Page 95 of The Deadly Shallows

Oops. She’d completely forgotten to grab it. She pulled her sweater tighter about her, looping the belt. At least she’d had that on. “I spaced,” she said, leaving it at that. She didn’t need to say she’d forgotten everything but being with him.

“Here,” he said, slipping out of his coat and draping it across her shoulders.

The black down coat was light but surprisingly warm—probably from his body heat. His spicy aftershave enveloped her senses, and she cuddled in tighter.

The moonlight cast a glow across his five o’clock shadow.

“Thanks.” She inwardly cringed. Could she have taken any longer to respond? Sheesh, what was it about this man?

Slipping her arms in the sleeves, she realized she really ought to go back and grab her own jacket so he wouldn’t be without one, but being in his presence had become so soothing—such a contrast to the way he used to irritate the dickens out of her. Though, if she was honest, he still did at least once a day. She smiled. Okay, probably more, but it seemed to be their unique way of flirting with each other.

He shifted to face her, his shoulder resting against the cab. “What has you smiling so sweetly?”

You. No. She couldn’t jump the gun. Just because her emotions were pinging around, aching to kiss him again, didn’t mean he felt the same. She shrugged. “Nothing.”

He pushed off the cab, stepped fully in front of her, and closed in. He tipped her chin up with his finger. “Please tell me what you’re thinking about.”

“Did Caleb Eason just say please?” She smirked. Maybe he was feeling what she was.

“Yes,” he said, his breath tickling her lips, fogging in the winter air.

The headiness in his eyes was irresistible, and before she realized it, the word slipped from her lips. “You.”

“And I’m thinking of you, and how badly I want to do this again.” He cupped her face with both hands and lowered his lips to hers.

Time melted away.

“Caleb,” Logan’s voice rang out.

They both stepped back, her head dizzy.

He steadied her by bracing his hands on her arms.

“Yeah?” he called.

Thankfully, Logan couldn’t see them positioned behind the truck.

“Officer Jager’s on the phone. It’s your sister.”

FORTY-EIGHT

“I’m going to ask Logan to give you a ride home,” Caleb said, rubbing Austin’s arm and gesturing for her to go before him back to the station.

“Is everything okay?” she asked.

Logan remained in the doorway, holding the glass door open for them.

Humiliation and concern scorched Caleb’s skin. “Hopefully,” he said, never knowing to what extreme he’d find the situation.

“Line one,” Logan said, lifting his chin as they stepped back inside.

“Thanks, man,” Caleb said, moving for the closest desk and lifting the receiver to his ear. “Eason.”

“Caleb,” Officer Bill Jagers said, “sorry to bother you, but I thought you’d want to know there’s been another call in.”

He didn’t need to say any more. “Thanks, Bill,” Caleb said, raking a shaking hand through his hair as anger buzzed through him. “I’m on my way.”

“I can give Austin a ride home,” Logan offered.