Page 29 of Ruin Me

“She did. I hope you can help us with some other clues. Her death is still unsolved and there have been others since,” I said, bringing his attention back to me.

I retrieved the other photos I collected from the other murder victims. All from Instagram. All in various clothes from brunch chic to executive on a break. All with various friends.

“Shouldn’t you be asking him?” Fred nodded at Kent.

“I have, but he hadn’t seen any of the women the months leading up to their murders. So I looked at things they had in common and found your shop.”

Fred narrowed his eyes at me. “Are you suggesting I had something to do with their deaths?”

“Not at all. I’m hoping you remembered something from when they were here that could help with the investigation. The police are stalled, and a friend of mine almost became another victim to whoever’s targeting the women he’s”—I nodded toward Kent—“been seen with.”

“I don’t know how much help I can be.”

His manager came to the table and whispered in his ear.

“Sorry, I have to handle this. Leave the pictures and I’ll try to jog my memory.”

I handed him the photos and watched him head toward the back of the cafe.

“I don’t know, but it’s worth a shot if it means clearing your name.” I reached over the tabletop to hold his hand.

He squeezed my hand then laced our fingers together. “Well, what’s next?”

“I want to stick around a while longer. From how busy he is, he’ll likely forget about us.”

“Fine by me. I’ve been eyeing a pastry I wanted to try.” Kent raised his arm and ordered a white chocolate raspberry shortcake.

When it arrived, he pulled my chair next to him, cut into the pastry, and raised it to my lips. I opened my mouth without thought and hummed as the perfectly balanced dessert hit my tastebuds.

“Madison approved, I see. Now, let’s discover if it’s Kent approved.”

Instead of cutting another portion, Kent gripped my nape and angled my face toward his. The blue of his eyes glowed with a feral light as he homed in on my lips.

“Open for me Madison. Let me taste how good the dessert is.”

I did his bidding. Of course I did. Ever since Kent and I cleared up our issues, Kent treated me as too delicate to overwhelm with his need. His kisses were too few for my liking, and he cut short whenever I initiated, always teasing me with what could happen.

Dammit, I wanted what could happen and I wanted this kiss now. As soon as his lips touched mine, I was a goner. I always was. This time, I didn’t have to fight myself. Didn’t have to pretend I wasn’t kissing the man who no other could come close to replacing. And that was before I knew his taste.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, uncaring of any random person with an issue about public displays of affection. I was greedy for Kent. Would always be. And there wasn’t a person who could stop me from giving him all I am whenever he asked.

His thumb rubbed circles on my cheek. The innocent flutter against my skin while he devastated my mouth with his plundering tongue, set off new fireworks in my blood.

“Kent,” I moaned, needing more.

He tugged on my arms until I reluctantly freed him. When we parted, his stare was wilder than before, but he reigned himself in whereas I had trouble recovering from our embrace.

“Definitely Kent approved.” He pulled away and was about to feed me another mouthful when Fred reappeared.

“Good, you’re still here. I felt bad leaving the way I did, but it looks like everything is under control now.” He eyed the nonexistent distance between Kent and me. “Do you still want me to answer questions?” He placed the photos I’d given him earlier on the tabletop.

“Yes,” I slurred, then shook my head to refocus on the matter. “Can you think back to any time these women were here if there was another person who looked suspicious? Maybe someone who showed them more interest. Came when they came and left when they left? Man or woman?”

“That’s hard. I have a good memory, but not that good. You’re asking me to recall something from over a half a year ago.” He rubbed the stubble on his chin as he tried to remember anything to help us.

I reshuffled the photographs, trying to identify familiar faces.

Kent, who’d been quiet until now, leaned forward to inspect the pictures as well. He pulled one from the group.