the fact that it’s only bled through the outer layer of my wrapped-up shirt just a little bit. We’re exiting the highway when Shelby looks over at me with a sleepy smile.
“You okay?” I ask.
She smacks her lips together, the tiredness overtaking her, and her eyes travel from mine down to my chest and abdomen. I’m in good shape and I know it, but I can’t believe she would be checking me out in her condition. I’m not built with a twelve-pack of abs or anything, but I try to keep my physique looking good for the ladies. She licks her bottom lip and then looks back up to my eyes. I try to keep my eyes on the road, but I’ve never been all that great at multitasking, especially when I know a pretty woman is checking me out like I haven’t been sitting here without my shirt for over an hour now.
“You look good, Officer Guilliot.”
I fight the heat that flames on my cheeks.
“Oh my God,” she practically whispers in a drawl, “ you’re blushing. You are actually blushing.” Her voice sounds like a predatory purr, which is in stark contrast to how sickly she looks.
I reach over and feel her head. She’s sporting a fever all right.
“You’re a beautiful woman, Miss Connor. Any man with a lick of decency would turn red getting a compliment like that.” She stirs in the seat, crying out once again at the searing pain in her thigh. “Quit moving—you’re only hurting yourself.”
Shelby directs me down a narrow paved road for a few miles until we turn off on a dirt road for another half mile. At the end of the dirt road, settled amongst a plethora of trees , is a small brown cabin. I can’t imagine it’d be called anything but rustic—except worn, perhaps. Its front porch runs the length of the house, and two rocking chairs adorn the left side of the green door. I pull to a stop just off the side of the front stairs and cut off the engine. Shelby makes a move to open the door and drag herself out of the cab, but before she can, I rush around the front and block her path.
“You got a key to this place?” I ask.
She stalls and considers this a moment. “Go around the left side. There’s a pile of firewood and a side door. Next to the door is a window that should be cracked. Pull the screen out. It’s real easy. You can reach in and unlock the door from there.”
I say nothing and stalk off in an effort to get us inside the cabin. I really shouldn’t be breaking and entering into this place, but it’s not like I have much choice.
Before I go, I point a finger at her and tell her to keep her ass in the cab. She lets out a sigh, and I know the only reason she’s not fighting me is because if she tries to get out of the cab, she’s likely to fall on her face and cause further injury to her wound.
Around t he side of the cabin is the door, and sure enough, it’s easy to pull out the screen from the cracked window. The space allowed between the window and the frame is minimal, large enough for a petite arm at best, and I wonder how many times Shelby has gotten into the cabin this way. I only allow a moment’s consideration as to whether or not we’re welcome here and why it is that my companion is so good at getting around locks. I shove the window open a few inches and reach inside, easily unlocking the door. I remove my arm from the window and turn the handle before walking into the cabin.
CHAPTER 6
Chase
Did I hurt you?
IT’S DUSTY BUT tidy, a family place, that’s obvious. It’s one large room and a bathroom off to the side. A tiny kitchen area is to my left, the bathroom over in the other corner, and a sleeping area up ahead and to the right, fairly close to the front door. On my right, across from the sleeping area is the living area—complete with a sofa, coffee table, and a fireplace. On the mantle of the fireplace is a collection of photographs that I make sure to note to take a look at later. The cabin isn’t much, but it has the basics, which is just what we
“You okay?” I ask.
She smacks her lips together, the tiredness overtaking her, and her eyes travel from mine down to my chest and abdomen. I’m in good shape and I know it, but I can’t believe she would be checking me out in her condition. I’m not built with a twelve-pack of abs or anything, but I try to keep my physique looking good for the ladies. She licks her bottom lip and then looks back up to my eyes. I try to keep my eyes on the road, but I’ve never been all that great at multitasking, especially when I know a pretty woman is checking me out like I haven’t been sitting here without my shirt for over an hour now.
“You look good, Officer Guilliot.”
I fight the heat that flames on my cheeks.
“Oh my God,” she practically whispers in a drawl, “ you’re blushing. You are actually blushing.” Her voice sounds like a predatory purr, which is in stark contrast to how sickly she looks.
I reach over and feel her head. She’s sporting a fever all right.
“You’re a beautiful woman, Miss Connor. Any man with a lick of decency would turn red getting a compliment like that.” She stirs in the seat, crying out once again at the searing pain in her thigh. “Quit moving—you’re only hurting yourself.”
Shelby directs me down a narrow paved road for a few miles until we turn off on a dirt road for another half mile. At the end of the dirt road, settled amongst a plethora of trees , is a small brown cabin. I can’t imagine it’d be called anything but rustic—except worn, perhaps. Its front porch runs the length of the house, and two rocking chairs adorn the left side of the green door. I pull to a stop just off the side of the front stairs and cut off the engine. Shelby makes a move to open the door and drag herself out of the cab, but before she can, I rush around the front and block her path.
“You got a key to this place?” I ask.
She stalls and considers this a moment. “Go around the left side. There’s a pile of firewood and a side door. Next to the door is a window that should be cracked. Pull the screen out. It’s real easy. You can reach in and unlock the door from there.”
I say nothing and stalk off in an effort to get us inside the cabin. I really shouldn’t be breaking and entering into this place, but it’s not like I have much choice.
Before I go, I point a finger at her and tell her to keep her ass in the cab. She lets out a sigh, and I know the only reason she’s not fighting me is because if she tries to get out of the cab, she’s likely to fall on her face and cause further injury to her wound.
Around t he side of the cabin is the door, and sure enough, it’s easy to pull out the screen from the cracked window. The space allowed between the window and the frame is minimal, large enough for a petite arm at best, and I wonder how many times Shelby has gotten into the cabin this way. I only allow a moment’s consideration as to whether or not we’re welcome here and why it is that my companion is so good at getting around locks. I shove the window open a few inches and reach inside, easily unlocking the door. I remove my arm from the window and turn the handle before walking into the cabin.
CHAPTER 6
Chase
Did I hurt you?
IT’S DUSTY BUT tidy, a family place, that’s obvious. It’s one large room and a bathroom off to the side. A tiny kitchen area is to my left, the bathroom over in the other corner, and a sleeping area up ahead and to the right, fairly close to the front door. On my right, across from the sleeping area is the living area—complete with a sofa, coffee table, and a fireplace. On the mantle of the fireplace is a collection of photographs that I make sure to note to take a look at later. The cabin isn’t much, but it has the basics, which is just what we
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