Page 19 of Rekindle My Heart

What was she saying? Oh yeah, texting. Ryan smirked. He’d do it again if he got the chance.

“Besides, Karma’s not a morning person.”

Neither was she. “Well, you can go back to bed. Or… come help me chase down a lead.”

“Wait, what? You have a lead in the corruption?” Her voice was clearer now, as if she’d swept the sleepy cobwebs from her mind.

Sheets rustled in the background. He couldn’t help the smile tugging at his cheek. Ryan would bet money she was out of bed now. Yes! Points for him.

“It might be a lead. I’ll explain when I pick you up. I’ll bring you coffee and a cinnamon roll. Be ready in twenty.” He disconnected the call. Bubbles of laughter filled his chest. Erica never was a morning person. But he could always bribe her into action with the local bakery’s pastries. Their cinnamon rolls were the size of his head and her favorite.

He hit print on the image, then closed his laptop and packed up his gear. Time to go knock on some doors.

Ryan was here. Erica knew it, even before he rang the bell or before Karma let out her happy bark. No, she knew it was him by the way her nipples beaded.

Dread coiled around her legs as she slogged her way to the entry. She crossed an arm over her chest and opened the door. Yup, there he stood. All sexy and ready for business in his dress slacks, button-down shirt, and blazer that showed off his broad shoulders. He had skipped the tie today, but his outfit still screamed professional.

Glancing down at her khakis and firefighter T-shirt, she was glad she hadn’t opted for jeans.

She frowned. Dealing with Ryan Daniels before she had her coffee was not a smart move.

Don’t look at the dusting of chest hair popping out at his collar. She averted her eyes. Police business. He was here on police business, she reminded herself—not for the first time this week.

“Smile. It’s Friday, and I brought breakfast.” He held out a to-go cup and jiggled a waxed pastry bag.

She dropped her chin and shot him a you-annoy-me look.

“Here, I got a pup treat for Karma too.” He slipped her dog a bone-shaped cookie. Not that he needed to. The traitor whimpered with excitement when he pulled up. One time. That’s all it took for him to become her dog’s new bestie.

She rolled her eyes. “You’re sucking up. I’m starting to regret opening the door.”

He rattled the bag. “Cinnamon rolls. Your favorite.”

She blinked. He remembered. The man always did have a memory like a steel trap.

She snagged the bribe. Yes, she knew full well that’s what it was. It had worked from the time she was in tenth grade. She turned to Karma. “Be good. I’ll be back in a little while.”

After she locked the door, she followed him to his vehicle. He didn’t speak again until she was strapped in and had her first bite of gooey goodness.

“Oooh, these are as delicious as I remember. Are they from the little shop on Oak Street?”

“Yup. They make the best sweets in town.” He put the SUV in gear and pulled out.

“I haven’t been there in years.” She took another bite. Her taste buds sang. Her eyes cut to him. “I kind of OD’d on them for a while after… Sarah. Anyway, I stopped going there for my waistline.”

His gaze dropped to her stomach.

Shit. She could stand to lose a few more pounds. Her focus shifted from her own belly to his non-existent one. Ryan never did have an extra ounce of fat on him. And by the way his shoulders tapered down to his lean waist, he still didn’t.

“You look good. I don’t think a sweet now and then would hurt.” A delicious grin crossed his handsome face.

A small flutter pattered in her chest.

Coffee. She needed coffee. She grabbed the mug and washed down more than the sugary treat—the old feelings too. One goofy grin, that’s all it took to awaken the dormant longings. Damn it. She needed to stay professional.

She cleared her throat. “So, where are we going?”

“To the scene of the crime.” He explained about the video and the SUV as they drove across town.