Total pages in book: 767
Estimated words: 732023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3660(@200wpm)___ 2928(@250wpm)___ 2440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 732023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3660(@200wpm)___ 2928(@250wpm)___ 2440(@300wpm)
“I have to clean out the grease trap,” I replied sullenly. I felt fifteen again dealing with catty high school girls who made me feel less than important.
“And wouldn’t your time be better spent working the dinner shift?”
I whipped my head about to meet her shrewd gaze. “Really?”
“Really,” she countered, and I hugged her something fierce.
9
NIX
“Kit.”
She spun around when I called her name. The back door of the diner slammed shut behind her, making her jump. The parking lot lights cast her face in sharp contrast, but I couldn’t miss the panic in her eyes.
When I realized I was in shadow and she couldn’t see me, I stepped forward.
She stumbled backwards, then froze when she recognized me.
“Nix,” she replied, on a breathy exhale, her hand going to her chest. Her purse fell off her shoulder and she shoved it back up.
“Shit, I’m sorry,” I said, stepping close, realizing I’d scared her.
She whacked me on the chest. “Don’t do that!”
Her body shook and I grabbed her into a hug. She was all soft and warm, and she was all but vibrating with adrenaline.
“What kind of policeman are you, scaring the crap out of people?”
“Why are you out here by yourself?”
“My shift’s over. My car is right there.”
I knew exactly where it was since I parked next to it.
“Have someone walk you to it if it’s dark. Okay?”
“Yes.” She tried to pull back and I let her. Only enough so she could look up at me. “What are you doing here?”
“I couldn’t call you, so I was going to have you follow me to Donovan’s. He’s waiting for us.”
“Oh,” she breathed. I could hear the sound of dishes clattering inside the diner. Her shift was done, but the place was open all night.
“I told you later, didn’t I?” Ever since the questioning this morning, I’d wanted her. It had been torture letting Miranski grill her. I’d wanted to yank her out of the chair, hug the shit out of her and tell the other detective to fuck off.
I liked Miranski. She was good at her job, which made my life easier. She could drink most guys under the table over happy hour and could ski the back bowls better than most locals on a good powder day. Being from Colorado, she wasn’t a local. She didn’t think Kit had anything to do with the murder any more than I did, but she knew nothing about Kit, hadn’t grown up with her like I had, so her questions weren’t just to mess with her.
Keith Mills, on the other hand... The fucker had a thing for Kit, and not the good kind. Hell, I didn’t even want him to know her. But he did and he thought she was bad news. I had no idea if he really considered her guilty or found her a perfect person to vent his anger toward. Kit had taken it for years. Why not dish a little more shit on her plate?
I’d calmed him down, a little. He was still out for blood, but I warned him from acting out and told him to let us do our jobs. I also gave him a piece of my mind for harassing Kit, although his hatred seemed to run deep. He’d left, but it wasn’t the last I’d see of him about the case.
“How did you know I was working here?”
I laughed. “I am a detective.” And she’d told me she was going to try and get her job back. I knew Dolly and Clyde and all those times I’d gone to the diner to talk with Kit, I’d seen the way they doted on her. I knew they’d give her the job back. I didn’t know she’d work tonight, but pulling into the lot and finding her car was easy enough.
“You thought we weren’t going to connect with you.”
She was quiet for a one heartbeat, then another.
“Kit,” I said, drawing the word out.
She sighed. “I just… it’s happening so fast. I wasn’t sure.”
I grinned as I walked her backward until she was pressed into the cinder block wall. “Fast? It’s been happening for years.”
I couldn’t help myself. I kissed her. And nudged my knee between her legs. Our height difference had her practically riding my thigh. My dick pressed into her belly.
I wanted to flip her around and take her right here. Right now. But she deserved better than behind the diner. And no one saw Kit getting fucked but me and Donovan.
With a growl, I stepped back, looked down at her. Fuck, she looked good. Her lips glistened in the lights. Her eyes were blurry and she was all soft and pliant against me. I could even feel the hard tips of her nipples against my chest.
I wouldn’t fuck her here, but that didn’t mean I’d stop touching her. I stroked her hair back. “Where were you going?”