Page 48 of Mountain Defender
She flipped over enough to crack an eye at him. “The best thing you can do is dump it down the drain and buy me a good coffee.”
“I can do that too. But…” He took a sip. Out of her cup. Then had the audacity to smack his lips. “It’s not so bad.”
She sat up and stuck out a hand.
He placed the drink in her hand, leaning in with a smile. “See? I knew you’d come around.”
When she took a tentative sip, she didn’t want to hurl it across the room at least. That didn’t make itgood.
“That’s my girl.” He ruffled her hair.
She shot him the dirtiest look she could muster at such an early hour. No light filtered through the slats in the blinds, which told her that once again, Bryson was waking her up at an ungodly time.
“After you get dressed, we’ll grab something to eat. Then meet forensics.”
She lowered the cup from her lips. “You know what time they’re coming?”
“Yep—your boss called while you were still asleep.”
She sputtered and would have sprayed coffee if she had any in her mouth. “You answered myphone?”
He nodded.
“It’s passcode protected!”
He shrugged. “Did you really think the last four digits of the phone number to the pizza joint you worked at in high school would keep me out?”
Her jaw dropped, and a small squeak projected. “What about the thumbprint?”
He pointedly dropped his gaze to her hand lying face up in her lap. She grunted—shehadbeen dead asleep and clearly oblivious to him using her own thumbprint to unlock her phone.
The fact that he’d gotten through two security measures and spoken to her boss left her wondering what else the man was capable of.
“Well, are you going to tell me what Eric wanted?”
“Only to pass on that forensics will be on the scene as soon as the road’s passable, which should be at first light. And to warn you about me.”
Did he have to lower his jaw like that and give her that smoldering look? It was a deadly combination. One that practically shredded her panties off last night.
She swung her legs over the side of the bed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Of course not. I’ll be waiting right here after you finish your coffee and shower.” He smoothed the bedding before sitting down and kicking back with his phone in hand.
Wait—that washerphone. She stormed around to his side and held out a hand for it. He gently laid the device on her palm with a wicked grin.
Sinful! The man was sinful.
And she wanted him. Again. All day long. She never wanted to leave that king-sized bed until she worked him out of her system.
She hurried into the bathroom and slammed the door. As soon as it was shut, she melted against it, closing her eyes. If forensics was on their way, she had to be at the top of her game. She needed more caffeine, not the cup of swill in her hand.
She dumped it down the sink drain and tossed the cup in the trash. When she climbed into the shower, she moaned at the great water pressure with all the hot water a woman needed to wake up, after a night like she’d had.
Everything she believed about the case had been laid out on a mental table—then Bryson grabbed it and flipped it. If she’d actually gotten a chance to speak to Eric, she would have told him that she wasn’t so sure that Bryson was involved.
It wasn’t because she’d slept with him, he’d sucked her nipples until her insides turned to mush or the fact that he’d given her the best dick of her life either.
No…she’d seen the torment on his face, andthatchanged everything.