Page 58 of Diamonds in the Mud

“What?” she asked, moving closer to me.

“Stay away from you,” I said, running my eyes over her. How could I stay away? Why would I?

“Then don’t,” she said as a slow smile spread on those luscious lips of hers. God, I wanted to kiss her. Needed to.

In a daze, I pulled her lips to mine, tasting her, feeling her, and then I poured everything I felt into that one kiss. My hopes and dreams for us, for my future, for our future. What I had come to feel for her in the short time I’d known her. What I wanted from her was so obvious it was a wonder it didn’t burst from me. Could this work? Could we get through this unscathed?

Whatever happened, I was going to make damned sure we did.

Chapter Fourteen

“There comes a moment when the silence between two people can have the purity of a diamond.”

–Philippe Djian, Betty Blue

Rayne

I had taken a chance to sneak out of my old home shortly after Randy and Edith had gone to bed. It wasn’t the first time I’d tip-toed out the back door, but it was strange doing so as an adult.

I couldn’t blame them for wanting me close. Not after what had happened today.

Knowing it was important for me to stay hidden, I’d driven my mother’s minivan. Because of all her medication, she hadn’t driven it in months anyway. I left a note for my folks so they wouldn’t worry, something I’d never thought of doing as a teen when I’d snuck out to hang with Aria.

My plan, however, was to be back in their guest room, my old bedroom, before sunup.

When I arrived at Jameson’s place and realized that he wasn’t there, I figured he was still working. After waiting almost fifteen minutes, I had just talked myself into leaving. Then I spotted him walking down the street and immediately knew something was wrong.

The way he was holding himself, I could tell he was in pain or in trouble. I glanced around for someone shadowing him and knew that we were alone.

The fact that it had been Izzy who had unloaded more than two dozen rounds into my home made sense. Seeing the damage she’d done to Jameson’s head somehow pissed me off more than all the destruction that she’d done to my place.

Windows and furniture could be replaced. The jagged scar that Jameson would have just above his left ear was forever.

“Here,” I said, pulling back from his kiss, “let me fix you up.”

“I’m okay.” He groaned and tried to pull me back between his legs. God, it felt so good there, caged in his body.

“You’re bleeding all over the place,” I said, holding out my blood-soaked hand.

He frowned down at my fingers and then nodded. “Okay, but after…” His hand moved up to cover my butt and I held in a moan.

“Why do you think I’m here?” I joked.

Okay, I was there for a lot of other reasons. First, I’d wanted to make sure whatever he did last night hadn’t involved a drive-by of my place.

I knew what agents had to do undercover. The fact was that they couldn’t sweat the small stuff. In his time undercover, he’d probably had to witness or be part of countless illegal activities, all with the singular goal of catching that one really big fish. The one pulling the strings. There was no doubt in my mind that he’d do what it took to get his job done. I just needed to make sure I wasn’t collateral damage along the way.

However, the kiss we’d just shared assured me of several things. First and foremost were his feelings for me. And that meant he would have done anything to ensure that I didn’t get hurt.

After cleaning up the cut and removing a few pieces of glass from his scalp, I used butterfly bandages to seal up his skin nicely.

The bleeding would continue for a while, so I tapped a thick piece of gauze over the spot, using more tape than was probably necessary.

“I should shave your head here so these will stick,” I mumbled.

“So do it. Clippers are under the sink,” he said, keeping his eyes closed.

“No, I like your hair.” I frowned at him.