us a killer.”
On their way back to the old Whitaker place, he texted Honey an update and a request that included her bringing the files on all the local cases with her when she came to meet up with them.
Cass pulled in and found two unmarked cars sitting in the yard. “Are you sure this is wise?”
“I can handle it,” Addie assured her. “I give a statement, and they go away, right?”
“Not exactly.” He got out, and she followed him. “Honey brought the local files. I can pull up everything in the cleaner’s database on the other killings. We’re going to make this a joint effort to show the locals we’re willing to play nice.”
There was that pesky we again.
These were his coworkers, and Honey was his friend, but he hadn’t hesitated to pitch his lot in with Addie.
“That won’t get you in trouble?” She raked her teeth over her bottom lip. “I don’t want to make this worse for you.”
“Pritchard,” Honey called from across the yard. “This better be good.”
Parker and Abernathy stood behind her, and Abernathy froze when he spotted Cass.
“Jessica Honeywell.” He took Addie’s hand in his. “This is Adelaide Whitaker.”
“You’re in my thoughts and prayers,” Honey told her. “I’ll light a candle for you.”
“Nice to meet you.” Addie chuckled at the joke, but it was clear in her expression she hoped that was what it was—a joke. “Boaz was singing your praises just yesterday.”
Honey’s eyes rounded. “Oh?”
“He said you’re very good at what you do.” Addie pinned her smile in place. “He also said you dated.”
“I don’t know that you’d call it dating.” Honey palmed her forehead. “I did not mean that to come out the way it sounded. I meant it wasn’t a relationship. It wasn’t going anywhere. It was just…what it was.”
Addie appeared to consider that, then she angled her head toward him. “What?”
“What?” Boaz echoed her, certain he sounded a fool. “What are we whating about?”
“You’re sweating.” She reached up to drag her finger across his forehead. “Are you that worried what I think about you?”
The answer was out of his mouth before his brain let him consider it. “Yes.”
Honey whistled long and low, and her eyebrows climbed into her hairline and made a nest there.
“You asked me to marry you. I said yes.” Addie searched his face. “You’re not getting rid of me that easy.”
There was too much at stake, for both of them. Yet the warmth in her expression… He wasn’t worthy of it. That didn’t stop him from wishing he could be. He had done what he wanted with his life up to this point, all in pursuit of what felt good at the time. Now he had to man up and start taking others into consideration, putting them first. That started with Addie.
“I’m glad,” he said, and he meant it. “I’m going to screw up more than you can imagine, but I’m in this.”
The smile she flashed him was blinding, and the hope for more he read in her eyes made him want to hold up his end of the deal with both hands. No one had ever had that kind of instant effect on him. Addie was just that good. She made others, even hypochondriac vampires, want to be better.
“I take back what I said about thoughts and prayers,” Honey murmured. “I want to sit at your feet and learn from the master how to reform bad boys. I can’t quit them, and I’m getting too old to deal with their shit. Either you help me, or I’m going to start shooting them when they act like a bag of dicks.”
“Or you could forget boys,” Cass purred, “and let a bad girl show you how much better life can be without them.”
“I appreciate the offer,” Honey said politely, “but I’m not down with playing blood donor.”
Addie groaned, and Boaz realized Honey’s mistake. She hadn’t told Cass no. All she’d done was put a limitation on how far she was willing to go with her preconceived notions of vampire sex. Cass was quick to notice as well, and she sidled up to Honey with her eyes alight.
“I swear I wouldn’t bite unless you begged me.” Cass ran her finger down Honey’s arm. “I’m a woman of my word.”
With a gentle swat, she shooed off Cass’s advance. “I’ve never begged for anything in my life.”
“There’s a first time for everything.” The vampire smiled. “I would love to be your first.”
Addie heaved a sigh, crossed to Honey, and shackled Cass’s wrist.