Page 54 of Chilled
“Two. The place gets busy around nine and stays that way until after midnight.”
“One more thing, Robin…” Nick pushed his chair back and stood. “Do you own a computer?”
“Yes. What college student doesn’t have a laptop?” She smiled. “I’d be absolutely lost without it. Come to think of it, Jason was handy to have around if for only that reason. Anytime I had a problem with it, he’d fix it.”
“But you could hire a repairman for less trouble, right?” Brenna smiled.
Robin’s lips twisted. “Yeah.”
This young woman had been through enough with Jason. And now, she had to worry about a murderer on the loose.
The desire to jump from her seat, charge out into Riverton and find the culprit was a physical need burning in Brenna’s belly. But part of her job was to fit the pieces together, and, somehow, Robin was one of the pieces.
The younger woman smoothed the front of her apron again. “Can I get anything else for you two?”
Brenna tipped her coffee mug to stare down into a half-full cup. “Not for me.”
“I could use a top off,” Nick said.
“Coming up.” Robin raced off for the coffee carafe and returned in less than five seconds to refill Nick’s cup. She smiled at Nick, making Brenna’s chest tighten.
When Nick smiled back, the tightening eased lower to twist in Brenna’s gut.
Was that jealousy?
Not that she had a claim on the sexy FBI agent, but they had made love less than twenty-four hours ago. Wasn’t there a polite time limit a man should wait before he flirted with other women?
Brenna sank lower in her seat, her brow wrinkling over her eyes, feeling like a heel for even thinking such thoughts.
Nick’s gaze followed Robin all the way back across the room. Not until she pushed through the swinging kitchen doors did he turn to face Brenna. The smile he’d maintained now slipped. “What?”
“I’m just thinking.” Even to her own ears, her voice sounded grumpy. What was this man doing to her mental wellness?
“Stop it.” Nick reached out and touched a finger to her lip, calling attention to the fact she’d been chewing on it.
“Stop thinking? Or stop chewing on my lip?”
“If you’re thinking about the case, knock yourself out. If you’re thinking about us, stop thinking and biting your lip. What’s done is done. You can’t take it back.”
“Who said I wanted to take it back?” she tossed at him, aiming for flippant, but falling painfully short.
“You were second-guessing again.”
“How do you know I was thinking about us?” she asked, lifting her chin. “I could’ve been thinking about the case.”
“Possible, but not likely.”
“Well, as far as I’m concerned, that’s what I’m thinking about now.” Brenna sat up straight. “Do we have enough to bring Jason in for further questioning?”
“No, but we definitely need to keep a close eye on our bully.” Nick drummed his fingers on the table. “I don’t trust him.”
“Nor do I.” Brenna noticed his fingers were long and tapered. They’d certainly done amazing things to her last night.
“What exactly do we have?”
Nick’s question shook Brenna from a dangerous detour down a dead-end road. “We have a suspect with a history of stalking and violent behavior.”
Nick continued the list of clues. “He’s a former patient of the deceased and could know the professor from working at the university. However, I don’t see a connection to Carmichael or Stinson.”
