Page 72 of Lead Me On
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CHASE LAY IN THE BLUE GLOWof the muted television, his arm snug around Jane’s warm body. She was asleep, they hadn’t so much as shared a kiss, and yet this was one of the best dates he’d ever had.
An action movie, spicy pizza and Jane. Pure heaven.
He’d known she’d wanted to keep her past secret, but he hadn’t expected the kind of stricken panic he’d seen in her eyes in the lawyer’s office. Jane had looked like a woman faced with her worst nightmare. And that nightmare had been Chase.
Christ.He’d had no idea what to do, so he’d let her run. Too bad for her, she’d already agreed to this date. Now she was snuggled up against him, fingers laced in his, heart beating slowly and steadily against his wrist.
Whatever it was she’d run from, she was here now.
And she’d been lying about not being a neat freak. There wasn’t a speck of dust in this place, not even on the cable box or television. Not only was it clean, but there was a vase of fresh flowers on a little table in front of the window. The occasional glint of a white snowflake pressed against the glass before melting.
Chase felt his bones molding to the couch as his eyelids grew heavier. The smell of Jane’s shampoo whispered into him on every breath. Heaven.
He must have fallen asleep, because his eyes popped open when his little piece of heaven was invaded by a frantic staccato knock. Jane’s head cracked against his chin.
“What is it?” she asked hoarsely.
“Someone’s at the door.”
She jumped up, knocking one of the empty plates off the coffee table as she spun toward the door.
“Hey, wait a second. It’s late. Let me get it.” She didn’t wait, but he jumped up fast enough to get to the door before she’d finished unlocking it.
Chase inched the door open and cringed when he saw a uniformed police officer standing in the snow.
Jane yanked the door all the way open. “What’s wrong?” she demanded.
“Ma’am, are you Jane Morgan?”
“Yes.”
“We’re looking for Jessie MacKenzie. Is he here?”
He felt the way her body jumped. “No. He’s at his grandmother’s house.”
“We were told he might be here.”
Her phone started ringing, but Jane ignored it, shaking her head. “Who told you that? And why are you looking for him?”
“It’s just for routine questioning, ma’am.” He glanced down at his notebook. “Mrs. Olive MacKenzie said he might be here. Have you seen Jessie?”
“No.”
The officer snapped his notebook closed just as Jane’s answering machine picked up. “Dynasty!” Grandma Olive’s voice screeched. “The pigs are on their way! It’s the fuzz!”
“Oh, Jesus,” Jane muttered.
“The heat is on! The cops came sniffing around here and I sent them after you. Not sure what they want, though. Call me back and let me know.”
The officer looked down, but not before Chase caught a half smile flickering over his face. The man coughed, and he was all business again when he looked up. “Ma’am, we just need to ask Jessie a few questions. You haven’t seen him?”
“No.” She shook her head. “What are these questions about?”
“Just call me if he gets in touch.” The officer handed over a card and Jane took it gingerly and shut the door.
“Oh, God, what’s he done?” she muttered, moving to grab her phone from the coffee table. She dialed, but her face made it obvious there was no answer. “His phone’s off.”
