Page 15

Carly fell asleep almost as soon as she walked into the bedroom. I waited a few minutes to be sure before I cracked the door and peeked inside. She was out. Exhaustion had made her cranky and unreasonable. I knew she needed rest. She would see the wisdom in using my services as a bodyguard when I spoke to her in the morning.

Without waking her, I covered her with a blanket and left the room, closing the door without a sound. In the hours that followed, I walked the length of the cabin and checked all the locks. I stayed up all night and kept busy. Cleaning. Doing research on the killer and compiling notes on what I’d learned so far. Watching a little TV. Once the sun bathed the cabin in light, I started breakfast.

I wasn’t sure if it was the coffee or the bacon that finally woke her around nine.

Carly rubbed sleep from her eyes and yawned as she walked into the kitchen in nothing more than pajama shorts, a tight tank top, and a tiny robe that hardly deserved the name. I couldn’t help dragging my hungry gaze over her, taking in the swell of her breasts and that juicy, sexy ass. She had long legs and a beautiful smile. When she wasn’t frowning. Or getting riled up.

I kinda liked her then, too. Rosy cheeks. Snapping green eyes.

But right now? Half asleep and relaxed? It played havoc with my brain.

Not to mention my hardening cock.

“Good morning. Made you breakfast.” I couldn’t keep the grit from my tone.

Did she notice? I couldn’t tell. Didn’t know her well enough to discern her moods or body language yet. But I was already learning.

“Oh. Thanks.” She poured the brew into a mug and then added a little creamer. No sugar.

So, she wasn’t the type for overly sweetened coffee. Good to know.

“You like bacon? Toast?”

She nodded.

“And your eggs? I scrambled a few with cheddar cheese, but I also have over-medium. Keeping them hot under the foil for you.”

I almost winced at how eager I sounded. Get a fucking grip, Beau.

Carly sat at the island and tucked her legs under. “I’m not overly picky. The only ones I don’t like are fried hard in a lot of grease.”

“Same.” I set the platters in front of her and then took the empty seat to her right.

“You didn’t eat yet?”

“Nope. Waited for you.”

“That was. . . kind.” She said it like she didn’t know if she wanted to compliment me.

Adorable. Something about how unsettled she was around me intrigued me. Like maybe she fought the attraction between us because it was there. She could act like that kiss didn’t ignite a spark, but it did. It turned me on. The woman had the softest, sweetest lips.

Carly fixed her plate and began to eat. “I’ve got plans tonight.”

I liked to chop up my over-medium eggs and scoop them, yolk and all, onto lightly buttered toast. Same thing I used to do as a kid. I was nothing if not a creature of habit. Everything had to have its place. Its function. Routine ruled my life.

For the first time, I considered what my life would be like if I didn’t follow the same schedule. What if I just followed my heart instead? What if, just once, I said fuck it and did whatever the fuck I wanted? Because I wanted Carly.

And I believed she wanted me too. She hid it because it made her nervous. I could work with that.

“What plans?”

“I have a list of haunted houses I’m supposed to visit. I’ve been cleared to do a piece on them and the fall activities here. If I’m lucky, it won’t be just the photos. My editor is considering publishing my work.”

I finished my eggs and set down my fork. “You aren’t a writer yet?”

“Not for the paper, no.”

That surprised me. Maybe her editor/boss was an asshole. “I see.” I took a gulp of coffee and pushed my plate aside. “I’d like to talk to you about something.”