Page 35 of Broken
“I do more than help, kitten. It’s my ranch. I don’thelp.Idoeverything. I feed the stock some days, build fencing on others. Clean the stables. Hell, I’ve even been known to shovel manure.”
“That’s endearing.”
He laughs. “Shoveling manure? I’ll be sure to tell my brothers that. Not that they need to be any more endearing to their women. They’re so in love it’s kind of sickening.” He touches my cheek. “Though I’m feeling a little sick myself…”
No. No, no, no. This has to stop. I need to get ready for work. If he keeps talking, he may say…
And I can’t hear that. Not yet. Not while I’m keeping such a big secret from him. I rush toward the bathroom, snagging my panties on the way. “I’m out of time.”
Before I close the door, he stops me with his big bare foot. “Dinner. Should I pick you up here or at the sheriff’s office?” He gives me two options, which means it’s happening no matter what answer I choose.
“Depends on the time.”
“You tell me,” he says. He stands there in only his jeans, and they aren’t even buttoned. God, he’s so amazing I want to tug him back to bed even though we just fucked. I want more. I’m insatiable with him.
“Okay. How about seven? Pick me up here.”
He nods. “Good enough. I’ll get out of your hair for now.” He brushes his lips over mine, so sweetly in contrast to how he took me against the wall. “Until tonight. And kitten?”
I arch a brow.
“If you wear panties later, they may not make it.”
An hour later,after picking up the package from Mom at the front desk of the motel–she came through just as I hoped–I’m sitting across from Jarvis at our table in the corner of the sheriff’s office searching my inbox.
“Eureka!” I say.
“Good news?” Jarvis cocks his head.
I lean in to read. “From Dr. Hayes. It’s the DNA results from underneath Joey Hopkins’s fingernails. Now to run them…” I plug the results into the database and then I call Dr. Hayes.
“Hayes,” he says into my ear.
“Dr. Hayes, it’s Special Agent Avery Marsh. I just got your email, and I’m running the sample through the database. But I need a favor.”
“What can I do for you?” he asks.
“I have a sample I need DNA analysis on. A rush.”
“I can give you the name of the nearest lab, but it’ll be in Billings,” he says.
Not great, but expected. “Yeah, I figured as much. Can they do a quick turnaround like you did?”
“They should be able to do twenty-four to forty-eight hours,” he says. “That’s standard.”
I frown. “I need better than standard.”
Silence.
“Dr. Hayes?”
“I have to go. Someone just walked into my office. I’ll give you a call right back.”
“But the lab in Billings—”
The call drops.
Great. Just great. He’d better call me back pronto. Who could have walked into his office more important than an active case?
