Temptation Trails - Page 134

He was trying—and failing—to hide his grin. Turning away from us, he jumped over the back of the couch. “Tell me when it’s safe to look up.”

“He shouldn’t hold his breath,” Garrett whispered into my ear, then kissed his way down my neck.

With a soft giggle, I tilted my head. My body reacted to his lips on my skin, sending a burst of heat between my legs. But with Owen one room away, there wasn’t anything I could do about it.

Which was fine. Maybe this meant I could coax Garrett into coming to bed early with me. He was working too much. I was surprised he was in the kitchen prepping dinner, although his laptop and paperwork were strewn over the dining table.

“How was your day weird?” Garrett asked finally.

I had to take a breath to clear my head. His kisses had that effect on me. “First of all, my mom called. I told her about the baby.”

He swiped something off my cheek—probably flour—and kissed the spot. “What did she say?”

“Pretty much what I expected. ‘What were you thinking? Why are you ruining your life?’ You know, what every daughter longs to hear when she tells her mom she’s making her a grandma. Oh, and she’s declared she will not be called grandma. I told her to let me know what’s acceptable.”

His brow furrowed.

“Please don’t be worried that I’m going to turn into my mother someday. That’s definitely going to happen to my sister, but I’ve always been different.”

He brushed my hair back from my face. “I’m not worried about that. I just don’t understand.”

“Understand what? My mom? Trust me, neither do I.”

“How anyone could not see what a miracle you are.”

Tears sprang to my eyes. “You’re just saying that because you knocked me up.”

He pressed another kiss to my lips. “No, I’m not. I’m saying that because I love you.”

“Why are you so amazing?”

“I don’t think I am. I’m just me. But I’m yours.”

I wound my arms around his neck. “You’re so amazing, I’m afraid you’re too good to be true.”

“Is everything else okay?”

“Yeah, it’s just, you remember that guy Matt? The one who’s kind of weird?”

His eyes narrowed and I felt tension creep into his shoulders. “Yes.”

“I ran into him today, outside the bakery. I’m sure it was nothing, but I don’t know.”

“What did he do?”

“Mostly the usual. Brought up some weird true crime story out of nowhere. But then he asked if you’ve found anything on the Joyner case. That’s the one you’re working on, right?”

He nodded, his brow still furrowed with concern.

“I told him I didn’t know. That you don’t really talk about your cases. And then he said something about it being a shame that a killer is on the loose and who knows what he’s been up to all these years. It wasn’t so much what he said as the way he said it. So then I asked if he thought there have been other victims. He looked right at me and his eyes got wider and he just nodded.” I shivered. “It makes me cringe just thinking about it.”

“He asked about the Joyner case?”

“Yeah.”

“Did he ask specific questions?”

“He just asked if you’d found anything. Something like that. I don’t remember his exact words.”