when he’d finally given up on sleep because every time he closed his eyes, he thought about that kiss.
“And you agree the problem appears to be escalating?”
Mal sank back into the comfortable chair. “Yeah, sounds like he’s got an obsessed fan who’s crossed the line from annoying to dangerous.”
It was Grace’s turn to nod. “I believe we’re looking for a female, someone from this area. Bennett’s originally from Philadelphia and the letters all make mention of his ties here.”
“Then I guess I should start with his friends from the neighborhood.”
If the slime even had any.
Grace smiled at him, so grateful, so warm.
He was so screwed.
“Thank you again for taking this off my hands,” she said. “I really need to focus on the kidnapping. And the sooner we can get rid of Bennett, the better. He just doesn’t know how to take no for an answer.”
Mal grimaced as he remembered Bennett hitting on Janey the other day. “Yeah, I kinda got that impression.”
“The man is a menace but his mother is an old friend of Frank’s family. So, we deal. But,” Grace’s mouth twisted, “I have a favor to ask. I’d appreciate if you would keep Janey far away from this case. Nic told me he was hitting on her again. Frank’ll kill him if he finds out Bennett’s bothering her. And with his health not up to par yet, I think it might just push him over the edge.”
Mal’s stomach actually twisted in on itself at that thought.
Christ Almighty. Someone should just take him out and put a bullet through his brain right now.
He’d kissed Janey. He was well on his way to idolizing Nic and making Jimmy his new best friend. Now he was worried about Frank.
Could it get any worse? He needed to get out of here before he confessed all of his sins to Grace and asked for her forgiveness. He rose to leave.
“Oh, and I was wondering what you were doing for dinner tonight.” she asked. “I know it’s Friday and short notice, but we’d like you to join us, if you don’t have other plans. Nothing formal, jeans are fine.”
Dinner at the DeMarcos’. Wouldn’t that be cozy?
Would Janey be there?
“Sure. That’d be great.”
***
“Mal, can I talk to you for a few minutes?” Janey stuck her head out of her office as he came down the stairs,
Christ, did he have a sign on his back today that said Torment Me?
He’d really hoped he could get the hell out of the office without bumping into her again. After what had happened last night and today, his head was about to spin around like Linda Blair’s in The Exorcist.
And since he’d just agreed to keep more secrets from this woman, who he lusted after more each second, it probably wasn’t a good thing to spend any time alone with her.
Still, she’d think it pretty damn suspicious if he started to avoid her since earlier today he’d been sticking his tongue down her throat.
Shit.
He paused then turned and met her gaze, careful to keep his expression blank.
“Sure, Janey. What’s up?”
She waited by the door to her office and closed it behind him while his blood pressure rose and the familiar heartburn in his chest geared up. He should take out stock in whatever company made Tums.
“I wanted to apologize.”
What? Now he looked into her eyes. “Why?”
Her chin tilted up and her mouth firmed. “Well, maybe apologize is the wrong word. I just wanted to make sure that what happened doesn’t get in the way of our working together. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable here, Mal.”
She was talking about those two freaking amazing kisses they’d shared, the ones that had made him salivate every time he looked at her. When he wasn’t thinking about how she could be involved in Devlin’s death.
Apologize? Hell, she better not fucking apologize for those kisses.
“No, you didn’t… I mean, it won’t and I’m not. Uncomfortable, I mean.”
Her rueful look stopped the flow of words to his mouth. “I just don’t want you to think I’m
“And you agree the problem appears to be escalating?”
Mal sank back into the comfortable chair. “Yeah, sounds like he’s got an obsessed fan who’s crossed the line from annoying to dangerous.”
It was Grace’s turn to nod. “I believe we’re looking for a female, someone from this area. Bennett’s originally from Philadelphia and the letters all make mention of his ties here.”
“Then I guess I should start with his friends from the neighborhood.”
If the slime even had any.
Grace smiled at him, so grateful, so warm.
He was so screwed.
“Thank you again for taking this off my hands,” she said. “I really need to focus on the kidnapping. And the sooner we can get rid of Bennett, the better. He just doesn’t know how to take no for an answer.”
Mal grimaced as he remembered Bennett hitting on Janey the other day. “Yeah, I kinda got that impression.”
“The man is a menace but his mother is an old friend of Frank’s family. So, we deal. But,” Grace’s mouth twisted, “I have a favor to ask. I’d appreciate if you would keep Janey far away from this case. Nic told me he was hitting on her again. Frank’ll kill him if he finds out Bennett’s bothering her. And with his health not up to par yet, I think it might just push him over the edge.”
Mal’s stomach actually twisted in on itself at that thought.
Christ Almighty. Someone should just take him out and put a bullet through his brain right now.
He’d kissed Janey. He was well on his way to idolizing Nic and making Jimmy his new best friend. Now he was worried about Frank.
Could it get any worse? He needed to get out of here before he confessed all of his sins to Grace and asked for her forgiveness. He rose to leave.
“Oh, and I was wondering what you were doing for dinner tonight.” she asked. “I know it’s Friday and short notice, but we’d like you to join us, if you don’t have other plans. Nothing formal, jeans are fine.”
Dinner at the DeMarcos’. Wouldn’t that be cozy?
Would Janey be there?
“Sure. That’d be great.”
***
“Mal, can I talk to you for a few minutes?” Janey stuck her head out of her office as he came down the stairs,
Christ, did he have a sign on his back today that said Torment Me?
He’d really hoped he could get the hell out of the office without bumping into her again. After what had happened last night and today, his head was about to spin around like Linda Blair’s in The Exorcist.
And since he’d just agreed to keep more secrets from this woman, who he lusted after more each second, it probably wasn’t a good thing to spend any time alone with her.
Still, she’d think it pretty damn suspicious if he started to avoid her since earlier today he’d been sticking his tongue down her throat.
Shit.
He paused then turned and met her gaze, careful to keep his expression blank.
“Sure, Janey. What’s up?”
She waited by the door to her office and closed it behind him while his blood pressure rose and the familiar heartburn in his chest geared up. He should take out stock in whatever company made Tums.
“I wanted to apologize.”
What? Now he looked into her eyes. “Why?”
Her chin tilted up and her mouth firmed. “Well, maybe apologize is the wrong word. I just wanted to make sure that what happened doesn’t get in the way of our working together. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable here, Mal.”
She was talking about those two freaking amazing kisses they’d shared, the ones that had made him salivate every time he looked at her. When he wasn’t thinking about how she could be involved in Devlin’s death.
Apologize? Hell, she better not fucking apologize for those kisses.
“No, you didn’t… I mean, it won’t and I’m not. Uncomfortable, I mean.”
Her rueful look stopped the flow of words to his mouth. “I just don’t want you to think I’m
Similar Books
