Emma realized how ridiculous it was for her to be talking to a cat, and it made her realize one thing.
She missed him.
Not the feline, but the sexy, angry, stubborn man. There was a tiny bit of regret for leaving him at his cabin, and she almost considered going back for him.
Then she reconsidered.
Emma removed her gun and holster, kicked off her shoes, and headed to the stereo. Maybe a little music might soothe both of their nerves when he stormed the castle. She poured herself some white wine and took a long sip. Emma really hoped by the time she finished the glass, she would feel more relaxed and at ease.
Just in time for the confrontation that was coming.
She sighed and went to the refrigerator for the fresh vegetables that she needed for dinner. Maybe some food would relax them. He was being impossible tonight and the stunt she just pulled at the rental cabin certainly wasn’t going to improve his mood. Tonight, she was planning on taking the higher road and remaining calm through the sexy man storm.
By the time Croft had walked to the cabin twenty minutes later, she was already cutting the fresh vegetables for the pasta primavera that she was cooking. He simply flung the door open and walked in, closing it with a slam. He was muttering something about her never locking it.
Emma let it go.
“Good evening to you too, babe,” she answered with as much sarcasm as she could muster. Her attempt didn’t make her feel any better. If anything, it made her feel worse.
“What was the point in that little display, Emma?” he snarled, dropping the files on the coffee table. “Did it make you feel better?”
She lifted an eyebrow at his tone. Instead of yelling, she viciously continued chopping the veggies not biting at the attempt to start a fight. She did pause long enough to glare into Greyson’s silver gray eyes, and they were burning with irritation too.
Emma hissed out a pent up sigh in frustration before continuing working on the dinner prep. She was tired, hungry, and wanted to relax and have a bubble bath to calm what was left of her frazzled nerves.
“Well, Emma?”
“What display, Greyson? The one where you had a tirade in my office, the one where you snapped at me sitting in the car, or this scene right now?” Emma kept her voice very level and calm still not looking up at him. “Because I’m only aware of one of us having issues with controlling our temper today, and you better damn well believe it’s not me.”
He crossed his arms and glared at her.
“I’m starting to feel my patience slip, Greyson. Trust me when I say I’m generally a calm, rational person, but you aren’t making it easy. “
There was a pause and what seemed like the crackling of electricity in the room. The tension was evident to both of them.
“You know damn well what I am talking about. You purposely drove back here to get a rise out of me. You knew driving away would put me over the edge. Why did you do it Emma? Was it to see how angry you could make me?”
Emma stopped chopping and put down the knife. She picked up her wine glass and prepared herself for a battle of all battles. She deliberately stared into Croft’s eyes, so she could match the intensity with her own.
“I wasn’t baiting you.”
“You could have fooled me!” He stormed the liquor cabinet and poured himself a drink.
The fight was escalating and Emma knew it had to be defused quickly. They both had a long day, and it wasn’t going to get any shorter tomorrow. He was ready to put on the gloves and have it out, and somehow, Emma didn’t think it had anything to do with the act of driving away without him.
“Listen, Agent Croft, I’ve had a very long day too. It started with a woman’s dead body in a cornfield, and I would prefer it not end with one in my living room. Do you really want to have a full-blown argument right now? If you start this fight, be prepared for the casualties afterwards.” She took a sip of wine and it no longer calming her, but burning all the way down. She wished she could dump it in the sink.
“It’s Agent Croft now, is it?”
Emma took a deep breath and prayed for patience. As he stared at her, she could see the emotion locked in his eyes, waiting to burst free. Here came the storm.
“I told you not to go anywhere without me. Didn’t I make myself clear on that? I know that you understand following orders, after all you were a police officer.” Croft chugged the whiskey in his glass, trying to put out the fire growing in his gut. He swallowed the entire contents before slamming down the glass.
Emma watched the glass hit the counter, picturing it shatter into a million little slivers, just like her nerves at that moment.
Greyson wasn’t close to being done. “There’s some nut job hunting down women in this town, and there’s a chance that he’ll be coming for you at one point. You need to be constantly watched. Do you hear me?”
He walked toward her, and then must have thought it wasn’t a good idea because he stopped suddenly. It was about all Emma could take. She swigged her white wine and slammed down her glass, ignoring when it toppled over onto counter. It was then her temper boiled over.
Emma crossed towards him, bracing for confrontation with him. The man had it coming. “Who gives you the right to tell me what to do?” She stabbed her finger into his chest, but it didn’t even get a reaction. “I’m an adult for God’s sake, your equal, and not some prissy little piece of fragile glass who needs to be handled with kid gloves. I went through the police academy and graduated top of my class. I spent years wading through blood and death in the streets. I’ve seen enough dead bodies covered in sheets to last me ten lifetimes. I have been slapped, punched, shot, and stabbed. I have had to think on my feet and react to situations that others had the luxury to ponder and contemplate. I don’t need you, or any other man to tell me what to do, and I especially do not need a babysitter,” Emma paused, taking a breath.
His eyes narrowed.
“The last thing I want is a guard dog. I carry the same gun as you.” Emma took a deep breath and turned away from him. Back in the kitchen, she picked up her knife and continued chopping. She was waiting for the bell and round two’s commencement.
“Do you know what it’s doing to me knowing that he wants to make you one of the victims? When we found that picture of us today, my stomach knotted. Do you know that I keep seeing you in that cornfield instead of Betty Kline, and that it’s my worst nightmare? I’m scared shitless that he’ll get you before I can stop him!” He snapped back at her, challenging Emma to yell more.
“That’s your problem, Greyson. You say that you need to get him, but what about me? What about how I feel? Maybe I want to cage this bastard to get justice too. Have you ever thought that you’re just as easy a target as I am? Maybe he’ll go after you to punish me. After all, what would wound me most?”
He stared at her incredulously.
“I can take care of myself. Do you understand that? I think you should start thinking about taking care of yourself too.” She turned and viciously started chopping the produce to help alleviate some of her anger.
“Oh, believe me…I know you don’t need me. I could tell today when you handled Michael Parks and handcuffed him. I could tell when we were at Billy’s and you stood there with your gun still drawn, waiting for something to happen. You don’t need anyone do you, Sheriff?” Croft poured more whiskey and slammed the bottle down again as he walked past her to find some peace out on the patio. He just stood there in the crisp air waiting for her to continue the fight. His ego was dinged up that she didn't need him, especially since Croft couldn’t live without her.
What had he just done? Now his stomach knotted even more. He’d quite possibly showed her the worst side of him when he lost total control. Finishing his whiskey, he sat in the chair next to the table. It was such a pretty night, and he’d lost his damn mind.
This wasn’t how he wanted the evening to play out and how she viewed him. Normally, he wasn’t this crazed and out of control.
The fear swamped him, as he knew he’d built a monumental wall between them--all because he was terrified. Croft aimed his frustrations and anger at the one person who didn't deserve them.
God!
How the hell was he going to prove to her he wasn’t normally this big of an idiot?
Emma finished cooking the veggies, adding the cream sauce to the pasta. She sprinkled both dishes with parsley and looked at her creation. Cooking was always cathartic for her. Her mood was already starting to slide back into place. She couldn’t fault him for being scared and letting that terror control him.
She was afraid too.
Now that they both got the fight and anger out, she needed to work on helping him patch it all up. Emma tucked the bottle of wine under her arm and placed everything else onto a serving tray before heading out to the patio where Croft was waiting. She placed everything down carefully and began setting the table. When she’d finished, she sat and poured another glass of wine. Emma began eating, saying nothing and ignoring the tension between them. He finally did the same. The two remained in silence until Emma had more than enough.
“Grey, I’ll never be one of those needy women who sit around waiting to be rescued from the ivory tower, but I do need you. I’m healing inside, less afraid, and regaining what I lost, all because of you. You’re an important part of my life. We have a relationship now and a cat together.” Emma gave him that one, willing to meet him halfway. “We’re in this together. I really don’t trust anyone as much as I do you.” She took a sip of wine and watched him across the table. If he was waiting for an apology this was as close as she could muster.
Croft sat back and sighed. “Emma, I’m so sorry. Today, when I ran into your office and saw that jackass manhandling you, it set me off, and then when I watched you take care of him, I just got scared. It was as if reality hit, and I realized I have no place in your world. I feared one day I’d come home and you wouldn’t need me and would move on, that I’d be baggage in your life and nothing more.”
Emma watched him, her heart aching for him. “I’m not the woman who left you, Grey. I get you’re old school male with the need to protect, and I won’t try to change you, but don’t change me.”
“I’m trying,” he said, softly. “A man likes to take care of his woman, and your strength emasculated me for a few minutes there. I just couldn’t figure out what I brought to our relationship. Or if you even wanted me in your world.” He poured some wine into his whiskey glass and took a long swallow.
Emma got up from her chair and walked over to where Greyson was seated. She sat before taking both sides of his face in her palms.
“Listen to me, Grey. It’s too late. You have a place in my life. We’re having a full-blown affair and a relationship. You’re stuck with me.” She leaned down and kissed him lightly on the lips.
“Emma,” It was all he said as he rested his head on her shoulder, inhaling her scent. It was lavender and woman. At that moment, it the only thing which could anchor him to the calm. This woman was stirring up his entire life and yet offering safe harbor at the same time. Before her, he never felt an iota of the emotions.
With her, he was alive and on fire.
Emma broke the hold, getting to her feet, her hand lingering on his face. She looked down into his eyes and felt nothing but love for the man. She was a goner and she knew there was no turning back. Emma needed him like she needed no other person in the world. “Eat your dinner, Grey. You need to relax. It’s been a rough couple of days.” She leaned down and brushed her lips across his and smiled. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” he said, his temper gone as calm returning to his body.
They both ate in silence, but this time it wasn’t uncomfortable or tension filled. When Emma got up from the table first and began clearing the dishes, Greyson tried to help.
“I have it, babe. Enjoy the night and relax,” she said, dropping another kiss onto his lips.
Croft leaned back in his chair, staring out at the darkness. When Emma returned, she offered him her hand and led him to the swing in the garden. Emma was the one to break the silence. “What’s next, Grey?”
He crossed his fingers and prayed she was talking about work. “Well, we really need that search warrant to go through Billy’s house, and the DNA on Connie Hart and Maggie Wilson. It just seems too easy that it’s the mayor killing all these women. I think we need to find out if he was in Philadelphia for the first two deaths, and I think a thorough background check on Ron Tate is in order.”
Emma nodded her head. Work wasn’t the topic she was hoping to discuss, but she saw why he assumed that’s what she meant.
“What do you think, Emma?”
“I think that he’s sleeping with half the women in town, that one of them was pregnant, but that Billy Barnes still seems like the best possibility to be the murderer.”
“I agree.”
“Once we double check his alibis, we can go from there, but who’s to say that his daughter won’t lie for him?” She took a sip of her wine and rested her head on his shoulder, connecting them. “I can’t picture him murdering them. It was consensual sex with all of them. The only one really breaking the rules was Betty Kline--she was married. Other than that, who would care if they were sleeping together?”
“Good point.” He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her toward him. “I just hope we figure this all out before the killer finds his next victim.”
“Me too. Tomorrow, we need to sit down and figure out how all these women tie together.” Emma sighed and closed her eyes. “I think I need to talk to Lila. I’ve known her longer. I might be able to tell if she’s lying for her father.”
“That sounds good to me.”
Silence surrounded them and washed over the patio. The only noise to be heard was breathing and the occasional creak of the swing.
“I’m really tired, Grey.”
“Me too, Em, me too. I think a good night’s sleep would help clear our minds, so we can attack this fresh in the morning.” Croft stood, putting out his hand for her, worried that she might not take it.
Emma willingly accepted it and smiled up at him, offering him complete and total reassurance.
The ice forming in his chest slowly melted and the warmth returned, radiating through his body. Her smile could always do that to him.
“I’ve been looking forward to going to bed all day.” Croft teased, winking at Emma. “Trust me when I say ALL day.”
“Oh? I thought you were feeling worn down, Grey?”
“Yeah, I’m feeling something, but I wouldn’t necessarily call it exhaustion.” With that, Greyson swung Emma up into his arms and headed into the house, making sure the door was locked behind him.
She squirmed in his arms all the way to the bedroom. When he muttered his plans for her, she stared aghast. “You wouldn’t!” she stated.
Croft didn't have to say anything. The wicked grin on his face said it all.
It wasn’t until much later that night when Emma had finally fallen into a deep sleep that Greyson thought about the woman who was slumbering beside him. He replayed the details of the other women’s deaths in his mind, making sure to not let Emma fall into any of those scenarios.
Maybe it was chauvinistic, but he was the man--her man-- and he needed to be responsible for keeping her safe.
He’d catch this bastard.
It was only a matter of time.
And then he’d get the girl.
~ Chapter Fifteen ~
Monday Morning
Emma slowly slid from sleep. The sunlight was warming her skin and hands were sliding across her naked body, sending wave after wave of pleasure through her. It was the most delicious way to wake up. Emma didn’t think that there was a better way to face the morning. Then again, Greyson just had his way with her before bed too, and that was an awesome way to end the day.
“Mmmmmm,” she practically purred, as he continued running his lips and hand
s across bare flesh.
“Good morning, beautiful. I was just leering at you as you slept. Really, I tried to not bother you, but you looked all warm and tasty, and I couldn’t help myself,” he admitted, as he continued to touch and taste her skin.
His lips were leaving a trail of kisses along the sensitive spots on her neck. The scent of lavender was supposed to be calming, but since meeting her, it was nothing less than maddening.
“I hope you don’t mind me waking you up.”
Emma gazed into his eyes. “I don’t believe I’ve complained yet,” she whispered.
Croft was finding it hard to concentrate, since her hands began wandering along the length of his body too. When she found him hard and ready, he moaned low in his chest.
Running her hand up and down his erection, she enjoyed the way he allowed her exploration. Croft was like one big delicious man amusement park, and she never wanted to get off the ride.
“I wouldn’t mind waking up this way every day,” admitted Greyson, as they slid against each other.
“Mmmmm hmmm,” was the only answer that escaped her lips, before she pulled him down to her mouth to steal a kiss. He was all hard and warm in the morning. This was one ritual she could definitely look forward to everyday.
Croft could feel the tug of something dark and brooding in his chest when she didn’t give a reply to his comments. He almost said it again until he felt the silky glide of lips over lips and decided to let himself slide into the blissful warmth and softness that could only be Emma. It was like being locked in a lavender scented dream--one from which he never wanted to escape.
Emma took the kiss deeper, taking all she wanted from the joining of their mouths. The man was sinful and heated her body like no one before him. As his hands teased and tormented her, she shook beneath him.
When her fingers slid down his back, stopping at his ass, he really believed he’d go insane. When she pulled him down to press erotically against her, it went from heaven to pure ecstasy.
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