to get a jump start on this if you want to come in.” Not a request. More of a plea to help find the person who’d manhandled and almost killed his former partner.
“Want me to bring a pizza?”
“Yeah, man. That’d be good.”
“I’m putting mushrooms on it, so deal.” As he disconnected, he heard Tommy laugh over their longstanding debate about where fungus belonged. According to Tommy, it wasn’t on a pizza.
Mitch cleared the small bathroom, checking behind the shower curtain, then went to the stairs where the nutty aroma of fresh coffee drifted up.
Kat was standing at the bottom. She still wore his jacket and held a steaming mug. “I made coffee. You want a cup?”
Not really, but with the way she looked up at him all wounded and sad as if she needed him, he couldn’t say no. “Sure.”
She went to the kitchen, and he considered how he was going to convince her to let a family member spend the night. She had a reputation for being stubborn and headstrong. Not something he had much experience in dealing with when it came to women.
“I’m assuming we’re clear,” she said, joining him with a second cup.
“Yes.” He took the mug and put some distance between them. He waited for her to say she could’ve done that herself, but she just gave a sad, halfhearted nod. Not a good sign.
“You shouldn’t be alone tonight, Kat.” He took a sip of coffee and nearly groaned at the strong, freshly ground taste he loved.
“I’m fine.” Her shoulders went up a notch.
He regarded her for a moment and she held her rigid posture under his scrutiny. She was trying so hard to keep it together, but he saw the crack in her strong veneer ready to crumble with the least little blow. “I’m not sure you’re a good judge of how you’re doing right now.”
She raised a brow as if daring him to protest. “I appreciate your concern, really I do, but there’s no need to bother anyone else.” She gave him a tough-as-nails look, then walked into the family room almost aimlessly as if she had no idea what to do with herself. She paused staring ahead. Then, as if reaching a decision, she put her mug on a table and dropped onto the sofa.
He followed and decided to take a firmer stance as he sat next to her. “I’m going to call one of your brothers or your sister.”
“No! It’s late and they don’t need to get involved in this mess.”
“Truth time, Kat. What’s going on here?” he asked, expecting her to reinforce Tommy’s take on things, but hoping if she did, he’d find a hole in her logic.
“It’s nothing, it’s just—” She looked down and started frantically rubbing her wrists where the skin was angry and raw. “This is the first case I’ve headed up at the agency. Ethan and Cole have pretty much been in charge. Makes sense, I guess. They’re the oldest and have the most experience. But still, I begged for a case. Told them I was ready. Now I screwed up and...” Her voice faded away.
Not the answer Tommy had prepared him for. “And you don’t want them to know about it.”
“Yeah.” She kept picking at her wrist.
His mind flashed back to the moment he found her. Bound and helpless, a terrified glaze to her eyes. These very wrists strapped behind her. She seemed now as if she could hardly bear the memory. He took her hands, stopping her from damaging the skin even more. He held her icy fingers as he waited for her to look up at him. When she did, he smiled to help ease her anxiety, but she stared at him looking lost so he plunged ahead. “Your family will hear about this on the news by morning. Maybe you should tell them before that happens.”
“I just can’t handle facing them tonight. Tomorrow, but not tonight.”
He could feel the tension radiating off her. He wanted to do more than hold her hands—maybe give her a hug—but this wave of uncertainty would be gone by morning. Her feisty personality would return, and she wouldn’t remember the hug too fondly.
“I still don’t like the idea of you staying alone. Not with a killer on the loose.”
Fierce independence replaced the uncertainty in her eyes, and she jerked her hands free. “I was a cop, Mitch. I know how to protect myself.”
“I know you do, but you’re upset and not thinking straight.”
“You’re right. I’m upset. Of course, I’m upset. I lay right next to my friend’s body. But don’t think that means I’m falling apart. I’m thinking clearly, and I’ll be fine on my own.” Her shoulders jerked higher.
He wasn’t going to get anywhere with her. He had no choice but to back off. But he wouldn’t leave her unprotected. He’d arrange for an officer to sit outside all night.
“You’re tired. I should be going.” He started to rise.
“Wait.” She grabbed his arm stopping him. “We haven’t talked about the investigation.”
“What about it?”
“I want to be part of it.”
He should’ve known this was coming and prepared a way to say no without hurting her more. “You know I can’t do that. You’re a civilian now and the closest thing we have to a witness.”
“No one needs to know I’m helping.”
He opened his mouth to object but she jumped on it.
“You know Tommy will agree.” She crossed her arms as if she felt it necessary to defend herself from his questioning gaze. She didn’t, though.
He was the one who needed defending from these eyes imploring him to give in. Spending time with the one woman who’d gotten beyond his defenses and made him almost agree to date a coworker wasn’t a wise move.
“I can’t let you help, Kat, without jeopardizing my job.”
“What if you were me?” she asked, her eyes going wide. “What would you want?”
“Wouldn’t matter what I wanted, it’s what I’d make sure happened.”
“Exactly. You’d make sure you were included in the investigation. I’m just trying to do the same thing.” She put a hand on his arm and the warmth of her touch melted his resolve.
Having her by his side would be a good thing, right? If she wouldn’t let her family surround and protect her from this killer, if she worked with him, he’d be able to keep an eye on her.
“Please,” she said softly, and her big brown eyes pleaded with him.
Eyes he’d once looked into where he’d found the same longing he’d felt in his own heart before hurting her. He couldn’t do it again. He’d let her work on the case, but he’d lay down some ground rules. “You don’t call any of the shots. You’re just an observer. You got it?”
“I got it.” She squeezed his arm and smiled. “Thanks.”
