Page 63 of The Deadly Shallows

“Great.” He raked a hand through his hair, water sprinkling off his fingers. Maybe if he went first, she’d follow suit and take a hot shower. “Is it okay if I . . .” He pointed to her back door.

“Right.” She sat Dirk on the clay patio tile beside her and got to her feet. “Follow me.”

Heat wafted over Caleb as he trailed her inside with Dirk lumbering behind him.

“Could you grab the door?” she asked over her shoulder.

“Yep.”

Opening the powder room door, she stepped to the teal armoire.

“That looks like Rissi’s work,” he said. She refinished and distressed older furniture.

“It is.” Austin smiled. “I love her house and asked if I could hire her to refinish a few pieces for me. Of course, she refused to let me pay her.” Austin opened the door and pulled out a fluffy white bath towel and washcloth, handing them to him.

“Sounds like Ris.”

Austin looked down, tracing her finger over the now-closed armoire door. “Not that it’s any of my business, but . . .”

He furrowed his brows. “But . . . ?”

She cleared her throat, her gaze finally meeting his. “Are you over Rissi? I know she’s with Mason, but Emmy said you’d had pretty strong feelings for her?”

Blindsided by the question, he bumbled out the truth. “Yes. I had feelings for her, but in retrospect they were more feelings of closeness, a friendly affection at most.”

“And now?”

“I respect her as a colleague. I’m very happy for her and Mason. Any feelings I had beyond friendship for her are definitely gone.” Warmth spread through his chest. “Why do you ask?”

Looking down again, Austin shifted her foot across the thick rug. “Just curious.” She gazed back up at him, her green eyes the color of the sea glass he had on the wind chimes Emmy had made for him and each of the team members, but all unique and different. Just like Austin—unique and different from anyone he’d ever met.

“Curiosity goes with the job,” she added. “I’ll let you . . .” She pointed at the shower curtain as she headed for the door.

He fought the undeniable urge to pull her into his arms, but he reluctantly restrained himself.

She paused with her hand on the open door’s handle. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

He nodded and switched the shower on to cold.

THIRTY-THREE

Austin unlocked her downtown office door, flipping on the wall switch, illuminating her desk lamp. She was old school, preferring antique lamps to bright overhead lighting.

Cherrywood bookcases lined with burgundy, forest green, and navy book spines exuded the feel of a library, where she felt at home.

A chill bit through the office building, and Austin cranked up the space heater. “It shouldn’t take long to warm up,” she said as Caleb followed her in. He smiled—a different way than she had seen before—like anticipation hovered in it.

“Could you close the door?” she asked. “It’ll help it warm up faster.”

“No problem.”

The door creaked shut, and his footsteps moved toward her, halting mere inches behind her. The scents of honey and vanilla swirled about him. Why’d she buy such good-smelling soap for her hall bath? Because she never would have pictured Caleb in her shower. Not that she pictured . . .

Heat rushed up her throat, spreading through her cheeks. She sped to the mini fridge and bent, pulling out two bottled waters. Their food order from the restaurant in the building’s lobby wouldn’t be ready for a little bit, and her parched throat couldn’t wait until the two-liter of Coke she’d ordered with it arrived.

She straightened, her back still to him. “Want anyth—?” She squeaked as she turned and found him barely a breath from her.

“You’re flushed. Are you all right?” His already-deep voice had dropped a register.