Cooper Vengeance. Пола Грейвс

mine, I think—we didn’t really socialize much.” Natalie felt strange just standing in the open doorway, so she closed the door behind her and crossed to the chair by the bed. She paused before sitting, silently requesting permission. She took his slight nod as an invitation and dropped into the chair, her wobbly knees grateful for the respite.

      J.D. glanced toward the file folder he’d laid by the bed. “What did you think?”

      “I think those murders definitely seem to be connected.”

      “And your sister’s murder?”

      “Body position was similar. She fits the profile. But—”

      “But you already have a suspect—your brother-in-law.”

      She knew everyone in town thought she was crazy. Or jealous of her sister’s marriage. Or both. But Hamilton Gray was not the grieving widower he portrayed. He didn’t even try hard to pretend with Natalie, as if he enjoyed toying with her, making her seem a fool in front of her family and colleagues.

      “Have you ever known, in your gut, that you were right? Even if everybody else in the world said otherwise?” she asked.

      “That’s exactly how I feel right now. I know in my gut that the same guy who murdered my wife also murdered your sister.”

      “Then I guess we’ll just have to disagree. Because I know Hamilton killed Carrie. He may not have done it with his own hands, but he was involved.” Natalie leveled her gaze with his, making sure he understood her meaning. “Nothing’s going to stop me from proving it. Not the sheriff, not Hamilton—”

      “Not me?” When she didn’t answer immediately, he added, “You called the police on me yesterday, didn’t you?”

      “Yes.” No point in pretending she hadn’t.

      “Because you thought I was doing something illegal? Or because you wanted me away from the crime scene?”

      “You were doing something illegal—”

      “And you broke into my motel room. Let’s call it even.”

      She sighed. “It’s going to be hard enough for me to keep investigating my sister’s murder under the radar without having to deal with you dogging my every move. I don’t need that. So if you’re going to play follow the leader with me—”

      “I didn’t follow you to the restaurant last night.”

      “Nevertheless, there you were. In my way.”

      “What were you going to do there?” he asked.

      “Look around. See if we missed something.”

      He leaned forward, the movement bringing his muscular torso that much closer to where she sat. She caught a stronger whiff of the masculine scent that had haunted her earlier while she was searching the room. “Maybe we should work together.”

      It was the last thing she’d expected him to say. “Together? On the investigation?”

      “Yes.”

      “You’re not a cop.”

      “At the moment, you’re not really, either. And I know these murder cases better than anyone else.”

      “You’re assuming they’re connected. I don’t assume anything of the sort.”

      “Doesn’t matter. You’ll investigate your way, I’ll investigate mine. I’ll watch your back. You watch mine.”

      She frowned at him, hating herself for finding the suggestion even the smallest bit tempting.

      His voice deepened to a velvety growl. “We want the same thing, Natalie. You want to stop the man who killed your sister. I do, too. I don’t think it matters that we don’t agree who he is. Maybe that’s a good thing. It’ll keep us honest.”

      He was making sense. She didn’t want him to make sense. She wanted him to go away and leave her to investigate in peace.

      But he clearly didn’t intend to go away. So why not agree to work with him? She could make him think they were partners while she investigated around him. At least she wouldn’t have to conduct her investigation while checking over her shoulder all the time to see if he was there.

      “You’re right,” she said aloud. “We do want the same thing. So let’s do it. Let’s work together on this case.”

      His eyes narrowed a fraction, as if he found her capitulation a little too easy. She schooled her features, determined to appear transparent.

      “Okay,” he said finally, leaning back again, taking away that spicy, tempting scent that had damn near mesmerized her for the last few minutes.

      She resisted the urge to lean toward him for another whiff, extending her hand toward him instead. “Okay.”

      His fingers engulfed her, his grip firm but gentle. A tingling warmth in her palm caught her by surprise, making her feel like a teenager with her first crush, giddy and light-headed.

      It passed quickly and she released his hand, scooting her chair back to put more distance between them. “I should go—”

      “What are you doing tonight?” J.D. asked.

      She looked up at him, quelling a sudden nervous ripple in her belly. Was he going to ask her out to dinner or something? “I don’t know—I mean—” She stuttered to a stop, her cheeks burning. For God’s sake, Becker, get a hold of yourself. “I don’t have any plans. Why?”

      His face creased with a slow smile. “Because we have some investigating to do.”