their fingers together.
“I’m not some—”
“Flavor of the week?” he guessed. “I know.”
The slow smile that curved her lips was nothing short of gorgeous. “Stop reading my mind.”
“I’ll make a mental note.” He hooked a finger through the belt loop on her jeans and tugged until she bumped against him.
“Not sure I can trust that with the number of concussions you’ve had.”
“Probably not as damaging as fifty thousand volts.”
She cocked her head, her eyes full of trouble. “Are you still whining about that?”
He nipped her bottom lip, her answering moan sending a rush of heat straight to his groin. “I don’t whine.” His lips found a sweet spot below her ear.
“That wasn’t what it sounded like in the shed. I didn’t know you could hit those kinds of high notes, actually.”
He sighed, but continued to explore the curve of her neck, right down to where it met her shoulder. “Are you trying to kill the mood here?”
Her eyes drifted shut. “Just trying not to make any more mistakes tonight.”
“So you admit that tasing me was a mistake?”
“Maybe I’m talking about our kiss.”
“Which one?” When she remained silent, he smiled into her skin, the scent of her filling his head.
“Jackson,” she murmured, turning her face toward his. Her mouth skimmed the edge of his jaw, moving way too slow.
He sank his hand into the hair at her nape, guiding her so much closer. Close enough to feel her breath whisper across his lips. Close enough to—
Bang!
Jackson spun around, one arm blocking Hayley in as he scanned the area.
Amused, she glanced at the arm he was using to shield her, then motioned toward the hallway. “Just a door. It slams all the time.”
Some of the tension left his body. “Is there a window open or something?”
“Upstairs, but it does that anyway.” At his raised eyebrow, she shrugged. “Didn’t know the place was haunted, huh?”
“Maybe I should check it out anyway.”
“You?” She crossed her arms, waiting.
Right. She was the cop.
Hayley rolled her eyes. “How about we check it out?”
It wasn’t the first time she had given him the impression she was just humoring him, but not until they were down the hall and at the front door did he realize she was trying to get rid of him.
“It’s late.” She gripped the door handle.
“You know, I think I could use a ride.”
“I’ll call you a taxi.”
“Aren’t you a little bit worried I might pass out in a ditch on the way?”
She nudged him across the threshold. “You can call me when you get home so I know not to send out search and rescue.”
“I don’t have your number,” he pointed out.
“Then I’ll call you. Good night.” She closed the door on him.
He stared at the wood, trying to puzzle out how he’d gone from being half an inch from her mouth to nearly eating the peeling paint off the front door.
“Jackson?”
“Yeah?”
“Go home unless you want me to tase you again.”
Chapter Six
Hayley hadn’t slept much. Between tossing and turning, wondering how Gavin was doing and staring at the ceiling with a stupid grin on her face, she’d opened her eyes feeling like she hadn’t slept in weeks.
Trudging into the shower had been a chore she’d passed on in favor of soaking in the claw-foot tub. Adding the bubbles was an indulgence strictly to satisfy the part of her content to stay curled up in bed all day, and that wasn’t happening.
She sighed as the hot water soothed aches from the fall that were more noticeable this morning. The next time Copernicus decided to run up a tree, she was calling the fire department. If she was smart she’d call the fire department the next time she crossed paths with Jackson. Maybe then she could avoid another disaster in the making.
She’d waited until he disappeared down the lane and onto the main road before getting into her truck and following to make sure he got back to his parents’ place in one piece. She had enough weighing on her without something serious happening to the harbor’s golden boy.
The same golden boy who kissed even better than he played hockey.
Hayley could just imagine what he’d think if she told him that. The man’s ego was big enough without him knowing she’d lain awake half the night thinking of that sinful mouth of his.
She let out a breath, determined to put him and that kiss out of her head. Jackson was leaving. Maybe he’d stick around another day or two for Josh, if that long. He had left