The Third Grave (Savannah #4) - Lisa Jackson Page 0,67
“Just be careful.”
“Got it.”
He sank onto the bed beside her and decided it was time to be totally honest. “I just don’t want to lose you.”
She smiled and cuddled up to him. “And I don’t want to lose you.”
“I think this has something to do with the investigation.”
“So you’ve said.” Her head was propped against his shoulder, her hair smelling fresh and clean, her skin warm. “You’ve been asking around.”
“Mmm.” No denial.
“You should stop.”
“Says you.”
“Right.”
“It’s my job, Reed. And look, I don’t need a lecture, okay?” She propped herself up on her elbow to stare at him, then winced from the pain and slid back to lying next to him, head back in the cradle of his arm. “I feel awful. Just awful. Guilty and sad and worried and ashamed and . . . and everything.” She blinked and let out a sigh. “But I never intended for any of this to happen. I had no idea Morrisette would jump into the river, that she’d be hit by debris that . . .” Her voice trailed off and he waited. “Okay, I should have, I know. I was trespassing, potentially messing up a crime scene and . . . and I was pregnant.” Her voice caught and she had to clear her throat. Her expression turned regretful. “But even though I’d . . . I’d miscarried before, I didn’t think, I mean, I didn’t believe I’d have to be like this hothouse flower who couldn’t do anything.”
His arm tightened around her. Being this introspective was hard for Nikki, facing her flaws almost impossible, but then, wasn’t it for everyone?
“You get it,” she charged, “but yeah, if I could do it all over again, I would make different choices. Better ones.”
“And you’d listen to me.”
“I always do, but, hey, you can’t just order me around, Reed. Even if you think it’s for my own good. Or . . . our own good.” He caught the movement of her hand touching her naked belly and he felt his own sliver of pain.
“You haven’t been known to be willing to talk things out,” he said gently.
“I’m trying, okay? And I’ll try harder, but I am who I am. The woman you married.”
“I know.” And he did. He kissed her forehead. “Just try to be careful and I’ll try not to be so . . .”
“Closed off? Distant? Self-righteous. So damned authoritative—”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Slow down. One flaw at a time, okay?” He stared into her eyes and noticed a spark of wicked amusement in their green depths. She was pulling his chain and trying to smother a smile. “You talked about your job. Don’t forget mine. I’m in charge of the investigation.”
“We could work together.”
“Yeah, right.”
“We have before.”
“Not by my choice.”
“I’m just saying—”
“Okay, well, here’s the deal,” he said with a sigh. “First and foremost, you be careful. I don’t want to lose you. Ever.” He gave her another squeeze and she snuggled closer, her skin so warm and inviting he had trouble concentrating, but he forced himself. “And secondly, you talk to me about what you’re doing. You can’t be doing anything that could compromise the police investigation.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know this.”
“I’m serious. Nikki, someone broke into our house.”
“Well, I think I didn’t lock the door.”
“I know, so you said, but whoever it was, it wasn’t a social call. So—”
“I get it. I’ll be careful. I’ll check with you—” She turned her face to his and kissed him, her lips warm and supple, her body so tight and close.
“Wait,” he forced out against his own body’s desires, the heat that was flowing in his blood. “You’re still healing.”
“I know, but the doctor said everything was okay, whenever I felt like it we could, you know . . .” Her breath played against his chest. “There are things we could do . . .”
“Nikki, please, I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Hurt me, Reed,” she whispered, breathing against his abdomen. “Please . . . hurt me. Or—wait.” She paused and looked up at him from beneath the covers, green eyes peering up through the tousle of red-blond curls. “I’ve got a better idea.”
Again her breath was playing havoc with his mind. “Do you?” he managed to get out.
“Um-hmm. Let me hurt you.” Still gazing up at him, she smiled mischievously. “Let me hurt you real good.”
The woman was impossible to resist.
* * *
At least she and Reed were talking again, in the same book, so to speak, if not exactly on the same page.