Page 31 of Jasmine Street Blues

She’d said yes, but at the same time the prospect of what was to come terrified her. She hadn’t been truly close, physically close, to anyone for a long time. How could she? Why him, and why now? Again, she blamed her biological clock, too long without a man in her bed, and maybe his arms… and the way he kissed… and the way he looked at her…

Mac already knew her deepest secret. What else was there to keep her from seeing where this might go?

She changed clothes three times before she settled on a loose turquoise dress. The night was filled with possibilities, but she didn’t own any fancy underwear. Her bra and panties were plain; they didn’t match, exactly. If it got to the point where Mac saw them she suspected he wouldn’t care. She sure wouldn’t.

As Mac collected her at the door she asked about Bubbles. That seemed a safe subject of conversation. He told her he’d already walked the mutt and all was well.

He didn’t drive his patrol car, not tonight. Apparently he’d been hiding a personal car in his garage. Not a truck, not a van, but a black SUV suitable for a man of his size. He’d burst out of a compact car.

He didn’t drive far, but they didn’t stay in downtown Seawolf Beach, either. The parking lot of the seafood restaurant on the highway was packed. That was always a good sign. She’d seen their ads and heard the place mentioned a time or two.

Since she walked almost everywhere she’d never been, and didn’t really know what to expect from this new-to-her restaurant. She was pleasantly surprised. While there was plenty of fried food on the menu, the menu offered other, healthier options. Her shrimp was locally sourced and well prepared, and their waitress was friendly and prompt.

Yes, better to focus on the food rather than the man across the table and what was likely to come later tonight.

Maybe they should’ve had burgers and fries at his place again. Cold burgers.

She kept waiting for Mac to ask about Carrie’s portrait, or her other portraits, or whether or not she’d been able to come up with any clues about the girl’s disappearance. He didn’t. They talked about Seawolf Beach, the people there, the beach, movies… though neither of them saw many, so that part of the discussion was short. He asked about her business, and when she asked he told her about what he did all day, along with his two officers, Zach and Drew. Both of them were young and eager. Sounded like they were just the most recent in a long line of young officers who worked in Seawolf Beach for the experience before moving on. Most of the serious crimes in the area were handled by the county sheriff and his deputies.

She hadn’t known Mac long, but he didn’t seem like the type to be satisfied with stepping back and letting someone else take the lead.

Mac didn’t volunteer more information and she didn’t ask, but he was here in Seawolf Beach for Carrie. He’d put his own career on hold in order to find out what had happened to his stepdaughter. This man was tough on the outside, but he loved deeply.

It was too soon for the word “love” to cross her mind in any way.

As they walked to the car, Mac said, “My place?”

Her heart skipped a beat. “Sure.”

“I mean, there’s a pirate at your house, so…”

She laughed a little.

“Do we need to run by your place and pick up a few things?”

“No,” she said, and then she looked up at him. “I have a toothbrush in my purse.”

Mac grinned. Oh, what a smile. He didn’t wear it often enough.

They both knew where tonight was going. Their time together had been delayed, not cancelled. She could deal with a delay, but she didn’t want to move on with her chaotic life without knowing what a night with Mac was like. At the moment the idea of stopping where this was going was impossible. She hadn’t been nervous, not like this, for a very long time. Usually her anxious moments were much less pleasurable.

Mac’s patrol car was parked at the curb in front of his house; he pulled into the driveway, opened the garage door with a remote, and pulled the SUV inside. The garage door began to close behind them and Loran reached for her own door handle. He lifted a stilling finger and said, “Wait.”

She did. He circled the car and opened her door, then offered his hand, which she took.

His touch was electric. Warm, strong, and promising. When she stood he pulled her close and lowered his mouth to hers. The kiss was deep, moving, as electric as the simple touch of his hand. In an instant she was lost in the kiss. There was nothing else in the world. No worries, no obligations, no ghosts, no dead person creeping into her mind insisting on being painted. Just the two of them and the way they made each other feel. That was all, that was enough.

She could get used to his.

The interior door opened into the kitchen. To her surprise, Bubbles greeted them with a touch of enthusiasm.

“I thought he was an outside dog who only had porch privileges,” Loran said as she leaned down to rub the dog’s neck.

“It’s been so hot,” Mac said. “Seemed cruel to leave him outside, even though there’s an overhead fan on the porch.”

There was now a different dog bed in a corner of the kitchen, as well as a new doggie door that led to the back porch. “That wasn’t here yesterday,” she said, pointing to the door.

“I installed it this afternoon.”