Death by Chocolate (The Davenports 2)

“How about I show you your room?”

“That would be perfect.”

“It’s up the spiral staircase.” He wiggled his eyebrows, and she laughed.

He led her up the stairs to the light blue bedroom with a queen-sized bed and a dresser.

“I know it’s a bit barren. My brother just cleared out not too long ago.”

She shook her head. “It’s everything I need.”

He pointed to the door on the far side of her room. “There’s a bathroom right through that door, and I’m at the end of the hall if you need anything.”

“Are you going to sleep?” she asked carefully.

“It’s nearly midnight, and you have work in the morning, right?” He studied her face. On the outside, she seemed calm, but there was something off in her voice.

“I do, but there’s no way I can sleep right now.”

He was burning the midnight oil and pulling double duty between work and the CPI. She fixed her brown eyes on him, and he couldn’t conceive of letting her down. “I tell you what ... how about you settle in here, and meet me downstairs when you’re ready? We’ll binge watch a show on Netflix and eat popcorn until we grow tired.”

She gifted him with a weak smile. “Sounds good.” A shade of her usual self, her eyes didn’t reflect her usual joy. Her lackluster response pained him. The poor woman probably had yet to process what she’d experienced. Eager to ease her mind, he moved downstairs, popped two bags of popcorn, and opted for Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone. They could all use a little good triumphing over evil.

“Oh, a man after my own heart. Are you a fellow Potter head?” she asked as she walked in clad in black and white flannel pajama pants and a matching button down top

“I am. Moment of truth. What’s your house?”

“Oh no, I’m not going to give it away.” Plopping onto the sofa beside him, she turned her body toward his. “Guess.”

“Let’s see. Smart, kind, and beautiful with a nice sense of humor. Brave and strong. Are you a lioness or a dark bird who’s too smart for its own good? I’m leaning toward Ravenclaw, given your profession.”

“Well played, sir. Now it’s my turn. Tall, dark, intense, and successful. Protective, and knowledgeable. I see the spark of ambition inside of you. Slytherin.”

He blinked. “Most people never guess correctly.”

“I’m not most people.” She grabbed one of the bowls of popcorn and moved closer to him on the couch.

No, you’re not.

“It’s so different watching it when you know all he’ll go through. He’s so young when the movies start, but not innocent. He’s already seen too much for that.”

“It’s a sad story in many ways. In the end, I like to believe he found true happiness, but after all he’d gone through, you know he could never regain all he’d lost. The last book was brutal.”

“We said good-bye to so many! I won’t lie. I ended up a sobbing mess.”

“Well, no tears tonight.” He reached an arm around her shoulders, and she pressed up against his side. She rested her head on his shoulder. Frizzy curls tickled his nose. Determined not to move, he endured it to gain the closeness. She smelled like tropical fruit, and her warm weight was welcome against him. He bent down and slowly inhaled, filling his lungs with her scent.

“Are we going to ignore what happened in my apartment?” she asked suddenly.

“For tonight? Yes. There’s nothing we can do, and I think we both need to recharge. Real life doesn’t stop because the paranormal is at work.”

“Ain’t that the truth. I feel like I’m living on a few stolen hours of sleep every night.” She rubbed her forehead with her palm.

“I don’t want to keep you up.” He moved his arm, and she grabbed his hand.

“No. Stay, please. I ... I like having you beside me.”

“Are you ready to talk about it?” He wanted to be a sounding board if she needed it, without pushing her.