marred the sink. She wasn’t a slob, but this place made her look like one.
She set her bag of clothes on the floor before examining her bloodshot eyes and drawn features in the mirror. She’d tried to clean herself up before going shopping, but soot still streaked the bottom of her chin and hairline.
She turned on the shower and stripped off her ruined clothes before opening the door across from the sink to reveal a small closet. Dante’s clothes hung neatly inside. They were a mix of sports jerseys, T-shirts, button-down shirts, jeans, and pants. All of the sports clothes were Boston teams. Beneath the clothes, towels and linens were neatly stacked on a set of shelves.
She removed two towels, closed the door, and gathered the bottles of shampoo and conditioner she purchased before stepping into the shower. The hot water made her sigh as it beat against her muscles and relaxed some of her tension. She wanted to stay there forever as she scrubbed the stench of smoke and fire from her, but as appealing as that was, she couldn’t use all the hot water.
Reluctantly, she turned off the water and stepped from the shower. She dried off and dressed before unwrapping the towel from her hair and drying it the best she could. She pulled out the brush she purchased and tried not to wince as she worked the tangles from her hair.
When she finished, she shoved her ruined clothes into the plastic bag and tied it closed. It did nothing to block the potent smell drifting from within. She held the bag away from her as she opened the door and stepped out of the room.
Dante stood at the counter dividing the kitchen from the main living area. His brow furrowed as he glared at his computer screen.
“What’s wrong?” she asked as she opened the door and set her ruined clothes in the hall. She’d take them with her when she left.
Dante shook his head before looking at her. Cassidy’s breath caught when those chocolate eyes warmed while they leisurely perused her.
She’d purchased a Rolling Stones graphic tee and black hoodie from the store. The jeans were baggier than what she usually wore, and there was nothing sexy about her outfit, but the hunger in his gaze made her feel like she wore the sexiest lingerie.
Her body reacted to his need viscerally as her breasts felt heavier and an ache started between her legs. She’d never wanted anyone as badly as him; she couldn’t breathe as his ravenous gaze met hers again.
Dante tried to rid himself of his relentless desire for her. However, those baggy clothes somehow made her look more enticing. He would leisurely strip them from her while he kissed every inch of her long, slender body.
Then he recalled she almost died tonight, and it doused his growing arousal. “Nothing is wrong,” he assured her.
It took Cassidy a few seconds to find her voice as she worked to gain control of her body. “Then why do you look like you’re about to kill your computer?”
Dante closed his laptop. “There are more Preston’s in this city than I would have guessed.”
“How many of them are around Julie’s age?”
“A lot of them.”
Cassidy shifted as she fiddled with the sleeves of her baggy hoodie. “What about her friends? Do any of them know a Preston?”
“None of the ones I’ve talked to have mentioned him. Her friend Paris canceled on me today, but we’re supposed to meet tomorrow. When I talked with her friend Missy, she said Paris was the one who knew the most about Julie. However, Missy didn’t seem like much of a friend to me.”
“I’ve had a few friends like that in my lifetime.”
“Unfortunately, I think we all have. I’m going to take a shower. Make yourself at home; there’s blood in the fridge if you’re hungry.”
“Thank you.”
Dante hesitated before heading into the bathroom. After the events of this night, all he wanted was to hold her and reassure himself she was okay.
However, he couldn’t stand the smell of himself anymore. He cast a glance back at where she stood by the door, looking a little lost as she played with the sleeves of her sweatshirt and gazed at his shelves. Reluctantly, he closed the door.
Chapter Sixteen
A small pang of loss tugged at Cassidy’s heart when Dante shut the door. She shoved it aside as she turned her attention to the bookshelves. She strolled the shelves, examining their contents. There were so many books that, in