Chapter 19 #2
“Jules, seriously. Come back.” He caught her arm, and when she didn’t budge, he wrapped an arm around her waist and dragged her to the head of the bed next to him again.
When she was beside him, he didn’t release her.
Touching his forehead to her temple, he said, “Twenty-five is not old. And for the record, despite how I feel some days, at thirty-five, I’m not old, either. ”
“You thought I was twenty-seven,” she grumbled, folding her arms over her chest.
“Only because of wishful thinking,” he said, thinking fast for an excuse for his fumble. “Being ten years older than you, I was worried you’d consider me too old for you. Is my age why you’re keeping me at arm’s length?”
She opened her mouth and closed it again, her brow furrowed. “Age is just a number.”
He brightened and aimed a finger at her. “Yes! Exactly. Which is why you should not care whether I incorrectly guessed your age. You could be forty-five and I’d still think you were beautiful.”
The frown on her face shifted abruptly. Clearly his comment stunned her. But just as quickly, she shook her head and tried to wiggle loose from his hold. “This is a pointless discussion, and I have to get back to the gift shop.”
“You are beautiful, you know,” he said, catching her hand.
“Don’t patronize me.”
“Never. Wouldn’t dare. I respect you too much to lie to you or butter you up.”
She cast a skeptical side glance toward him, then swung her feet to the floor. “Bonnie’s probably ready to quit by now.”
He hurried to take her arm before she moved away from the bed. “Jules.”
She shot an impatient look toward him. “Cal.”
Tugging her closer, he caught her cheek in his palm. “You are beautiful. And if I have left any doubt in the matter, I am very attracted to you.”
Beneath his hand, he felt the subtle quiver that rippled through her, and her gaze dropped away from his.
“Jules.”
She closed her eyes, clamped her lips tight.
“I want to kiss you.” He moved his thumb against her jaw in a slow, tender caress. When she didn’t move, he tipped up her face, leaned in. Waited. When he didn’t move, she canted slightly toward him, angling her chin up. Still he waited.
Finally, she blinked her eyes open and gave him a puzzled look.
“Jules,” he said quietly, “may I kiss you?”
She looked peeved by his question before closing the distance between them. With both hands, she framed his face and seized his mouth in a greedy kiss. Lips parted, she drew on his mouth and teased him with her tongue.
He leaned back, breaking the kiss before placing a finger to her lips. “There’s no rush. I’m yours for as long as it takes.”
Moving in again, he kissed her gently, soft nibbles that teased her and promised more to come. Only when a frustrated growl rumbled in her throat did he deepen the kiss. Lingering, his hands anchoring her close, he sampled the mouth that had enticed him for days.
Abruptly, as if someone had thrown cold water on her, Jules jerked back and shoved to her feet. She raised her hand to her mouth and drew a few ragged breaths before stalking away from the bed, not looking at him.
“I, um… Bonnie. I have to… I promised her part-time hours. She’s not— She’s worked more than I have the last few days.” Then, dropping to her knees, Jules lifted the bedspread and peered beneath the bed.
“You realize she’s yours now?” he said.
“Bonnie?” Jules asked, obviously playing dumb.
He chortled and squeezed her shoulder. “Right, Bonnie.” He aimed a finger under the bed.
“No.” Jules shook her head and pushed back to her feet. “I’m not keeping her. I’m not in the market for a pet, especially right now.” She paused and sent him a meaningful look. “Or a relationship. I have too much going on in my life.”
“I don’t think Joy cares. I think she’s chosen you.” And so have I.
Jules shook her head again, but this time when she protested, she sounded less sure of herself. Her kiss certainly said yes, no matter what she claimed.
While she hung the damp towel up to dry, Cal loaded the empty cage back in his Jeep. Before they left the motel, she set up the litter box and food and water bowls she’d bought earlier, in anticipation of trapping Joy.
As he drove her back to the gift shop, Cal cleared his throat. “I’ve been thinking.”
“Did it hurt?” she asked, clearly trying to reestablish the snarky repartee that she’d been using as a shield.
He acknowledged her quip with a quick grin.
“Throbbed.” He let the word hang between them a beat, before adding, “All Wyatt asked today was that we back off and not risk blowing what the drug task force is putting in place. He didn’t say we can’t still go after Hamilton for stalking.
Even if they reduce or drop charges for drug possession or sales or whatever he’s into, if we collect evidence related to stalking, we could still make sure those charges stick when the time comes. ”
“But Sylvia, at Abby’s hospital, said when Chase realized she was calling family for approval for him to visit, he fled fast. And the police presence near the Rogers’ home spooked Chase. He hasn’t followed Zoey in the last few days.”
“As far as we know. But…we don’t know the extent of what he may have done before he backed off.” Cal twisted his mouth from side to side and clicked his tongue as he drove, his mind working out details of their next steps.
When he pulled in at the gift shop, she popped open her door and was climbing out even before the Jeep had come to a full stop.
Cal followed, catching her at the back door. “Jules, wait. I have an idea. What do you say we visit Zoey Rogers and her parents again and talk with them? We may be missing something useful.”
Jules’s fists balled at her sides. Her hands had to be hurting after the abuse she’d wreaked on them at the warehouse. He wanted to take those hands in his and kiss her scraped palms.
She cocked her head, hope and curiosity flickering in her green eyes. “What have we missed?”
Damn it, she was doing it again! Already! How did she trust a man, kiss a man, who just two hours ago had capitulated to Wyatt and betrayed his promise to her? When would she learn?
Cal hesitated, and her frustration bubbled over.
“You don’t have anything, do you?” she growled, aiming a trembling finger at him and hearing her voice crack. “Do not string me along, Sheriff Colton. I swear, I am sick of being lied to and ignored and strung along!”
Not with the case and not in our relationship, she wanted to yell. But she’d told him they had no relationship, and she sure as hell didn’t want him to think they might yet.
He caught her finger in his hand and tugged her close.
“On my life, I swear to you, I’m on your side, and we will get Hamilton, one way or another.
I may not know now what we’ll find, but let’s talk to Zoey and her family.
We’ll keep watching Hamilton. We’ll pursue any lead that even hints of value. ”
When he tugged her even closer, she wanted to resist, but she was tired. So tired, and her traitorous body went willingly into his arms. With both hands, he dried her cheeks and stroked the hair away from her face. Then, cradling her cheeks in his palms, he ducked his head to kiss her temple.
“I’m on your side, Jules. And I’m not going anywhere until we get Chase Hamilton off the street.”