Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“Porter,” Dean answers, his voice low and steady.
“How’s the investigation going?” I ask, trying to keep my voice casual, even though I’m itching to hear something useful.
“Nothing concrete yet,” Dean replies. “Everyone’s turning up clean. No criminal records, no shady connections, except for what I found on Stuart. We’ve looked into the usual suspects and then some, but so far, there’s nothing that leads us anywhere. The guy you asked about—Hank—he’s clean too, but it’s not like we didn’t expect that.”
I lean back against the couch, rubbing a hand over my jaw. “Yeah, I figured as much. But you still need to check out every angle. Just because someone doesn’t have a record doesn’t mean they’re not involved.”
“I hear you,” Dean says. “We’re following up on a couple of things, but right now, nothing’s connecting.”
I’m quiet for a moment, processing the information. Nothing. Nothing at all. It’s frustrating. But I know how these things go. Sometimes it takes time, and sometimes the right lead doesn’t show up until you least expect it.
“Yeah, well, keep digging,” I finally say. “By the way, I did a little more digging on Aubree. She fired a few guys at the shop before Stuart was hired. Says she didn’t feel like they were the right fit, but it could be relevant. I’ll keep an eye on Stuart for now. Just be aware of the timing.”
Dean’s voice softens a little. “Understood. You’re doing good, Boone. Keep me posted on anything new.”
“Will do,” I mutter, hanging up the phone.
I sit there for a moment, lost in thought. I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something we’re missing. Aubree’s been through so much, and every time I think we’re getting closer to figuring this out, I hit another dead end. But it’s not just the case that’s been consuming my mind lately. It’s her. It’s always been her, even if I refuse to admit it.
The sound of the water turning off in the bathroom pulls me from my thoughts, and my heart skips a beat. I glance toward the bathroom door, my mind immediately racing with the idea of her stepping out, fresh from the shower.
I stand up, walking toward the window to distract myself, but it’s no use. I can still hear the faint sound of her movements, the soft rustling of the towel, the sound of her steps.
The door opens, and then she steps out.
I freeze. My breath catches in my throat. Aubree’s standing there, a towel wrapped around her body, droplets of water still clinging to her skin. Her hair is damp, curling slightly around her shoulders, and I can’t stop myself from staring at the way the towel hugs her curves.
I swallow hard, trying to force the thoughts away. My body reacts instantly—every inch of me aching to pull her close, to touch her, to feel her skin against mine again. But I stay still, fighting every instinct telling me to move.
She doesn’t seem to notice me standing there at first, focused on drying her hair with another towel. I stand in the doorway, my hands clenched into fists at my sides, trying to keep control of the thoughts that are flooding my mind.
“Boone?” Aubree’s voice breaks through the haze of my thoughts, and I quickly snap my gaze back to her face.
“Yeah?” I force the word out, my voice rougher than I intended.
She raises an eyebrow, giving me a curious look. “You okay?”
I nod, quickly turning away, trying to calm the storm that’s building inside me. “Yeah, just—just checking in. Everything okay?”
She smirks slightly, tossing the towel over her shoulder. “Fine. Just taking a shower.”
I nod again, but my body is still tense, every nerve on edge as I move toward the kitchen. I can feel the weight of her gaze on me, even though I’m not looking at her. I know she can feel the shift in the air, the sudden tension that’s thicker than it’s ever been.
“You hungry?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady, but it comes out a little too clipped.
She’s quiet for a moment, and then I hear her move behind me. I feel her step closer, just a few inches from my back, and I can barely breathe.
“Yeah,” she says softly. “I could eat something.”
I turn, my body close enough to hers that I can feel the heat radiating off her. She’s so close, I can almost taste the electricity in the air. The way her towel clings to her body drives me to the edge, and I have to take a step back, forcing myself to breathe evenly.
But when I do, she moves with me, her eyes meeting mine with an unreadable expression. The moment hangs between us like a thread ready to snap.
“Aubree,” I murmur, my voice barely a whisper. “You don’t know what you’re doing to me.”