Temptation Trails - Page 128

We moved, our rhythm quickening, until the intensity rose to a peak. I growled into her neck, thrusting hard, while her fingers dug into my back. I felt her come again and it was more than I could take. I unleashed, pouring myself into her.

Loving her with everything I had.

After we finished, she kept her arms around me. I held her and breathed her in.

“I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you too.” I picked myself up and braced myself so I could look at her. “Is everything okay?”

She nodded. “This was good.”

One corner of my mouth lifted in a subtle grin. “Very good.”

“I don’t just mean that.” She touched the side of my face. “I need this. Needed you.”

“I’m always yours, love.”

“I know. I just mean… sometimes I need you. This Garrett. Not deputy Haven.”

“I’m sorry if I’ve been distant.”

“You just work so hard. I don’t want you to burn yourself out.”

I didn’t either, but she didn’t understand. I had to keep her safe.

Leaning down, I brushed her lips with a soft kiss. “Things will calm down soon.”

She smiled at me, her eyes so full of hope. “Yeah, they will.”

I rolled off her and she settled against me. It wasn’t long before her breathing evened. She was asleep.

The case tugged at me again. She was good for me, there was no doubt about that. But I had so much work to do. I needed to follow every lead and I just didn’t have time.

So I waited until I was sure she was sound asleep and slipped out of bed. I had a killer to catch.

CHAPTER 32

Harper

The bakery was hopping. We’d gone through all our cupcakes, but customers weren’t deterred. Tourist season was in full swing in Tilikum, and that meant a steady stream of visitors looking for treats as they wandered around our little downtown. The pink lemonade cupcakes had been especially popular. I made a mental note to create a cookie version of the recipe.

Beth and I worked the line until it was manageable. She was such a rockstar. I was definitely giving her a raise. She was like a little Energizer bunny—never seemed to get tired no matter how busy we were.

Me, on the other hand? I was dragging.

Which was why, in the midst of my busy afternoon, it was so great that I had a potential new baker in the kitchen.

Mila had a dark brown pixie cut, dramatic eyeliner, and bold red lipstick. She lived in Wenatchee, a small-ish city not too far from Tilikum, and had been working in a bakery there for several years, but was looking for a change.

I was trying to decide what to make of her. She spoke in an odd monotone and her eye contact was intense. She had a whole Wednesday Addams vibe going on. But maybe she was just quirky. And what I really wanted to know was how well she could bake, especially under pressure.

I’d asked her to make chocolate chip cookies—a classic any baker needed to be able to make, and make well. I popped into the kitchen to check on her, and if the scent was anything to go by, she’d nailed it.

“How’s it going back here?” I asked.

She checked her watch, then glanced at the timer. I approved of her double-timing tactic. “Excellent.”

“It smells great.”