Page 36 of A Matter of Time

“You eat like that every night?”

“No.” I shook my head. “I don’t have a big enough kitchen or a big enough food budget.”

He nodded. “Well, tell me when you’re ready and we’ll go.”

“Sure. I just gotta look at Darla’s wedding album. I promised I would.”

His eyes were locked on mine, and that quickly, it had my heart slamming in my chest. The man took my breath away, and he had no idea he was doing it.

“So I’ll tell ya when I’m ready.”

“Fine,” he said before moving away.

Flipping through photographs later, I had Darla draped over my shoulders, Linda leaning against my right side, and Megan with her hand on my thigh, leaning into me from the left. Two others were lying across the table to offer their memories from their friend’s big day.

“Sorry to break this up, girls,” Detective Kage said from behind me, “but I gotta go.”

“So go,” Megan told him. “Leave Jory. One of us will take him home.”

His hands were suddenly on my shoulders. “Nope, he’s gotta go with me.”

They were sadder to see me leave than him.

As I said my good nights, receiving kisses from the women and handshakes and shoulder pats from the men, I was surprised when Detective Kage grabbed my bicep and hauled me out of the apartment. As we started down the stairs to the front door of the building, other people were coming up. Instead of stepping in front of me, he stepped behind and let me lead the way. Outside on the street, I was distracted by the man’s closeness, so I completely missed the guy on the bike until he was flying by my face. I had Detective Kage’s arm locked across my chest to thank for not being hit.

“Thanks,” I said, reaching up to close my hands on his forearm. “I totally missed that.”

“’Cause you don’t pay attention,” he growled close to my ear, which sent a shiver down my spine. I was certain every inch of my skin was covered in goose bumps.

I nodded.

“It’s gonna get you in trouble one of these days.”

“Yes, Detective.”

“You need to be really observant and vigilant right now.”

“Sure.”

“You hafta be careful.”

“I know.”

“Okay.”

I was trying to catch my breath.

“Are you cold?”

“No,” I managed to get out, my voice low and throaty.

“The guy on the bike startled you.” His arm tightened, drawing me back a fraction more.

I closed my eyes and went for it, leaning into him, seeing what he’d do. I had nothing to lose, and I had to know what he’d allow.

“You’re shaking.”

I was barely breathing.