role.
She shook her head. Now was not the time to test out relationship waters. There was a maniac to catch; maybe, after the case was solved, they could see if there were any burning emotions that could be reignited. The kiss had pushed all the physical buttons, but there was more to love and romance, and happily ever after than sex.
Alexis went to the desk and opened her computer. The laptop booted quickly. While she waited for it to do its thing and for the wi-fi to connect, she removed her jacket and boots. She hung the jacket on its peg, put the candy-cane hat, scarf, and mittens Jake had given her on the shelf above it, and placed her boots under her coat. She sniffed deeply. Yup, there it was â the unmistakable scent of smoke and fire.
She opened her duffel bag and removed the aerosol can of industrial strength smoke eater. It was the brand used by many fire restoration companies, and she sprayed her clothes with it. The odor-eater did its job, leaving behind a clean, fresh scent.
She went into the bedroom, stripped, and placed her clothing in the plastic bag she carried for that very purpose. She went into the bathroom and turned on the shower, quickly stepping under the scalding stream of water. The Jacuzzi would have to wait. She used the shampoo provided to wash her hair, and then soaped herself all over. Within minutes, she began to feel like a new person. She let the water flow over her tired, achy muscles. How long had it been since she had slept? Twenty-four hours? More?
That was not good â without sleep, the brain ceased its proper functioning; lapses in memory and concentration could seriously affect her ability to do her job. No wonder her brain kept drifting back to Jake instead of focusing on the case.
She turned off the tap and wrapped herself in the fluffy, white towel that hung on the bar. She slipped on her mules and walked into the kitchenette. She poured milk into a ceramic cup and placed it in the microwave oven to heat. Hot milk would help her fall asleep. She looked at the clock on the radio, 7:35; if she could get a five hour power nap, she would be good to go.
Despite what people said, you could never catch up on sleep; it was not a race, nor was it a bank account where you could deposit sleep like money until you needed it. All you could do was give your body what it needed on a regular basis. Tonight, she would try to crash at her usual time; by tomorrow, she should be back on schedule.
The microwave beeped. Alexis reached for the cup of hot milk and carried it over to the computer. She opened her email program, and after deleting the usual junk, crafted a message to Captain Peters, asking him to call her at 12:30 P.M. , her time. She gave the innâs number as well as her cabinâs extension number. She sent the message, muted the sound on the computer, turned out the lights in the living room and kitchenette, and went into the bedroom.
The curtains obscured the light, allowing enough of it into the room for her to be able to fall asleep. Alexis had no problem sleeping in the light; it was the dark that caused her distress. She was surprised that rehashing all those memories with Jake hadnât upset her more. She drank her milk and climbed between the sheets. She was asleep within seconds.
⢠⢠â¢
Jake unlocked the door to his apartment. Maya lumbered to the door to greet him. He bent over to pet her.
âI guess you need to go out, eh girl?â He walked across the room to the door that led to the deck and opened it. While he waited for her to attend to business, his mind drifted back to those few moments when he had held Alexis in his arms. His body had reacted suddenly, with a hunger he had not felt since Irena. His dark-haired, dark-eyed wife came to mind, obliterating the pleasant memories of Alexis. Before he could travel any further down that road, Maya barked.
Jake left his coat, hat, scarf, gloves, and boots out on the veranda to air,
She shook her head. Now was not the time to test out relationship waters. There was a maniac to catch; maybe, after the case was solved, they could see if there were any burning emotions that could be reignited. The kiss had pushed all the physical buttons, but there was more to love and romance, and happily ever after than sex.
Alexis went to the desk and opened her computer. The laptop booted quickly. While she waited for it to do its thing and for the wi-fi to connect, she removed her jacket and boots. She hung the jacket on its peg, put the candy-cane hat, scarf, and mittens Jake had given her on the shelf above it, and placed her boots under her coat. She sniffed deeply. Yup, there it was â the unmistakable scent of smoke and fire.
She opened her duffel bag and removed the aerosol can of industrial strength smoke eater. It was the brand used by many fire restoration companies, and she sprayed her clothes with it. The odor-eater did its job, leaving behind a clean, fresh scent.
She went into the bedroom, stripped, and placed her clothing in the plastic bag she carried for that very purpose. She went into the bathroom and turned on the shower, quickly stepping under the scalding stream of water. The Jacuzzi would have to wait. She used the shampoo provided to wash her hair, and then soaped herself all over. Within minutes, she began to feel like a new person. She let the water flow over her tired, achy muscles. How long had it been since she had slept? Twenty-four hours? More?
That was not good â without sleep, the brain ceased its proper functioning; lapses in memory and concentration could seriously affect her ability to do her job. No wonder her brain kept drifting back to Jake instead of focusing on the case.
She turned off the tap and wrapped herself in the fluffy, white towel that hung on the bar. She slipped on her mules and walked into the kitchenette. She poured milk into a ceramic cup and placed it in the microwave oven to heat. Hot milk would help her fall asleep. She looked at the clock on the radio, 7:35; if she could get a five hour power nap, she would be good to go.
Despite what people said, you could never catch up on sleep; it was not a race, nor was it a bank account where you could deposit sleep like money until you needed it. All you could do was give your body what it needed on a regular basis. Tonight, she would try to crash at her usual time; by tomorrow, she should be back on schedule.
The microwave beeped. Alexis reached for the cup of hot milk and carried it over to the computer. She opened her email program, and after deleting the usual junk, crafted a message to Captain Peters, asking him to call her at 12:30 P.M. , her time. She gave the innâs number as well as her cabinâs extension number. She sent the message, muted the sound on the computer, turned out the lights in the living room and kitchenette, and went into the bedroom.
The curtains obscured the light, allowing enough of it into the room for her to be able to fall asleep. Alexis had no problem sleeping in the light; it was the dark that caused her distress. She was surprised that rehashing all those memories with Jake hadnât upset her more. She drank her milk and climbed between the sheets. She was asleep within seconds.
⢠⢠â¢
Jake unlocked the door to his apartment. Maya lumbered to the door to greet him. He bent over to pet her.
âI guess you need to go out, eh girl?â He walked across the room to the door that led to the deck and opened it. While he waited for her to attend to business, his mind drifted back to those few moments when he had held Alexis in his arms. His body had reacted suddenly, with a hunger he had not felt since Irena. His dark-haired, dark-eyed wife came to mind, obliterating the pleasant memories of Alexis. Before he could travel any further down that road, Maya barked.
Jake left his coat, hat, scarf, gloves, and boots out on the veranda to air,
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