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Captain Thompson snorted. “Since when has love stopped a man from doing something stupid or irrational?” There was a bitter edge to his tone that gave Cora pause. She suddenly thought of the captain’s wife, Alice, wondering if he was speaking from experience. Alice Thompson was a blonde bombshell with the zillion-dollar wardrobe and the high-maintenance personality to match. She’d worn sky-high stilettos to their annual company picnic and flirted outrageously, though not with her husband. The last time Alice came into the station, she’d gushed over Liam and made him uncomfortable. Cora had assumed the captain didn’t notice, but maybe he’d brushed it off because he was used to it. Or maybe their relationship had lost its luster long ago, and he just didn’t care.
“Very, very true,” Liam mused, staring at the ceiling. He’d been quiet through most of their briefing, and was slouched so low, he looked ready to fall asleep.
Cora glanced at him. “What is?”
“Men doing irrational things,” Liam said through a yawn. “For love.”
“I’m sorry, O’Connor, are we keeping you from your nap?” Captain Thompson’s face began to grow red. Not a good sign.
Cora shot Liam a warning look. For some reason Liam always seemed blasé when dealing with the captain. He wasn’t exactly disrespectful, just...overly familiar. Maybe it was because they’d been boyhood friends together back in Ireland, but that was a long time ago, and things were different now. Liam needed to tread carefully.
“Sorry, Captain. I was just agreeing with you,” Liam said smoothly, sitting up straighter. “I also agree with Cora that Slice wasn’t involved in any aspect of Lindsey’s murder. He doesn’t have it in him.”
“And you know this for certain, because...?”
Liam shrugged. “A man who kills the woman he loves is someone who’s controlled by passionate rage or a darker ambition. Maybe there’s something he wants to acquire that he believes is more valuable than her. Jealousy. Greed. Power. Any of those things could drive a violent man to kill. But Slice doesn’t strike me as violent. He’s a simple man. He’s got a job. Friends. Family. A community where he belongs. He told us Lindsey was too good for him, but there was no bitterness when he admitted it. He met a girl, fell in love and for however long it lasted, he was determined to enjoy it. Simple as that. Recent tragedy aside, I think Slice is a man who’s truly content with his life, and he doesn’t have that driving need to try to change it.” Liam paused for a moment, then gave a self-deprecating smile. “If he could bottle that emotion and sell it, I’d be first in line to buy it.”
Cora was too surprised to comment. She’d thought Liam was just phoning it in during this briefing with the captain. She also hadn’t realized how deeply he’d connected with the young man they’d interrogated earlier.
“And I’d be right behind you,” the captain said gruffly. “But seeing as how I don’t have the time to wax philosophical when I’ve got murders to solve, I prefer to look at thefacts. Slice is with the Booze Dogs, and they’re not trustworthy. He was dating a girl who just showed up dead in the woods. There’s too much of a connection to disregard him or his motorcycle club. Therefore, I’m not ruling him or any of them out, and neither should you. Now, go.” He shooed them out with a wave of his hand. “Get me something we can actually use.”
9
Liam checked his phone on Wednesday evening, waiting for Magnus to confirm the racetrack was free for practice. There’d been no new leads on the investigation ever since Finn confirmed Slice’s alibi, and the overall atmosphere at the station had been heavy with frustration. Liam could think of no better way to lift his spirts than getting back behind the wheel of a powerful car. The sheer anticipation of it—the freedom of flying down the track at dizzying speeds—had him pacing the tiny living room like a caged tiger.
“Going somewhere?” Cora entered the room with a handful of take-out menus and a steaming mug of cinnamon tea. They’d been home for less than an hour, and already she’d tossed her hair into a messy bun and changed into a pair of plaid pajama pants and a tank top. He’d been living with her for several weeks, but it still hit him like an arrow through the heart to see her like this, relaxed and happy in her home.Theirhome. She was so effortlessly beautiful it made his soul ache.
“If luck is on my side,” Liam said, forcing his attention back to his phone. “I’m waiting for Magnus to tell me if there’s room to practice at the racetrack tonight.”
“That’s impressive.” Cora sank onto the couch.
Liam’s chest puffed with pride. “I’m a bit of a natural, or so I’ve been told.”
“Oh, I’m sure you are, but I meant Magnus.” She dragged a fleece throw blanket over her lap. “The man’s an attorney, yet he still finds the energy to teach stunt driving on weekdays. He must have the stamina of a demigod.”
Liam’s skin prickled with jealousy. “Magnus doesn’t teach during the week. He only offered to check the schedule for me because I signed up at the last minute.”
“That was nice of him,” Cora said absently, browsing through the take-out menus.
Her cat Angel sauntered into the room, announcing the glory of his arrival with a lofty meow. He was a white fluffball of regal indignance, treating most people like human scratching posts, but to everyone’s shock, he’d adored Liam the moment they’d met.
Cora took a bright red menu and slapped it on the coffee table. “Let’s get Thai food. I want a double order of chicken satay this time. With extra peanut sauce. I didn’t eat lunch today, and I’m starving.”
Liam’s phone chimed with a text from Magnus.
It’s a go. You have the Mustang from 7 to 9.
“Can’t stay. I’m off to the track.” Liam texted a quick thanks to Magnus, grinning in sweet anticipation.
“Whatever you say, Speed Racer.” Cora scooped her cat onto her lap, settling back against the overstuffed cushions. “Looks like it’s just you and me tonight, Angel.”
The cat gave a forlorn meow as Liam waved goodbye and was out the door. If, in the back of his mind, there was a nagging suspicion that he was wasting valuable time on a selfish pursuit, he tried not to examine it. It was only Wednesday evening, after all. What could he possibly do to play matchmaker for Cora and Finn right now? It wasn’t like she was going to go falling in love between dinner and bedtime. The angels had accused Liam of squandering the precious weekend, so he’d just work on getting Cora and Finn together Saturday or Sunday. It wouldn’t be hard, since Finn always jumped at the chance to see Cora. Along with being an uptight bore, he was painfully predictable. Liam could read the man like an open book, and it was clear he was head over heels for Cora and would do anything for her. Why the angels chose that man for her, Liam would never understand, but he’d dwell on it later. For now, all he wanted to do was get behind the wheel of that magnificent car and soar.
Liam left the driving track two hours later with a spring in his step and a satisfying sense of accomplishment. He’d gone through most of the maneuvers he’d learned the previous weekend, and he’d even managed the high-speed turn without hitting the wall. Twice. It was still a challenge to focus when the car skidded out of control, but he’d finally managed it. By the time he turned onto his street, all he could think about was telling—
Magnus?
Liam pulled his car up to his house with a growing sense of confusion. Magnus Blackwell was opening the passenger door of his shiny, gunmetal-gray convertible. What the hell was he doing there? With dawning dread, Liam watched a woman’s slender, toned leg in a strappy sandal emerge from the car. Heknewthat leg. Cora emerged in a pretty floral sundress, smiling shyly at Magnus as he held the door.
