Chapter Six
Easton kept his eyes open long after Kinley’s had closed. When her breathing finally deepened, he got out of bed to retrieve his laptop, then sat at the ivory desk so he could keep watch and notify the bureau of his findings. Right now, he was a physical barrier against whoever wanted to do her harm. Still, the sooner he informed all local law enforcement entities about the threat to a fellow officer, the sooner she’d get protection wherever she went, too. He’d gotten back into the bed and fallen asleep beside her, lulled by her soft snore, sometime after two o’clock in the morning.
The perpetrator was too close to Kinley. Her reaction last night was minor compared to what she must be going through on the inside. When the panic attack consumed her, he just did what felt right. Holding her in his arms and comforting her felt more than right. There was nothing sexual about his actions, but he couldn’t help but notice how all her dips and curves tucked so neatly into him. There was never a time he’d experienced a connection like this, but he still had a job to do. Protect Kinley, get an evil serial killer off the streets, and come away with his heart intact. Outside of the love he had between his siblings, family had offered him little concern or protection growing up. Love had been a tool to manipulate and garner trust when the intentions were ruthless and damaging. Those closest to you could always inflict the deepest wounds.
Kinley stirred next to him, then her eyelids flew open and she sat upright in bed. It took her a moment to get her bearings, but recognition tempered the unease in her expression. She laid her hand over her heart. “I wasn’t sure where I was.” Her voice was breathless.
“You’re safe,” he said. Her hair was ruffled, and dark smudges had settled below her eyes, a reminder of what she was going through. Even still, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. It wasn’t just her outward beauty that fascinated him, it was the integrity and courage that shone through her bright eyes. Her willingness to lay down her life for another, just like she had for Gus and Sasha. The selfless, generous nature Kinley possessed was the exact opposite of the selfish women, like his mother and aunt who cared for nothing but themselves.
“No one got near the property last night.”
Kinley turned those gilded eyes on him, and it was his turn to be rendered breathless by what he discovered in their depths. Appreciation, trust, and above all else, a flicker of hunger that sucker-punched him right in the gut. He wasn’t alone in his attraction. After the night she’d had and his own feelings so close to the surface, it was possible he saw what he wanted to believe.
“That was the first time I’ve slept without a nightmare in months.” Her pulse bounded against the delicate skin at the base of her neck. “I’m just sorry I had to embarrass myself and blub all over you to get it.”
“I’m not. I’d be worried if your reaction was anything less.” He pushed a tuft of hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear, withdrawing it quickly when he realized the intimacy behind the gesture. His fingertips tingled where he’d touched her as if the silky strands of her hair and the smooth curve of her cheek were still against his skin. Even though he’d held her through the night because of her distress, he couldn’t deny wanting more moments with her in his arms. Kinley stared at him with wide, honest eyes as something sparked and snapped to life between them, filling the air with a surge of electricity. He stood, and the bed gently moaned with his receding weight. “I’m going to make coffee and breakfast. Take your time.”
He started for the door, hating to leave her but needing a moment to regroup. On the outside, he might appear calm, but his insides were quivering with something he couldn’t quite dissect at the moment.
“Easton.”
He turned, and Kinley’s eyes bored into him. He swallowed away the moisture that pooled in his mouth. She was so goddamn pretty.
“Thank you.” The sincerity in her words almost made him pace back to the bed and hold her close like he’d done the night before.
There were so many things on the tip of his tongue. That it wasn’t a chore to comfort her. That holding her had felt right. That he wanted to open up to her in a way he hadn’t in a very long time. All the words jumbled together in his mouth, and he was unable to utter a single one. He gave a quick nod and left the room. A lame, inadequate response. If he opened his mouth, though, let all those thoughts tumble out, it would only distract from their real purpose. They had to act fast and get what leads they could from the café.
Once downstairs, he threw together a quick breakfast of cheese omelets and bacon. Slices of bread popped up from the toaster just as Kinley entered the kitchen. Her eyelids were still heavy, golden hair rumpled from sleep. Damn cute. She had changed into a pair of Jules’s leggings and a long-sleeved shirt that he’d left out the night before. The fabric clung to her subtle curves. When he tore his eyes away from her body, she was staring at him with a look of interest that matched his own. Feverish blood roared through his veins. Her full lips were parted slightly, her eyes wide. He turned away and busied himself at the counter. “You take your coffee black, right?” he asked, just for something to say. He knew full well the answer to that question.
“Yes, thanks. It smells great. Anything I can help with?” She paused at the island, gaze roaming over his face. His chest clenched. He liked having her in his home way too much.
“No, relax. Everything’s all set.” He transferred the eggs to the two plates he’d set out earlier and turned off the burner on the stove. Kinley dragged out a chair at the kitchen table, and he laid a plate in front of her, along with coffee.
“I’m feeling a little spoiled.” The shy grin she gave him made his stomach weightless.
“You’ve had a hell of a twenty-four hours. I’d say a little spoiling is in order.” His fingers ached to touch the tips of her wet hair. Focusing on work had never been difficult for him. It was easy to get caught up in fettering out criminals from the dark web, setting up stings, and hunting leads and financial records. Now, though, he was caught up in Kinley, and that spelled trouble. He had to get his shit together because this could be the most important case of his career. The Kingston Town Killer was the definition of everything he worked his entire life to abolish. He brought his plate to the table and sat across from Kinley.
“I can’t remember the last time I had homemade eggs and bacon. I need to start rethinking my lack of culinary skills.” She had made a good dent in her plate, and his lungs filled with a rush of pleasure. What was it about caring for Kinley that made him feel on top of the world?
“I’d be happy to fill the role of instructor.” He took a long sip of coffee, instantly more alert as the hot liquid slid down his throat.
Her smile lightened something heavy within him. “I’ll keep that in mind. For now, though, I better focus on who is trying to send me a message.” She took a deep breath in through her nose. “I’m ready to talk about the case. I just … last night was a shock. I hate that I wasted our time instead of putting one foot in front of the other.”
“There was nothing we could’ve done last night. Now we can have a fresh start today with a clearer perspective.” He lifted his fork and speared more eggs.
“So, we know that the sender used a disposable email to contact me, and they either didn’t have the correct knowledge to cover their tracks fully, or they wanted me to know how close they were. If the IP address was traced to the café, that means everyone at the coffee shop was connected to the same network, right?” She picked up her last slice of toast and bit in with enthusiasm.
“Yes, but given the short-term nature of the account, we can place him there in the last twenty-four hours.” As soon as he said the words, the breath rushed out of Kinley.
Her brow creased, and shadows clouded her eyes. Memories had taken her to a different time and place. Reaching his arm across the table, he took her hand and gave it a quick squeeze before letting go. Each time his skin touched hers, even when they sat close, talking, there was a bone-deep connection to Kinley he was unable to ignore. An inexplicable pull to know every detail about her life. Her favorite foods, music, and hobbies all seemed like pressing questions, which was kind of ironic given the gravity of their situation. Of all the other probing they needed to do to uncover information about the killer.
“Does the coffee shop have surveillance?” she said after a few seconds, pushing back her plate. Maybe she’d been full, or perhaps she’d lost her appetite with their discussion.
“No, but the adjacent gift shop has an outdoor camera that manages to catch patrons coming and going. The task force is getting a warrant as we speak.” Last night, he’d hacked into the shop’s video feed, downloading the file to his personal computer. The action wasn’t legal, but he didn’t want to risk the chance of the surveillance mysteriously disappearing. This person might have connections if they’d stayed off the grid this long.
“There’s more to that statement. I can hear it in your voice. You’ve already looked at it, haven’t you?” She perked up, leaning closer to him.
“You can read me better than most.” He wasn’t sure how he felt about that, only that it made the synergy between them seem more in synch. “I needed to look at the footage. With so many victims and so little information about the perpetrator, my gut’s telling me he either is or knows someone in a position of power.”