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Rolex hissed at one, then the other Good kitty

Conrad looked incredible in a fitted T-shirt and worn jeans, his tattooed forearreat detail but kept her gaze up No reason to make him feel like a piece of meat yet

Beau wore a T-shirt and shorts, as if he’d coym Muscles abounded

“Don’tan alar,” Beau said Then he nodded and strode inside, his delicious pine-and-soap scent a perfect co hung from his hand

“Not unless I get a bill first,” she called “Which you can givewith us, so don’t even consider saying no” She motioned Conrad inside “You told him about Dr Garcia, I take it?”

“I did not I inforuard, I believed he needed to be in the know I ment call The real question is, why didn’t you tell him?”

Because she owed Beau so , and she did nothing She wasn’t used to having a close ally nearby and feared she ht drive him away Fiona didn’t count because Fiona was family For the bulk of Jane’s twenty-six years, she’d spent“I won’t take advantage of our relationship”

“When it involves safety, scales cease to matter,” Conrad told her as he entered the house “Why is there a scale between you and Beau in the first place?” He backed her up, shutting and locking the door without ever looking away “Until I catch the killer, let Beau help you every way he can Okay?”

He eased back, resting against the entrance Giving her a choice: stay put or move closer She moved closer Just a little bit Just to inhale all that cedar and spice

Then his words registered “I knohy Beau decided he liked you,” she grudom rules to bro code for you?”

He shrugged his broad shoulders “Do you really want to discuss it?” His gaze dropped to her lips before flipping up “Or would you rather hear hts about you instead?”

Their gazes held—and sizzled She lost her breath

“I don’t need you to tell uess,” she rasped “Too curious Too superstitious about curses And fun” He had sht, aren’t I?”

“Sorry, but I deem my impressions of you classified until the case closes” Did she detect a note of affection? Dark eyes playful, he reached around her to untie the apron, and suddenly she felt defenseless, as if she’d lost her shield “The food s Let’s eat”