Page 14 of Breathe Me In

Her mouth stretched out like she realized she shouldn’t have said anything. “Yes, it’s so.” She lifted a brow. “But what I really want to know is what is Bradley like now? Because that guy had a body on him. I remember Kennedy even bragging about how fit Bradley was in high school.”

“I should be asking you that.” I bumped her shoulder. “I’m the one who’s been gone.”

We laughed and went back to watching the river as it spilled into the lake.

“It’s going to be painful.” A smile broke across my lips as I remembered when I laid eyes on Brad at the nightclub. “When I saw him today”—I fanned myself with my hand—“it was like I was in high school all over again.” She tossed her head back with a laugh while I took another long drink. “He hasn’t changed a bit, still very sexy, and smart, and he still gets that look in his eye where you can’t tell what he’s thinking but you know it’s all kinds of dirty.” My stomach coiled into a painful knot as I remembered how hard it had been when I first moved away. I missed him so much, I physically hurt. I’d never wish that feeling on my worst enemy. I covered my face as I moaned. “God did not play fair when he made that man.”

“Ha! That’s for sure.” She patted my arm and sighed. “Well, Dale seemed nice that time I met him. How are things there?”

“Hmm.” I wasn’t overly pleased about that. I’d kept Dale from my family because I wasn’t ready to take that next step. “We broke up. It wasn’t meant to be.”

Her face fell. “That’s too bad.”

“I loved him, but not enough. He’s wonderful in a lot of ways, but my heart wouldn’t let him in.” I looked across the lake to where Brad’s parents’ house was, then pulled my eyes away. I noticed the corners of Maxine’s mouth had gone up.

“Well, it’s great that Robert asked you to come, and bonus, you get to work with Bradley Stone.” She chuckled, and I appreciated that she steered the conversation away from Dale.

“Yeah, and speaking of which.” I stumbled to my feet as a surge of anger went through me.

Maxine was on my heels as my confidence grew. Mom and Dad were across the way working with one of the horses, and they called out to me, but I ignored them—I needed to speak with my sister. I whisked through the tall grass, across the driveway, and up the stairs into the house.

“Lainey, where are you?” I burst through the door and blinked to get my eyes adjusted to the light. Finley jumped up from his bed by the door and followed on my heels as I tore into the kitchen. “Maxine told me you suggested I work at the SPD. How could you not give me a heads-up that I’d be working with Detective Sexy?” I chuckled drunkenly at my own words; that was a great name for him. He was even more sexy as an adult. My heart fluttered as I thought of him. I made my way across the room as I spoke. “Seriously, it was like a drum going off between my legs the entire day. What do you think that’s like for someone who doesn’t have a designated penis on hand like you do?” I came to a dead stop, and Maxine bumped into me. I swore my heart dove for cover behind my stomach.

“Autopsy report came in.” Bradley held up a file from where he sat in the corner of the room, and I think I turned about eight shades of red. “Thought you might like to go over it.” I noticed he wouldn’t make eye contact.

“I have never been happier about living at our parents’ house than in this very moment,” my fucking brother drawled as he stepped into view. He eyed his wife, who seemed to be frozen. “Were you two into the happy juice without me?” He raised his hands. “You know what, it’s fine. That moment, right there, well and truly makes up for it. Bree, you were saying something about a drum?” He snorted, and I shot him a death glare. I was repaid with an expression of enjoyment.

I looked at Brad and pointed at the table. “Yeah, I’d like to see it.”

“I’m sure you would.” Patrick snickered. Maxine came back to reality and slapped his arm, then hauled him out of the room.

Brad picked up the file and flipped it open in front of me, then took a seat next to me and pointed at the report. Why was he so close? I swore he could feel my body heat from where he sat. I picked up the report and scanned it and tried hard to absorb what I could with a less-than-sober head.

I read the words out loud. “Some kind of poison.”

“Yup, what we thought. Apparently it’s not native to the US, but they’re working out whether or not it’s possible to buy it here. They’re seeing what they can drum up.” I could’ve sworn he drew out the word “drum.”

“So, both victims were killed in the same way, but when the second victim was targeted, the drug somehow got to the bartender as well. Do you think we have a serial killer on our hands?”

“I do.” He followed my thinking. “But we can’t jump to any conclusions yet. Tomorrow, we get the tapes from the businesses across the street, then we’ll see if there’s anything there. We could get lucky, maybe catch someone watching people as they go inside.”

“Great.” I closed the file and handed it back to him. My skin was still hot from embarrassment when he looked over at me. He held my gaze for a beat, and something next to a lightning spark zinged between us. Or maybe it was just the liquor, but the way his throat contracted let me know he felt it too.

“Mom asked if you’d stop out and visit tomorrow morning. I’ll be spending the night at their place so we can drive in together.”

“Right, about that. If I don’t have my truck, I can’t drive myself home, and it’s not fair to ask you to drive me back here when you have a place in town.”

“I’m coming back here tomorrow night, too, so it’s no trouble.” He stood. “Just don’t flake, okay?” If he didn’t mean to hit a nerve with that comment, he wasn’t successful. I knew most people knew I’d run away after what happened. I did, but shit, could anyone blame me?

“What time?” I bit back as I built my walls up even higher.

“Eight thirty.” He checked his watch. “From there, we’ll get the footage, and I’d also like to talk to Maggie’s modeling agent.”

“All right.” I stood and wrapped my arms around myself. “Thanks for coming by.”

He nodded and left. I relived the embarrassment all over again as Charley laughed from the doorway. I could tell he’d been listening from the living room.

“You’re such an ass.” I glared at him.