Chapter 27
27
“I’m so angry,” Cora muttered, her voice tight as she stirred the chili simmering in the pot. The rich aroma filled the cozy kitchen, but her agitation dulled her appetite.
Jeremy slid behind her, the warmth of his body brushing hers as he placed slices of bread, golden with butter, into the toaster oven. “What did they say, babe?” he asked, his voice steady and grounding.
She exhaled sharply, her grip tightening on the wooden spoon. “As soon as I got back to the hospital, I was summoned to the review office. You’d think a hospital that deals with attorneys all the time wouldn’t flinch at the thought of an autopsy. But no. I had to bring my documentation and explain, again, why I had legitimate suspicions about Mr. Parker’s death.”
Jeremy leaned casually against the counter, arms crossed, his eyes fixed on her with quiet intensity. His presence, so solid and unshakable, made her chest ache in a way that had nothing to do with frustration. She’d called him earlier, overwhelmed, and he insisted she come over for dinner. Homemade chili and buttered bread weren’t fancy, but the way he looked at her now made her realize she would have shown up for a saltine cracker if it meant being with him.
“Sounds like you shut them down,” he said, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
She set the spoon aside and turned to face him, needing the connection. “I did, but not without a fight. One of the members questioned whether Mr. Parker’s sister’s concerns were enough to warrant an autopsy. I even had Dan come in to give his opinion on why he called me in the first place.”
The words came to an abrupt halt as she noticed Jeremy’s jaw tighten slightly at the mention of Dan’s name. She narrowed her eyes. “Don’t you dare pull a caveman act on me. I certainly don’t glare about any women you work with.”
A sheepish expression crossed his face, and she couldn’t keep her lips from curving slightly at the little boy’s chastised look.
“You’re right,” he said while nodding. “He’s a coworker, and if he’s on your side and helping, I’m glad.”
Her tension eased, and her lips curved a little further. “Thank you.”
“I’ll stop being an asshole, and please keep telling me about what happened. I really want to know, sweetheart.”
“Okay. Well, I told them I wouldn’t have final answers until the toxicology report came back. Until then, it could be a routine death—or something that required contacting the sheriff’s department.” Her lips quirked at the memory. “That didn’t sit well with the new lady on the board. She actually turned red and demanded to know what else could be done.”
Jeremy’s brow arched. “What did you tell her?”
Cora chuckled, rolling her eyes. “I told her that, by law, suspicious deaths have to be reported to law enforcement. And then I let her know that while she might want to gamble with the hospital’s liability, I take my responsibilities very seriously.”
Jeremy’s laughter rumbled through the room, warm and genuine. He stepped closer, his hands finding her shoulders, his thumbs kneading the tension that had been building all day. She sighed as his touch worked its magic, the tight knots unraveling under his firm, capable fingers.
“You should come work in the lab with me,” she murmured, tilting her head back and closing her eyes. “I’d get so much more done if I had you around to fix all my knots.”
When she opened her eyes, his face was so close she could see the teasing gleam in his gaze. His voice dropped, deep and rough. “If I could make a living just keeping my hands on you, I would.”
Her lips curved into a grin. “Maybe we should add that to your list of duties. I could put it in the budget under stress relief.”
He chuckled, low and rich, as he closed the remaining space between them. Their laughter melted into a kiss, warm and consuming. His lips captured hers with a tenderness that made her heart stutter, but the fire beneath quickly turned urgent. She leaned into him, her hands curling into his shirt, pulling him closer until her body molded to his.
She loved this—having someone to lean on, someone who listened, someone who didn’t shy away from the weight of her day but helped her carry it. His kiss grounded her, a reminder that she wasn’t alone in the chaos.
The sharp buzz of the toaster oven broke the spell, and they both jumped, laughing as they pulled apart. Jeremy retrieved the toasted bread while Cora turned back to the stove and gave the chili a final stir.
“It’s ready,” she declared, her voice softer now, lighter.
As he set the bread on a plate, she rose onto her toes and whispered against his ear, “To be continued.”
Jeremy’s grin was pure mischief. “Oh, yeah, babe. You can count on it.”
They sat together at the kitchen counter, enjoying the spicy chili and toasted bread. Their conversation meandered through lighthearted topics, with Cora steering clear of anything too graphic about her work. She was used to discussing autopsies and forensic details even while eating, but she knew that wasn’t everyone’s idea of casual dinner chat.
The food Jeremy had prepared was delicious—a hearty meal with just the right amount of spice and comfort. As they finished, Cora pushed her plate away and leaned back slightly, her fingers curling around the stem of her wineglass. She sipped the rich flavor, which warmed her as much as the man beside her.
Turning to face him more fully, she furrowed her brow slightly in thought. “I understand the effects of drugs on the body,” she began, her tone contemplative, “and I know the criminal intent behind it all. But how does stealing medication from the elderly make someone money? I mean, they can’t take the drugs themselves, so they’d have to sell them, right?”
Jeremy nodded, his expression darkening slightly, the lines around his mouth tightening. “You’re absolutely right. But if what we’ve uncovered is just the tip of the iceberg, it’s going to go much deeper than we’d like to imagine.”
She tilted her head, studying him. “Deeper? You mean beyond our two little counties here in Virginia?”
“It’s highly unlikely this is isolated to just our area,” he explained, his voice calm but tinged with the weight of experience. “This could easily be a small cog in a much larger operation. We’re talking multistate, organized crime.”
Cora’s lips parted in surprise, her mind racing to piece together the implications. “We’re just seeing the bottom rung of the ladder. Whoever’s getting the drugs here is passing them up the chain, right? Are you thinking gang activity?”
Jeremy’s gaze was steady. “It’s possible. Our captain has us already working with the state police, FBI, and DEA to see if they’ve noticed similar patterns elsewhere.”
The thought of such a vast, calculated operation tightened Cora’s chest. She exhaled slowly, shaking her head as he continued.
“If this is as big as we think, the people at the top won’t even feel the loss if we shut things down here.” Jeremy reached out, brushing his fingers lightly against hers as she sighed again. The gesture was brief but grounding. “We can only tackle what’s in front of us, Cora. If we can stop this from happening in our counties, that’s a win. And with the evidence we gather, we’ll make sure the DEA and FBI have everything they need to hopefully take down more.”
Her heart softened at the quiet resolve in his voice. Jeremy carried the weight of his badge with such quiet strength, and it made her chest ache with admiration. She stood and walked to the refrigerator, pulling out a small container. “I brought over a couple of pieces of pie I made earlier,” she said, glancing at him with a soft smile. “I thought about stopping by Bess’s Bakery, but she’d already closed. Her pastries are amazing, but I figured homemade would do in a pinch.”
Jeremy chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “Bess’s stuff is great. No argument there. But a pie you made? Babe, that makes it ten times better.”
The endearment sent a pleasant warmth through her chest. She sliced the pie and served it, the scent of spiced apples and buttery crust filling the kitchen. Jeremy’s groan of approval after the first bite was as satisfying as any compliment she’d ever received.
“This is amazing,” he said, his grin wide as he took another bite. “I’ve had plenty of treats from Bess’s Bakery, but this pie? It’s fucking amazing.”
Cora grinned, feeling oddly pleased. “It’s not quite Bess’s Bakery-level, but anything with a flaky crust, gooey apples, and sugar sprinkled on top is a good mood booster.”
Jeremy’s gaze softened as he watched her. “I think I like it even more because you made it.”
Her cheeks warmed under his steady, sincere gaze. The heaviness of their earlier conversation faded for a moment, replaced by the simple joy of sharing a meal and a quiet evening together. In that kitchen, with laughter and the taste of cinnamon lingering on their tongues, the world outside seemed less overwhelming.
After dinner, they moved to the living room, where Tommy Girl played with a toy mouse, much to Cora’s amusement. “I need to get Max and Mia over for a cat playdate.” She scrunched her nose. “I don’t even know if that’s a thing.”
He laughed. “Anytime you want to bring them over, you can.”
“Same for you. If Tommy Girl needs some company, bring her to my place for the day.”
He lifted a brow. “Or what about for a night?”
She tried to pinch her lips together to stifle her grin, but it slipped out anyway. “Just Tommy Girl for the night?”
“Oh no. She might get lonely. So I think staying would also be right for me.”
She snuggled closer, then threw her leg over his lap. With their faces so close, she gently nuzzled his nose with hers. “I definitely think it would be right for you to stay in case your cat gets scared in a new place.”
“What about you? Would you stay?”
“Are we speaking hypothetically? If my cats were here, would I stay?” she asked, her voice soft yet teasing as her arms wrapped around his shoulders. Her fingers traced slow, feather-light patterns along the trimmed hair at the nape of his neck, savoring the texture. Leaning in, she kissed the corner of his mouth, feeling the low rumble rise from his chest like a distant storm.
“I’m not speaking hypothetically,” he murmured, his voice rich and earnest. “I’d love nothing more than for you to spend the night here.”
A sigh slipped from her lips, tinged with longing. She kissed the opposite corner of his mouth, her breath mingling with his. “I’d give anything to spend the night with you. To stay here, wrapped up in this.” Her fingers curled a little tighter against his neck. “But Max and Mia are waiting for me at home. I have to go back before the night is through.”
His hands tightened on her waist, his touch firm yet tender. “Then we better make the most of our time, don’t you think?”
Their mouths hovered a whisper apart, the space between them charged with anticipation. She kept her eyes open, meeting the intense blue of his gaze. It was the kind of look that made her feel seen, wholly and completely. “Oh, I absolutely think we should,” she breathed. “Starting right now.”
She closed the distance, capturing his lips with hers. His arms enveloped her instantly, pulling her flush against his solid frame. Her breath caught as the kiss deepened, and her head angled instinctively to avoid the gentle brush of their noses. Her chest pressed against his, and her heartbeat thudded in rhythm with his.
One of his arms wrapped around her with such possessive strength it felt like he was trying to mold her to him, to make her a part of him. His other hand slid lower, gripping her hip, his fingers sinking into the curve of her backside with a deliberate claim.
The kiss ignited like a spark, their tongues tangling in a heated dance that sent shivers cascading through her. His taste was intoxicating—spice with a hint of cinnamon, warm and utterly addictive. She wanted to lose herself in it, to drink him in until nothing else existed.
Still wearing her work blouse, she felt his hands slide between hers, finding the buttons with practiced precision. She arched her back to give him room, their mouths never parting as he worked each button loose. When he slid the fabric from her shoulders, it pooled at her elbows and slipped down her arms, disappearing somewhere on the floor.
His deft fingers made quick work of her bra, freeing her breasts from their confines. As the garment joined the growing pile of discarded clothes, his hands found her, cupping the soft weight of her flesh with reverence. She moaned into his mouth as his thumbs traced slow circles over her sensitive peaks, sending waves of need coursing through her. Her hips moved instinctively, rocking against the hard length pressing against her core.
Before she knew it, he rose from the sofa with her cradled in his arms. The effortless way he lifted her, as though she weighed nothing, sent a thrill through her. A flicker of curiosity crossed her mind—how he’d honed such skill—but she banished the thought as quickly as it came. The past didn’t matter, not his or hers. What mattered was the beautiful thing they were building together.
He carried her down the hall to his bedroom, his strides confident and purposeful. Although she’d been here before, the sight of his space still struck her. The walls were pale gray-blue, paired with navy curtains and a neatly made bed with a coordinating comforter.
She knew it was a sexist thought, but she had imagined a bachelor living in disarray. When she asked him about it, he simply told her that when his job was chaotic, he liked the calm of coming home. Those words impressed her then, and even though she was lost in his kiss, they impressed her again. His words had stayed with her, offering a glimpse into the man beneath the badge.
He set her down gently, the care in his movements making her heart ache in the best way. As he stripped the rest of her clothes away, she watched, her breath catching at the sight of his body. The play of muscles beneath his skin, the strength in his every movement, held her spellbound. When he stripped and sheathed himself, her pulse quickened.
Leaning over her, he tugged back the bed covers and settled her onto the mattress, his weight sinking beside her. “We don’t have all night,” he murmured, his voice low and teasing, “so let’s make the most of what we have.”
Her lips curved into a smile, her arms lifting to draw him close. “That’s all I want. You and me together.”
As he covered her body with his, his warmth enveloping her, she knew her words were true. Everything else faded away.