arms and the towel enfolded me, holding me upright. He picked me up and set me on the rug in front of the mirror then tucked the edge of the towel in securely, brushing the top of my breast with his dry hand. He met my gaze in the mirror.
“Tired?”
His voice was husky.
A tingle rippled down my back. “A little.”
I grabbed another towel and wrapped it around my head, careful not to bump him in the shrinking room. “I took Danny to The Lincoln House for dinner and asked Bernie if any guys had shown an interest in Erica.”
Ray’s hands pushed mine aside as he took over gently toweling my hair. “And?”
“Bernie said she left the other night with a quiet, dark-haired guy. He didn’t know his name.”
“A quiet one, huh?”
Ray always says to watch out for the quiet ones. I pulled the towel from his hands and nodded. “What if the guy is a serial killer? What if he’s the guy you’re looking for?”
He took off his badge and laid it on the countertop. “Then he picked too small a town. We’ll find him fast.”
“Briana said Erica tried to take home a redheaded guy at the club. Do you know any guys with red hair?”
He wrestled off his belt and laid it next to his badge. “I don’t even know any redheaded women.”
I started brushing my hair. “I might. Cory said our new customer is a redhead. He said she had a brother. In fact, I saw a red-haired woman come out of The Cat’s Meow the day Danny stole that car. I took Erica there to pick up the Porsche.”
“What’s her name?”
“I don’t remember. Cory wrote it down for me. I’ll have to go to the office tomorrow.” I put my hairbrush back in the drawer. “Which reminds me, are you off tomorrow?”
“I’m not off again until we find Josie Montalvo and her killer.”
“Oh.”
Ray stopped unbuttoning his shirt. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s just the principal wanted to see us about the Nintendo. I was hoping you could handle it.”
“Sorry, Darlin’. You’ll have to handle it.” He reached for the towel encasing my body, wrapped his fingers in it, and pulled me toward him. “You can handle anything.”
I slammed my hand onto his chest, bringing me to a halt inches from him. I could feel the heat of his body, and my own body’s reaction to it. It had been a long time.
But I wasn’t feeling the love at that moment. “Ray, you just stuck me with Danny. Whatever made you think bringing him home was a good idea?”
His gaze roamed over my shoulders and the tops of my breasts. “You said you wanted to help people.”
“I did, but I wanted to do it in my own way, not yours.”
He released my towel and took a step back. “Do you want me to call Social Services and request another placement for Danny?”
My heart leapt with relief. Then I felt the all too familiar waves of guilt and responsibility. “Not now. He’s got a room here and clothes and books and … and … we’re committed to him. That’s not my point. My point is you should have consulted me first.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I saw his need, remembered what you said, and went with my gut.”
I didn’t see any point in arguing with him about it any further. “I understand.”
He bent and ran his lips down my neck and along my shoulder, sending chills down my spine. “So am I forgiven?”
I rested my hands against his chest, feeling his heartbeat.
Mine accelerated. “Yes.”
He leaned in to kiss me. His lips grazed mine. The pressure increased, drawing me in. I almost let go.
Then I heard crying. I shoved at his chest.
It was like trying to move a mountain, but he stopped. Irritation flashed in his eyes. “What?”
“I hear crying.”
Sadness replaced the irritation. “Jolene, Noelle is happy and healthy with her mother. You have to stop this.”
I slapped his chest in frustration. “No, Ray, I hear Danny crying.”
He tilted his head and listened with me. Through the open bathroom door came the distinct sound of sobbing.
Ray glanced at my towel. “I’ll talk to him.”
I pulled on my pajamas and slippers and chased after Ray.
When I entered Danny’s room, his lamp was on. I could see his red face and the tear stains on his pajamas as he sat sniffling. Ray had one hand on his shoulder, patting it soothingly.
Danny’s anguished face turned toward me, and he burst into a fresh onslaught of tears. “My