Page 22 of Caretaker

I drew in a suddenly shaky breath and squirmed in my seat. “You turn me on no matter what you’re wearing,” I was a little surprised at myself for admitting that to him. Generally, I kept such things to myself.

His eyes widened just the tiniest bit. He said nothing, as though afraid he’d ruin the moment, and we sat there staring at each other in silence.

Finally, he spoke. “Anytime, baby hunter. Anyplace.”

I placed a sweaty palm over my thumping heart, then downed the last of my wine to ease the sudden dryness in my throat.

He stood and began clearing the table. “Just throwing that out there.” He sounded almost jolly.

I carried my dishes to the dishwasher. “We should go. I don’t have a lot of time to find the judge’s wife.”

“Do you have the item he gave you?”

“It’s in my car.”

“Get it. We can take my truck.”

I nodded. I’d catch her scent and Shane would drive me—windows down—to where the scent was strongest. Then we’d leave the truck and track her on foot.

As I pulled the pillowcase from my car and went to climb into Shane’s truck, tracking Madalyn Bennett wasn’t the only thing on my mind.

The dark promise in Shane’s eyes stayed with me, and I knew that before the night was finished, I would end up in his arms.

It was time.