Page 74 of Now and Then

“There was another break-in,” he says, voice heavy. “Chief wants me to check it out.”

“Now?” I can’t keep the sharp edge out of my voice. We’ve just had the best first date in the history of first dates. This is not how tonight was supposed to end.

“Yeah.” His jaw tightens, tension settling into his shoulders. “But I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”

For a split second, an old instinct needles my chest—See? Nothing stays perfect. But I push it down. “It’s okay,” I say softly.

We leave the bar in a rush, the ache in my chest growing as I slide into the passenger seat of Hunter’s truck. The drive back to my house stretches endlessly, the silence thick and heavy. The headlights carve a narrow path through dark fields, the town already asleep around us.

Hunter’s grip on the wheel tightens, his jaw locked. I know this case has been weighing on him, stealing his sleep and peace of mind. I wish I could make it easier for him.

He says softly, “I really don’t want our night to end like this.”

For a split second, I can see the man I’ve always known, the one who made me feel like the most important person in the room. And now it’s my turn to be that for him.

Hunter pulls into the driveway but doesn’t turn off the truck. He turns toward me, apology written all over his face. “I hate leaving you like this.”

“It’s okay, baby,” I say, shaking my head and placing my hand over his. “You’re doing what you have to do. I know how important this case is to you, so, trust me, I get it. Just be careful, okay?”

The tension in his face eases. He squeezes my hand and gets out of the vehicle. He opens my door, and I grip his hand and step down.

“I’ll call you as soon as I can,” he says.

“Okay.” I lean up, capturing his lips with mine. This kiss is softer, more gentle. “Don’t forget to turn the lights off when you come to bed.”

He smiles and places yet another kiss on the apple of my cheek. “Does this mean I can sleep in bed with you tonight?”

“Tonight”—I walk up to my front door and turn to face him—“and every night.”

15

Hunter

Blue and red lights strobe across the siding of the lake house, cutting through the dark like a warning. The music from Big Joe’s is still echoing in my head when I step under the crime scene tape.

Chris stands near the porch, hands on his hips, breath fogging in the cold.

“Well, aren’t you looking fancy tonight, Detective,” he teases.

“You’re hilarious.”

“Seriously, though, did I miss a memo or what?”

“Nah, Sutton and I were on a date.”

“Good for you two.” His smile stretches from ear to ear as he hands me a flashlight. “Hell of a night for this.”

“Yeah,” I say, scanning the area. “You could say that.”

The narrow window beside the front door has been forced open, the latch splintered and the frame bent outward. Glass litters the porch, scattered in jagged pieces that catch the light.

“Neighbor called it in,” Chris says. “Says he saw a flashlight inside around nine, but didn’t think much of it until he saw the window busted in.”

I crouch by the window frame and run my flashlight along the wood. Until now, most of the suspicious calls have been for vehicles and odd activity, not signs of a break-in. This time’s different. Maybe these guys are slipping up.

“Don’t touch anything until we can dust for prints.” I motion to the window casing.

We step inside. Chris goes left, and I head toward the back of the house.