Page 28 of Win a Date with a Detective

“I’m sure you didn’t take that ring.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

Fuck. She’s right.

And I respect her too much to give her an answer I can’t guarantee.

“I know,” I admit. “But I also know what I saw. And I’m going to make sure Derek has every piece of information he needs.”

She studies my face. “You’re not just saying that because you want to get into my pants?”

I choke on a laugh. “Rachel.”

“What? It’s a legitimate question.”

“Believe me, sweetheart. If I wanted to get into your pants, I’d come up with a considerably better strategy than dragging you to a police station.”

Her mouth curves. “Good to know.”

And there she is. The girl who is only guilty of one thing: stealing my heart.

Derek approaches us a few minutes later.

“Good news.”

Rachel straightens immediately. “You found the ring?”

“Not yet. But we’ve established that you returned it.”

She gasps. “Oh, thank God!”

I release a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “How?”

“Additional footage from the restaurant’s service hallway. There’s a reflection in the glass partition that shows Vanessa putting the ring back on.”

Rachel blinks. “A reflection?”

Derek nods.

“Not the greatest image in the world, but combined with Bronson’s statement, it’s enough to establish that you weren’t the last person holding it.”

Rachel turns toward me. “My heart is racing.”

I smile. “Congratulations. You’re officially no longer our primary suspect.”

She throws her arms around my neck.

And before I can react, she kisses me.

It’s quick. Unexpected. And entirely too fucking fast.

She pulls back. Her eyes widen. “Oh, sorry.”

I stare at her. She stares back.

Then she whispers, “Was that inappropriate?”

“Probably.”