1st to Die (Women's Murder Club 1)

“Yeah, so?” I smiled. But his face had a cast of seriousness to it. I was trying to figure out where he was going.

“What do you say, maybe it’s about time you started calling me Chris.”

Chapter 59

AFTER DINNER, Chris and I walked down by the tree-lined lakefront toward our hotel. A cool, misty breeze lapped at my face.

We didn’t say much. That same nervous apprehension was tingling on the surface of my skin.

Occasionally, our arms brushed. He had his jacket off, and there was a solid outline to his shoulders and arms. Not that I was noticing superficial things like that.

“It’s still early,” he said.

“Five-thirty, our time,” I replied. “I could still catch Roth. Maybe I should bring him up to date.”

Raleigh grinned. “You already called Jacobi. I bet he was probably in Roth’s office before he hung up the phone.”

As we walked, it was as if this unbearable force were pulling me close, then pushing me away. “Anyway,” I said, “for once I don’t feel like calling in.”

“What do you feel like?” Raleigh asked.

“Why don’t we just walk.”

“The Indians are playing. You want to sneak our way in? It must be the fifth inning.”

“We’re cops, Raleigh.”

“Yeah, that would be bad. You want to dance, then?”

“No,” I said, even firmer. “I don’t want to dance.” Every word seemed charged with a hidden, electric message. “What I’m starting to feel like” — I turned to him — “is that I’m having a hard time remembering to call you Chris.”

“And what I’m starting to feel like,” he answered, facing me, “is I’m having a hard time trying to pretend that nothing’s going on.”

“I know,” I murmured breathlessly. “But I just can’t.”

It sounded really stupid, but as much as I wanted him, there was a greater hesitation inside holding me back.

“I know…but I just can’t. What does that mean?”

“It means I’m feeling things, too. And that part of me wants to go with those feelings. But right now, I just don’t know if I can. It’s complicated, Chris.”

Every nerve in my body was on alert.

We found ourselves walking again, the breeze from the lake suddenly cooling the sweat that had broken out on my neck.

“You mean it’s complicated because we’re working together?”

“That,” I lied. I’d dated guys on the force once or twice.

“That… and what else?” Raleigh said.

A thousand desires inside me were screaming to give in. What was going through my mind was crazy. I wanted him to touch me; and I didn’t. We were alone on the waterfront. At that moment, if he held me, if he bent and kissed me, I didn’t know what I would do.

“I do want to,” I said, my fingers reaching for his hand, staring into his deep blue eyes.

“You’re not telling me everything,” he said.

It took everything I had to hold off confessing. I don’t know why I didn’t. A deep part of me wanted him to want me, and to keep thinking I was strong. I could feel the heat from his body, and I thought he could feel the wavering resolve in mine. “I just can’t right now,” I said softly.