I’m hung up on that woman from Ava’s case. I still can’t find her, and I’ve done everything short of takin’ out an ad.”
Although Harrison Rivers was dead and Ava March was no longer in danger from the crazy bastard who attempted to kill her, JJ was still trying to find a woman she suspected was Harrison’s first victim. Admittedly, JJ wasn’t spending as much time on it as she had been, but she knew she wouldn’t rest until she found the woman. Dead or alive.
She sighed. “I know I should move on, but I can’t.”
Baz’s smile was slow and sinful. “One of many things I love about you.”
JJ’s chest squeezed, just as it did every time he said that. She figured she should be used to it by now, but she wasn’t. In fact, every time Baz said those three little words, she felt as though it was the first time. Except for Baz, she honestly couldn’t say when the last time someone told her they loved her. Not her mother, not her father, and since she had no one else…
“JJ?”
She focused on the present. “Hmm?”
“Where’d you go just then?”
Forcing a smile that quickly turned genuine, she pushed to her feet. “Nowhere. I’m good.”
Baz’s arms lowered, widening to allow her to step in close. The moment she did, he put his hand on the baby bump that was getting bigger by the day.
“How’s the peanut?” Baz asked softly, pressing his nose to her cheek.
She was twenty-nine weeks pregnant, and while the first few months had been uneventful except for the wicked bouts of morning sickness, she was seeing drastic changes in her body, most notably, the protrusion of her belly and the size of her boobs. But more than the outward differences, she was hyper-focused on every single move the baby made. Whenever the peanut wasn’t moving, JJ would begin to worry. She would kick as though she knew her mom was starting to panic. Sometimes just once, but it was enough.
“The peanut’s good,” she said, sighing with contentment.
“Can I get you anything?”
She had to think about that one for a minute. Pregnancy had brought on a whole new slew of cravings and, each day, a unique combination. Yesterday, she’d convinced Baz to go to the store and buy her sweet gherkins, saltines, and Colby Jack cheese. Last week had been easier when she’d wanted chocolate-covered Ritz crackers and Nutella.
“I could really use some coffee,” she decided.
One of his dark eyebrows rose slowly. “I take it you’re not referring toregularcoffee.”
Her grin exploded. “A caramel Frappuccino with mocha drizzle.”
“Decaf?”
“Definitely.”
“So basically, you want a caramel milkshake with mocha drizzle?”
“Even better.”
Baz smirked as he stood tall, then leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Coming right up, hot mama.”
JJ’s eyes narrowed. “Eww. No. Not that.”
Baz laughed. “Yeah. I heard it as soon as it came out of my mouth.”
He walked away, still laughing, making JJ’s heart expand with even more love for him. She wasn’t sure she would ever get used to loving someone as much as she loved him, but she was enjoying the hell out of the journey.
Chapter Ten
“How do you want to handle this?” Brantley asked Reese when they arrived at the hotel after picking up the SUV Z had rented for them.
Luckily, they’d arrived during a lull in activity, so checking in only took a few minutes. A little longer for them since Reese had informed the concierge they required a refrigerator. Not because he was a diva but because they had to have a place to store Tesha’s food.
