Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
KINDRED
Iwait for Katie and her basket to vacate the building.
“That was nice of you.” Cash gives my ass a squeeze.
“Was it?” I bat my lashes up at him innocently.
“Shit.” Cash lets out a sigh. “You think it’s her too.”
“It’s all been going around in my head this afternoon. Everyone really pitched in today, so things slowed down, and my mind got going.”
Half the town had been coming and going today to help make sure things were ready for the wedding tomorrow. Even while we’re in one of the busiest times of the year.
“Why do you think it’s her?”
“I refuse to believe a local would do such a thing. Call me na?ve.”
“I agree. I didn’t like you wondering if it was last night. Questioning who you are. The friendships and relationships you’ve built and nourished your whole life.”
“Right, that’s what I said to myself in the bathroom mirror this afternoon when I had a chat with myself.”
“A chat with yourself?” He smiles down at me.
“Sometimes you have to remember who you are.” I do a little wiggle dance in his arms, making his smile grow. “I don’t care for her. The vibe is off, and I normally get along with other girls.”
I mean, take Shelly and me. The banter is all in good fun at the end of the day. Every now and then, we have to make our own drama around here. Keeps us busy. Also keeps these men around here in line.
“You do.” He dips his head and presses his mouth to mine.
“I have bad news,” I tell him. My plans are already in motion.
“Hit me, Cupcake.”
“The bride can’t stay the night with the groom, so I’m with Candy tonight.”
“No, you're not.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Sure.” He gives me a small pat on the ass. “I got stuff for steaks tonight.”
“Cash.” I stomp a foot.
“How about you tell me what you’re really up to, and then we can go from there.”
“How dare you!” I hiss at him. Even though he is one thousand percent correct in his assumption.
“Dare I what?” He smirks.
“When did you get all these smiles and smirks?”
“Since you let me lick my pussy.” My mouth drops open.
“You’re terrible,” I growl out. That dirty-ass mouth of his has him winning our arguments.
“Back on topic, Cupcake.” Damn him. He never lets me steer a conversation away from what I might be up to. “What did I dare to do?” I wave my hands in front of his face.
“Read my mind. Get out of my head, weirdo.” I huff, feigning annoyance. I actually love how well he’s reading me. We are now on the same page about everything, and it’s wonderful.
“Babe, all I can think about is getting my head into you.”
I snort a laugh. “Now you got corny dirty jokes.”
“Are you ready?”
“No, I can’t go with you. I have plans with Candy.”
“What was all in the basket?” he asks again. I reach into my purse to find something to distract him with. I know just the thing.
“There are things that are better if you don’t know about them.” I pull out a sticker and place it on his badge clipped to his belt. It’s a giant thumbs-up. “If you don’t know, then you can’t get hit with any felonies. You won’t be an accessory either.”
“If we were married, then I couldn’t testify against you either.”
“Hold on there, cowboy. One wedding at a time.”
“So, there’ll be a wedding.” Oh, now this is luring him off topic. Score.
“A big one. I hope you saved up and didn’t spend all that money on that cabin.”
“Our cabin.”
“I did get a giant Christmas bonus.”
“As you should.” Cash slips the clip out of my hair, making it fall. “But you keep your Christmas bonus to yourself. You might need it to pay your bail.”
“You would arrest me?” I gasp, taking a step back.
Even though the thought of Cash putting me in handcuffs does the absolute opposite of offending me.
It turns me on. “I need time to think about this new revelation that you’d do such a thing.
We should both sleep on it.” I take a couple of steps backward. “In different locations.”
“All right.” I freeze.
“What?”
“I said all right.” What’s happening here? He’s doing some sort of reverse psychology on me.
“You know you don’t have to arrest me to put cuffs on me.” I lick my lips. “I might let you do it.”
“Let me.” He chuckles.
“You watch it.” I point a finger at him. Shit, I need to have Tinsley refresh my nail polish tomorrow. Hold on. Now it’s him getting me off topic. “Where was I?”
“Us sleeping on things.”
“Right, and we’re doing that.” I nod my head up and down.
“Sure thing, Cupcake.”
“Don’t patronize me.” I narrow my eyes on him, which doesn’t have the effect it should. “Cash Hudson! Are you getting a hard-on?” My eyes drop to the front of his pants.
“Why? Do you want to take care of it before you go commit felonies?”
“You know oral sex is illegal in seven states."
“Nine, and this isn’t one.” How does he keep shocking me?
“Are you saying I’m wrong?” I probably am. I just know it is still against the law in some states. I tossed a number out so it sounded more legit. “And how do you even know that? Pervert.”
“I might have looked up all the things I could legally do to your pussy.” I open and then close my mouth. Words, Kindred, find them.
“I don’t have time for this, and I’m starting to think you’re enjoying getting me all riled up.”
“Why do you think I’m so damn hard?” I have no answer to that.
“Well, now I’m mad and need more time to think.”
“We already agreed to that.” We had.
“Fine.” I spin to leave but pause at the door and slowly turn back around. “What are you up to?”
“I had plans to eat a steak and then you.”
“You’re up to something.” I walk back toward him. “That’s it. You’re coming with me.” Cash opens his mouth. “Don’t you dare make a coming comment.”
“I wouldn't dream of it.”
“Yes,” I hiss. “Now, come on. We have a stakeout and spying mission.” Now I’m not letting him out of my sight.
“Hollis is okay with this?”
“Where do you think I got the fancy recording device I put in the bottom of the snow globe I gave Beckett?”
"You know. If you give me a couple hours, I'm pretty sure I'm going to have Beckett nailed down." He checks his watch. "Waiting on a few people to send me back footage. I would have gone out and gotten it, but I wasn't leaving, going anywhere without you."
"Wait," I perk up at that. "You have mission plans too?"
"Investigation plans."
"Tomato, tomahto." I fold my arms over my chest. "You made mission plans without me. This feels like a betrayal."
"Fuck, I love you." He chuckles, shaking his head. “I pulled the camera feed out front and back to check my timeline yesterday. When you got those calls, Beckett was still on duty. I wanted to check if she might have stepped out during those times.”
“Did she?”
“She did, but that’s not solid proof.” He motions for me to come closer. “Sit.”
“But we have mission things to do.”
“And I have things I need to tell you about why I think it’s Beckett and how she’s connected to my past.”
"Holy snowballs. You have a connection with her from the past, and you didn't tell me." I don’t like the sound of Cash and Beckett being linked in any way.
"I shouldn't be telling anyone."
"She served with you?" I don't like this.
"No, but I killed her brother."
How is this man full of more surprises than me? I really have met my match.
.