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“No, I assure you, it is not. I haven’t said it, but thank you for being here. Josh needs all the help he can get with this case.”
Surprised, he grinned and bumped her shoulder with his. “I thought I was the last person you wanted help from.”
A grin wavered on her lips. Lips he wanted to kiss again. “That was the shock of seeing you again,” she said.
“I get it.” His phone pinged and he took it out of his pocket. “It’s Josh.”
“What does he want?”
“There’s a barbecue fundraiser for the church going on at the park tomorrow. He thinks we should go.”
“Right, I forgot about that.”
“He wants some extra eyes on the place in case the girls or our suspect in the hoodie show up.”
“Or Aiden.”
He grinned. “Or Aiden. Will you feel up to it? The doctor did say you were supposed to rest.”
“I’ll go to bed early. I’m sure I’ll be almost one hundred percent by tomorrow.”
Somehow he doubted that. “All right. I know better than to argue with you. I haven’t forgotten that.”
She cocked her head and gave him a sideways smile. “Then there’s hope for you yet.”
“I’ll pick you up around 11:00 a.m.?”
“I’ll be here.”
He was tempted to lean in and give her a quick goodbye kiss on the cheek, but he didn’t. No reason to push things. They had to think about that kiss, about each other, and if they wanted to start something they might not be able to finish.
He might not be able to finish.
He lived three hours away. Not the other side of the moon, but far enough. His business kept him very busy, and she just rebooted her life here. He didn’t see either one of them wanting to upset the apple cart enough to start their relationship up again, even if their chemistry was still as potent as it had been before.
No. Better to keep things simple and uncomplicated.Professional.
He definitely could not kiss her again.
11
The next morning,Chase parked his Audi in front of the ranch’s main house and got out of the car. The front door opened and his jaw hit the ground as Jacquie walked out the front door walking Killer. The tiny dog, if you could call her that, was wearing a pink tutu, a pink rhinestone-studded collar, and a pink leash with a furry hot-pink handle.
Chase smothered a grin as she scooped up the tiny pup and got into the car. “I must tell you, I am shaking in my cowboy boots.”
A smile hovered on her lips. “You should be, my baby is a killer.”
He held his hand out toward the dog.
Killer looked at him and growled, her upper lip snarling.
“I don’t think she likes me.”
“She has excellent taste.”
He couldn’t help the laugh as he started the car and drove down the long drive. By the time he reached the main road, Killer was in his lap, sticking her head out the open window. He pet her, and she nuzzled against him. Jacquie smiled as she watched them, looking beautiful in white shorts and a blue-and-white-striped tank top.
Her bruises were fading and the cut on her forehead was healing nicely. He hated to admit it, but it felt good to be near her again, to have her with him in his car. It felt like old times, better times. But he was determined to keep her in the friend zone. No more kisses or late-night fantasies. He barely got any sleep last night.
