Mountain Darkness (Wild Mountain Men 1)

After that, I’d left the phone off the hook and had myself a good cry. I was used to being alone, but this… god, it was a whole new level.

I’d crash here tonight, the leather sofa was comfortable enough—Erin wouldn’t have bought something that wasn’t comfortable—and figure out the rest tomorrow. I’d have to salvage what was left of the events we had on the books. If people still wanted to work with us.

Not us. Me.

Fuck. Erin was dead. It was her company.

I jumped a foot at the knock on the door.

“Kit, it’s Nix.”

My heart skipped a beat and I climbed from the couch, flipped the lock and let him in. He looked the same as this morning, his gaze still shrewd and assessing. Still handsome in that tall, broad and gorgeous sort of way. He had whiskers now on his square jaw and I wondered if they were soft or rough. God, how would they feel brushing against my thighs?

“You doing okay?” he asked, closing the door behind him. He looked me over, probably saw that I looked like total crap, that I’d been crying. At least I wasn’t covered in blood.

I laughed, partially from thinking about him going down on me, and partly because after the day I’d had, I was anything but okay. I sighed. “My friend is dead. I have no place to live. My paycheck is probably tied up in probate, and I’m definitely out of a job. The only way to make it worse is if you’re here to arrest me.”

His dark gaze held mine but he didn’t say anything.

“God, you are here to arrest me.” I licked my lips. Started to panic. While I’d been thinking about him going down on me, he’d been planning to—

“I’m not arresting you. But I’m not going to lie. You’re a suspect right now.”

I wanted to cry again, but I swallowed it down. No. “You’re here to take me in for questioning?” My voice was small, nervous. I didn’t have money for a lawyer.

He shook his head. “Tomorrow.”

“So no leads? No smoking gun?”

“Nope. Here. I brought you some of your clothes.” I recognized my small overnight bag he held out toward me. “I found this on the floor of your closet. I wasn’t sure exactly what you needed. This should hold you until the house is released and you can get everything.”

The thought of him digging around in my closet, god, in my panty drawer, had me blushing. Those big hands pawing through my silk and lace. None of it was fancy, and I always bought from the clearance rack, but I did like cute underthings.

“Thank you.”

“I’m also here to take you home.”

“I can just stay here. I’ve napped on the couch before. It’s comfortable.”

His shrewd gaze took in the space. “It’s not a crime scene, but we’ll be in here tomorrow working the case.”

I glanced around. “Oh.” Right. Of course. They had to investigate all aspects of Erin’s life. Her computer was here. Paperwork. It probably wasn’t good that I stayed here. It could only make things worse for me. Now what was I going to do?

Holding my hands in front of me, I said, “I’m not going to my mother’s. I talked to her, calmed her down. She was worried if I stay with her, people will call or come over. She can’t handle that. You remember what she’s like.” I downplayed it a bit because I didn’t need any more pity where Mom was concerned.

He nodded, but didn’t say anything.

“She’s worse now. Her world’s a house of cards, or a house of old newspapers, online purchases and rooms stuffed to the gills with… stuff. One slight change in her routine and she falls apart. I’ve visited a few times since I’ve been back, but not more than a few minutes because it kicks in her anxiety. Our only interaction now is me paying her bills online and talking by phone.”

I saw understanding more than sympathy in his eyes. School had been rough, kids picking on me because I had a crazy mom, a crazy house. Nix had never poked fun, not once. “Not your mom’s. You’ll come home with me.”

I stared at him, mouth open. I’d have been less surprised if he’d said he was arresting me. “Home… with you?”

He nodded.

I frowned, then turned away, walked over to the window and looked down on Main Street. The world was going by, no problems, enjoying the summer evening, the restaurants and cute shops. The idea of going home with him… god, it had been a fantasy of mine for years. But no. No. I had to stop thinking about silly things like that or him eating me out. He didn’t want to go there not on me or any woman. There had to be a better explanation, one that made sense.

“You’re worried I’m going to flee, is that it?”