“His whole body was wet.”
“Oh?”
Huh.It seemed there were parts Justin hadn’t mentioned.“He came to the door in a towel.”
“Hmm.”She blew air between her teeth.“Okay, let me make something clear—I don’t believe Justin’s guilty.Several people whose judgment I trust, including my own fiancé, say he’s a good guy.Grouchy at times, but no serious personality flaws.But this isn’t the first time Justin’s been in this position, so I have to ask some difficult questions.”
“He told me one of his roommates was murdered.”
“Right.Ruby Costello.And the same people who are telling me Justin’s innocent were surprised when Levi Sykes was found guilty of her murder, so…”
“So you have to ask.”
“Exactly.Did you see any injuries to Justin?Cuts, bruises, scratches?”
“There was nothing.”
“How good a look did you get?”
“A real good look.Shiro pulled off the towel, and I bent to pick it up, so I saw everything.”My cheeks burned.“Ev-ery-thing.”
Ari snorted and clapped a hand over her mouth.“My question was more about the porch light being turned on, but that’s good to know.”
Oh.Crap.
I closed my eyes and pictured the scene.The look of mild irritation on Justin’s face.Fluffy white cotton crumpling onto the stone floor of the porch.Water droplets rolling down taut abs.Shadows falling on a well-muscled thigh.Saylor said Ridge had small-dick energy, and when Shiro pulled that towel off Justin, I’d realised she was absolutely right.
“The light was on.If you put me on the stand, I’ll deny I ever said this, but the image of naked Justin is burned into my retinas, okay?Trust me when I say he was in tip-top shape.”
This time, Ari didn’t hold back her laughter.“Damn, I hope you gave the dog a cookie for that.”
“Two cookies.”
“And I’ll deny this if anyone asks me, but I think you’re the best thing that’s happened to Justin in a long time.I don’t know him well, but people who do have told me he’s made some questionable decisions in the past when it comes to women.As in, he picks the crazy ones.You seem remarkably normal.”
“Uh… I’m not really sure what to say to that.”
Could she hear my heart thumping against my ribcage?
“It’s a compliment.”
“So…thanks?Although we’re definitely just…just… Well, I guess he’s my landlord?”Even if I was paying my rent in waffles.“I don’t think many fairy tales start with a towel incident.”
“Do you know how I met Zach?”
I shook my head.
“He saved me from drowning.So there was kind of a towel involved.Then the situation got even more awkward because I was investigating him for fraud at the time, but we worked things out eventually.”
“I’m still married,” I admitted softly.“And I’m scared to push for a divorce.Justin just broke off his engagement.He said that if we were both in a better place, maybe he’d ask me out on a date, but the timing sucks.”
“Does it?Because the way I see it, you need some support, which Justin’s happy to provide.Is that Amie’s building up ahead?”
I nodded, grateful for the change of subject.“The visitor lot is at the front.”
CHAPTER23
JESSALYN
