Page 19 of Dark ’N’ Deadly

What in the world is that about?

He might have left the bedroom door open, but in reality, he’d totally shut her out. Not that he’d ever let her in, but this was different. Something she’d said triggered a not-too-pleasant response, and whatever it was wasn’t good.

It was just as well Eric had pushed her away. Despite the attraction she’d once thought was reciprocal, clearly they were at opposite ends of the spectrum, and not just where colors were concerned. She needed to keep him carefully tucked away in a virtual box marked Danger, do not touch.

Chapter Six

Eric toweled off then dragged a hand through his damp hair. He’d thought the freezing cold water would eradicate his brain of all things involving Tess. Not. His goddamned brain was clogged with how incredibly beautiful she’d looked standing in Maggie’s old room.

He hung the towel on a hook. She was right about why he kept that door closed. All that pink annoyed him, but surrounding her, it looked good. Guess it’s in sync with her Feng Shui. But that hadn’t been the reason he’d cranked the water to the absolute coldest setting. Hell no.

When she’d stood in front of the window and turned to him, sunlight glinted off every one of her long red curls, framing her face in a halo of fire. That’s what she was. Fire to his water. Chaos to his calm. And Christ, he must have been imagining it. That crystal around her neck actually looked like it was glowing. It had to be a trick of the light.

He opened the bathroom door, not surprised to find Tiger lounging on his dog bed and the bedroom door to the hall slightly ajar. Tiger was an amazing dog that had figured out how to turn a knob and open a door. Of course, the paint around the knob was completely scratched, and he’d given up repainting it. It was the only part of his house not in tip-top shape.

“Hey, buddy,” he said to Tiger as he stepped into a pair of worn jeans. His dog blew out a loud breath through his nose. “My thoughts exactly. This is gonna be interesting.” When he knelt by the dog bed, Tiger flopped on his side, allowing Eric to give his belly a good scratching, a ritual that soothed both of them, and God knew he needed soothing.

Considering she was a walking, talking bundle of energy, it was ironic that Tess was into all that chi stuff. He still couldn’t believe he’d argued with her about crystals and life force essence, but he had to admit it was one of the most interesting conversations he’d had in ages. Maybe she was right about it being a conversation and not an argument. Even though he thought all that stuff was nonsense, he’d enjoyed it because he liked talking with her. Always had.

Back in Springfield, when they’d been working together to help Nick and Andi figure out the identity of a gun dealer, there was no denying he’d been attracted to her physically. What man wouldn’t be? Still, he’d never asked her out, and he was thankful for that. He only would have hurt her in the end.

Tiger’s hind legs jerked as Eric found a nerve. He stood and yanked a blue T-shirt over his head. A crack of lightning, followed by a distant rumble of thunder, drew him to the window where a huge thundercloud obliterated the late evening sun.

This weekend was the calm before the storm. Once the lab report came back on Monday, his life would be filled with 24/7 surveillance on those drums. He really hoped Jesse was telling the truth, that he wasn’t up to his eyeballs in sovereign citizen shit. He liked the kid, and he didn’t like most people he’d arrested.

“Let’s get you fed, boy.”

Tiger shot from the bed, leading the way out of the room. Halfway down the stairs, he picked up on the sounds of low voices and the aroma of cooking food.

Tess and Jesse sat at his kitchen table. Their heads lifted and their conversation instantly ceased, as if someone had pulled a plug on a radio. Two sets of wide green eyes stared at him. Brother and sister exchanged a brief look that twisted his guts. Whatever they’d been discussing, it was obvious they didn’t want him to hear it and were worried that he had.

If the kid was lying after all… And what about Tess?

“Hungry?” Her face brightened, as if to change the subject.

“Yeah. Thanks.” Narrowing his gaze, he went to the refrigerator and pulled out Tiger’s special blend of meat and chicken. “You didn’t have to cook.”

Tiger blinked up at him, his tail thumping on the floor as he waited impatiently for his dinner.

“I did, and I don’t mind.” Tess went to the cooktop to stir whatever was bubbling away in the large cast-iron pot. “Since I can’t pay you, the least I can do is cook. I learned a few things at the Café, and I have to say for a non-chef, my culinary skills aren’t half bad.”

“Whatever it is, it smells good.” He glanced at Jesse. The boy’s gaze was riveted to Tiger. “Wanna feed him?” It cracked him up how crazy the kid was about his K-9.

Jesse grinned. “Yeah.”

As he showed him how to mix Tiger’s dinner of organic kibble and prepared meat and chicken, Tess caught his eye, mouthing the words thank you as she flicked her gaze to her brother, then back to his. She gave him a cute, shy smile then turned back to the pots on the stove, but not before giving him a glimpse of the pretty pink blush staining her cheeks. He couldn’t be sure if he’d been responsible for that, or whether standing over a simmering pot had done it. Either way, pink really was her color.

When Tiger’s dinner was ready, Eric pointed to a corner of the kitchen. Jesse set the bowl on the floor then watched Tiger chow down.

“What’s for dinner?” Eric hitched his chin to the two pots on the cooktop.

“Spaghetti with meat sauce.” She opened an overhead cabinet then parked her hands on her hips as she stared up at the plates on the middle shelf. “I’m sautéing some veggies on the side.”

“I’m not really hungry, sis.” Jesse yawned. “I’m hittin’ the hay. Thanks again, Eric. For a fed, you might not be such a douche after all.”

“Yeah.” Eric snorted. “Go figure.”

“Jesse!” Tess admonished, glaring at her brother. “That’s no way to talk to our host.” As Jesse left the kitchen, the smooth skin between her brows creased. “I hope he’s okay.”