Page 13 of Passion in Bloom

“They were neighbors?”

“No, not according to the numbers in their addresses, but it sounds like they lived in the same building.”

I rubbed my chin, considering all of this news—or the lack of it.

“I’ll talk to Todd. Next time I see David, I’ll talk to him as well. But my hands are tied, Roarke. Until the guy actually does something more than showing up at her door and talking. Until I have evidence, not just a statement, I can’t do anything without cause.”

I sighed, figuring he’d be obligated to say something like that. The law could be lenient around here, but that didn’t mean Marty abused his power. Not at all. He was a good officer, even if I wished he could go look for David right now and haul him in for talking to Heather like that.

“But,” he added as he pushed to stand, “I don’t see why I can’t start somewhere else. I could go swing by her place and chat with her. I could see what kind of light she might shed on the situation.”

I shook my head, knowing how poorly that would go over.

“I could do a check-in and make sure she doesn’t need help or anything.”

I rose to my feet, sighing and wishing this didn’t have to be so complicated. “She won’t say anything. She won’t open up or tell me a single damn thing. Just that she’s done with men.”

“You trying to start something with her?” he asked, not harshly but curiously.

Start? We’d already done something. Many kisses were shared between us. I went down on her with her seated on that high table like she was a feast laid bare just for me.

I shrugged, following him out the door. “I’m...”

“Because I thought you didn’t want drama with women anymore,” he reminded me.

I didn’t. “I don’t.”

“But?”

I gritted my teeth. “Let’s just check on her. See if she’ll answer any of your questions.”

That was what had to happen. I didn’t need Marty asking me a single question—especially not one geared to getting me to own up to wanting her.