Chapter 4
Four
Jameson
Music pulses through the bar as I lean against the wall, arms crossed, the beat vibrating through my chest. My gaze zeros in on Lane; right there in the middle of the crowded dance floor, laughing with her best friend, Kameron Reed.
Her head tips back, her dark waves catching the neon lights as she twirls, completely carefree.
I can’t tear my eyes away, caught in the sway of her hips. Her lips tilt up in an easy smile, unburdened, like nothing dark could ever touch her.
Is it possible for a woman who looks so carefree to carry such a dangerous secret? Could those hands that cling to her friend in laughter be the same ones who ended her husband’s life in cold blood?
My eyes narrow when I spot two men dressed in flannels come up to her and Kam. The girls greet them with wide smiles, easily accepting their company. The brightness in Lane’s smile has my jaw clenching with jealousy.
The guy in the blue flannel grabs Lane’s hand, twirling her in smooth motion before pulling her close, his hands hovering just above her ass. She looks at ease in his arms, her head tilting back, exposing her long, slender neck, as she laughs at something he whispers in her ear.
Is he her boyfriend?
My gut clenches at the thought.
Focus.
Why the hell do I care if she has a boyfriend? I’m here for one reason and one reason only. To find out if she’s Ceciley Knox.
Her posture stiffens and she lifts her eyes, locking onto mine from across the crowded bar. Tension coils between us, like an invisible string connecting us.
She says something to her friend and the guys, her eyes not leaving mine, before pushing through the crowd toward the bathrooms in the back.
Her friend excuses herself as well, heading toward the bar, her hips shimmying as she weaves through the crowd. Perfect.
I push off the wall and stalk to the bar, sliding in beside her, close enough to make my presence known. I bump into her lightly, just enough to draw her attention without looking intentional.
She whips her head to me and opens her mouth, likely to bitch me out. But when her eyes lock with mine the irritation quickly turns to curiosity. I’m well aware that women find me attractive, and I’m not above using my looks to my advantage.
I offer her a slow, charming smile. “I’m sorry, it’s a little crowded here tonight.”
Her eyes trail down my body, unashamed, and her lips curl into a seductive smile. “No problem. I’m Kam,” she says with a lazy drawl. “And who are you?”
“Jameson Crowe.”
She leans against the bar, arms folded casually across her chest, completely at ease in her own skin. Something tells me it takes a lot to rattle this woman. “Did you just move here?”
I shake my head, leaning my arm on the sticky bartop. “No, I'm here temporarily, for work.” I nod toward the bathroom. “Can I buy a drink for you and your friend to make up for bumping into you?”
"Sure. Captain and Coke." She says it offhandedly, her attention stolen by a voice across the bar yelling her name. A smile spreads across her face and she pushes off the bar, hands waving in the air, making a beeline to them.
After a quick scan of the bar, I pocket the straws from their empty cups. All we need is a little bit of Lane’s DNA to run against Ceciley.
I flag down the bartender, holding up two fingers. “Two Captain and Cokes and a whiskey.” I lay some cash down and lean against the bar, watching the crowd.
Moments later Kam saunters back, her lips curing into a slow smile when she spots me still standing there. “You should join me and my friend.”
I glance at the door. I should leave. I got what I came for.
Instead, I ask, “Your boyfriends won’t mind?”
Kam chuckles, and grabs their drinks off the bar. “Those are just friends of ours. Besides, no man tells me who I can and can’t talk to.”
Go back to the hotel, Jameson.
I grab my drink off the bar. “Lead the way.”
She gives me a knowing grin as she turns, her hips swaying as we weave our way through the crowd. We claim a table in the back. It offers a perfect view of both the bathrooms and the entrance.
Minutes later Lane emerges from the bathroom, her back stiffening when she spots us at the table. She recovers quickly, her shoulders pulling back as she strides to the table with confidence.
She takes the seat beside me, despite the one beside Kam being open. Clever girl. Never sit with your back to the door.
“Lane, this is Jameson, he’s from out of town, so I asked him to join us,” Kam yells over the music.
I extend my hand, offering a polite, almost apologetic smile. "Sorry if I came off a little rude earlier. I was driving all day and needed a quick drink before heading to the motel."
Kam’s head whips between us so fast that for a split second, I’m afraid she’s going to give herself a concussion. “Wait! You two have met before?”
Lane ignores her, eyes locking with mine.
A flicker of uncertainty flashes, before she slips her hand into mine.
The warmth of her skin is electrifying, a jolt that shoots straight through me.
That's nothing compared to the shock to my system when her perfume hits me, lavender and bergamot. Sweet. Soft. Addictive.
My jaw clenches tight and I almost groan. Fuck. I bet she tastes as good as she smells.
She pulls her hand back and something in her eyes tells me the contact had the same effect on her. “What brings you to New Haven?”
I bite back a grimace. “I’m a land surveyor.” Leave it to Miles to pick the world’s dullest cover story. He’s going to fucking pay for that one.
Kam presses her lips together to suppress her laugh while Lane smirks, her drink halfway to her mouth.
I can’t take my eyes off her lips as she wraps them around the straw. My eyes darken, voice dropping lower. “What’s so funny?”
Her breath catches, and she licks her lips nervously. “You just don’t look like a man who carries a clipboard around all day.”
I lean in slightly, just enough to close the space between us. “What kind of man do I look like, Wildflower?” I murmur, my voice dripping with a rough edge I can’t control.
Jesus fucking Christ. Now I’m giving her nicknames. I definitely should have gone back to my motel room.
Lane shifts in her seat, and I’m unsure if it's the nickname or the roughness in my voice that’s making her squirm.
Kam fans herself dramatically, eyes bouncing between us. “Holy Mother of Jesus! I’m going to get off just from this sexual tension.”
No filter. At all.
I can’t help the chuckle that slips out, but Lane shoots her a glare. “Kameron!” she scolds, cheeks blazing crimson. “We’ve talked about keeping thoughts inside our heads.”
Kam’s eyes narrow back at her. “And we’ve talked about you using my full name.”
“Then stop saying shit like that, and I won’t have to,” Lane fires back, folding her arms over her chest in mock annoyance.
The standoff lasts only a heartbeat before both of them burst into laughter, the sound carrying above the beat of the music.
And God help me, watching Lane laugh; her smile wide, eyes alight with mischief. It knocks the air out of my lungs.
There is no way this woman is a killer.
Our client painted her as cold. Calculated. A heartless bitch who put two bullets in her husband and vanished.
But this woman? This woman is sunshine and fire. Hell, the entire town adores her.
Something isn’t adding up, and if there’s one thing I hate, it’s an unsolved puzzle.
The band launches into a cover of Any Man of Mine, and Kam jumps from her seat with a squeal. “Ohhh!!! I love this song!”
She grabs Lane's hand and yanks her onto the dance floor.
“I’ll see you around,” Lane calls over her shoulder.
I pick up my glass, my eyes tracking her movements as I take a slow sip.
Yes, you will, Wildflower.
And next time, I won’t let you get away so easily.