make a run to the drugstore in the morning, and maybe to Walmart for some clothes,” she told him as he sat up and slid his legs to the floor to stand. CJ heard his “Thank you” when she finished, but was already hurrying out of the room and pulling the double doors closed between them.
Pausing in the middle of the salon, CJ pressed her free hand to one cheek and closed her eyes. She’d rushed out of there like her butt was on fire, and all because he’d stood up. But the man had the most bizarre effect on her. The moment he’d stood, the room had suddenly felt tiny and hot and he’d seemed much closer than he had been while lying down. Worse yet, she’d wanted to get closer still and had actually started to take a step toward him before she’d caught herself and turned to leave instead, hurrying for the door with a loud alarm ringing in her head.
Damn. She didn’t need this complication, and would be glad to be relieved of the man. Why on earth had she offered to take him to Walmart in the morning? The drugstore had been bad enough, but Walmart? Compassion was the answer. Seeing him there stretched out in his pajama bottoms and T-shirt had made her realize those were his only clothes too, and compassion had made her offer to help rectify that.
Shaking her head at her own stupidity, CJ promised herself to can the compassion and think before she spoke in future. Otherwise, she’d never be rid of the man. Tomorrow, after taking him shopping, he would be Captain Dupree’s problem and she could concentrate on talking to Jefferson and arrange to meet up with Keith Kaye, the young man who’d launched the complaint against him. Then she’d get the hell out of Sandford and head home and never have to see the man again.
“A good thing,” CJ assured herself in a whisper.
Ignoring the disappointment that part of her felt at the very idea, she set her suitcase aside, made sure the cot was right up against the suite door, and climbed in. The old mattress wasn’t as uncomfortable as CJ had feared, and much to her surprise she was soon drifting off to sleep.
Seven
It was a child’s laughter that woke CJ in the morning. The high, light sound was followed by a soft shushing and a deep voice admonishing the child to be quiet or she’d wake up the other guests.
It was too late to prevent that. CJ opened her eyes to glance around the salon. Morning sunlight was pouring through the large window by the table. It was enough to make her cast a quick look at the wall clock, which told her that it was a little after nine o’clock in the morning. CJ almost groaned and rolled over to go back to sleep, but the bang of a screen door closing changed her mind. Tossing the sheet and blanket aside, she got out of bed and then stood there to stretch and yawn before turning in a small circle to consider what to do first.
Normally, she would head straight into the bathroom, but that option was out today. She wasn’t willing to try to sneak through the bedroom and risk waking Mac.
Blowing her breath out on a sigh, CJ ignored her body’s needs and quickly stripped the small cot, folding the blanket and sheets as she removed each. She then folded the cot itself up into its storage state, retrieved her suitcase, grabbed her keys off the table, and slipped from the room. She had to go to the bathroom badly now, and since she wasn’t willing to wake Mac up to do it, she’d have to use one of the other bathrooms in the house.
CJ took the time to lock the bedroom door and then headed down the hall to the other bathroom on this floor. She didn’t encounter anyone on the way there, though she could hear the low murmur of voices from somewhere downstairs. Much to her relief the bathroom was empty when she reached it, though there was evidence it had been well-used. Toiletries and several wet towels gave that away.
CJ turned on the water in the shower to let it warm up while she relieved herself, then hopped under the spray and—aware that she was leaving Mac alone and unprotected in her room—took the quickest shower she’d had in her life. Truly, she washed her hair, barely