“By itself?” Millie asks.
“Yes. By itself.”
“You’re upset,” Cash says reasonably, and I turn my scowl on him.
“I’m not an idiot. I’m telling you, I didn’t spill it.”
“Okay.” He holds up his hands in surrender. “I believe you.”
“I don’t know what to believe anymore,” Daphne admits with a sigh. “Everything is just so…odd.”
“Well, at least the worst of it is over,” Millie says.
“Don’t jinx it,” I reply.“Cash?” I wander through my apartment later that night, after I return home from work.
“Back here,” he says. I find him in the guest room, where he’s set up a makeshift office. “How are you?”
“Tired,” I admit, a small smile forming as I climb onto his lap and nuzzle his neck. I love how strong his arms feel wrapped around me. “I’m sorry I snapped at you earlier today.”
“I’d snap at me, too,” he says and kisses my hair. “It’s been a lot.”
“A lot of what?” I raise my head so I can look him in the eyes. I absolutely love his green eyes.
“Just a lot,” he says, leaning in to kiss my lips lightly. “And I haven’t really asked you how you’re holding up.”
“I’m actually doing pretty well, all things considered.” And it’s true. I feel good. I feel relieved more than anything. “I guess today’s news threw me for a loop.”
“Me, too.”
“I thought we were done with all of it, and then to find out that we’re not, it’s just like he continues taunting us even though he’s long gone, you know?”
“I know. It’s not fair.”
“Can we refuse to be the next of kin?”
“I don’t know the laws and regulations surrounding that,” he says as he brushes his fingers through my hair. “I suppose you could, but then I imagine the estate would go to the state, and God only knows what they’ll do with it.”
“True.” I nibble my lip, enjoying the way his fingers feel in my hair. “I guess we’ll end up doing something about it.”
“You don’t have to think about it today,” he reminds me. “So, set it aside for now. There’s no need to worry.”
“You’re right.”
He frames my face, his long fingers cupping my chin as he lays his lips over mine, consuming me with passion and lust.
There’s always so much lust where Cash is concerned.
Suddenly, I pull back and stare at him in horror.
“What is it?”
“Your hands are on my face.”
“Yes?”
“Who the hell is brushing my hair?”
It stops. I scratch my scalp and shiver.
“What do you mean, Brielle?”
“Someone was brushing their fingers through my hair. I thought it was you.”
“No, I was holding you, and then I was kissing the hell out of you.”
I stare at him, then stand and shake my hair out. “Do I have bugs in my hair?”
“Not that I can see.” He joins me, and it’s his hands brushing through my hair now. “No, I don’t see anything at all.”
“That’s so creepy.” I shiver again. “I mean, I know I have spirits in this apartment, but they’ve never touched me before.”
“Have spirits ever touched you?”
“No, I just see them,” I reply. “And it’s all back to shadows now, which is a relief.”
I move to clutch my stone pendant, but it’s not around my neck.
“What’s wrong?” Cash asks.
“I keep losing my damn necklace.” I walk over to my bedroom and sigh when I see it lying on my pillow. “I don’t know how it got here, but at least it’s here. I’ll put it on later.”
“Look, I think you’ve had a lot on your mind,” Cash says, wrapping his arms around me from behind. “I suggest you take a long, hot shower, have some tea, and then I’m going to make love to you for the rest of the night.”
“The whole night?”
“Do you think I can’t do that?”
“I mean, that’s a pretty bold offer, but I’ll take it.” I spin in his arms and grin as he kisses me deeply, those amazing hands cupping my ass and pulling me against the length of him. I can feel his already firm cock against my belly. “Maybe we should do some sex stuff before my shower.”
“I can wait.” He kisses my nose. “Come on.”
He leads me into the bathroom, where he proceeds to turn on the water and adjust the temperature. He helps me out of my clothes and holds my hand as I step over the side of the tub into the hot spray of the shower.
“Okay, you were right. This is nice.”
“I love it when I’m right,” he says, making me grin.
“Why don’t you come in here and wash my back?”
“If I come in there, darlin’, you won’t get clean.” He pokes his head around the shower curtain. “Take your time. I’ll brew you some tea.”
“You’re handy to have around,” I call after him and listen to him chuckle as he walks out of the bathroom.