Chapter Forty
Cooper took her equipment and files and left.
Braddock stared out the window long after she’d driven away in the Monster.
He was avoiding eye contact and conversation with CJ.
If he looked at her now, even exchanged a single word with her, he wasn’t sure he could control his baser urges.
“Hey.”
He flinched at the sound of her voice. Soft, tentative. He glanced over his shoulder to confirm that she’d gotten a call on her cell.
Most likely Abbott.
Braddock needed a walk.
The last one hadn’t been nearly long enough.
He hurried out the door. Walked to the narrow road that cut through the trees past the small cabins, making a long circle through the park. He didn’t go far enough to lose a visual on their cabin, kept his pace brisk and steady. Still, the walk, the night air did nothing to calm him down.
Giving up, he turned back to the cabin. Knew he couldn’t stay out here too long. She would sense that something was wrong. Sure enough, she peered out the window as if he’d telegraphed that last thought straight through the walls.
Just get it over with. Go inside and be cool.
When he opened the door she was waiting for him.
“That was Edward calling. He was worried.”
Of course he was. “You told him you were okay?”
She nodded. “He couldn’t believe what Juanita and Carter had done to Shelley.” She shivered, hugged her arms around herself. “I still can’t believe it.”
He couldn’t do this. Spend another moment looking at her, talking to her. “We should get some sleep.”
“Okay.” She tucked a handful of hair behind her ear. “You want me to take the couch?”
“I can take the couch.”
She moistened her lips. His gaze tracked the move.
“Okay.” She walked to the bed, straightened the covers they had tousled.
He looked around. Decided he’d grab one of the pillows from the bed.
She turned at that same moment and they ran smack into each other.
“Sorry,” she muttered.
He gestured at the bed. “I just need—”
Her. He needed her.
She looked up at him with those blue eyes and he was lost.
He grabbed her. Kissed her hard.
Her arms went around him and she leaned into his chest.
His fingers found the hem of her blouse, peeled it up and off. She struggled with the buttons of his shirt.
“Forget the buttons.” He whipped the shirt up over his head and tossed it to the floor.
The rest of their clothes followed that same path.
He wanted to know all of her. Every inch. Every strand of hair. All of her.
She’d managed something no one else had ever been able to do. CJ Patterson made him want something more than to catch the bad guy.