“You’re armed,” he said in a flat tone.
She faltered. “Of course. I’m a federal agent.”
His expression darkened, as if the reminder had sucked the passion from his body and replaced it with cold clarity. “And you’re in the same house as a suspected killer.” His voice went gruff. “Yeah, I get it.”
Jamie felt the uncharacteristic urge to apologize, but didn’t get a chance as a sharp squeak sounded from the crook of her arm. She looked down at the squirming bundle she’d rescued from the storm. It was a small terrier, with brown fur matted to his little body and liquid amber eyes gazing up at Jamie in total misery. When she’d seen those big eyes peering out from under that piece of metal outside, her heart had almost stopped.
“I had to get him,” she said softly. “He was trapped. I couldn’t leave him out there.”
“Aw, shit,” Cole muttered. “That’s Elmer.”
Jamie held the dog against her chest and rubbed his damp head in a soothing motion. “Elmer?”
“He belongs to Agatha Tanner, she lives up the road.” Cole sighed. “I always told her she shouldn’t let him out without standing outside to supervise. There are too many wild animals running around this area. It’s not safe for a dog this small to be alone.”
“Oh, you poor little guy,” Jamie said to the trembling animal. She patted him again, then glanced at Cole. “Do you have anything for him to eat?”
Cole lifted his shoulders in mystification. “Got some salami in the fridge, which will probably go bad if the power doesn’t come back on soon. Will that do?”
“Are you hungry, Elmer?” she asked the dog. He gave a tiny whimper, which she decided to take as a yes.
In the kitchen, Jamie grabbed two small bowls from one of the cupboards, poured water into one and tossed a couple of slices of salami into the other. The wet dog immediately shoved his nose into the meat bowl and greedily devoured the salami while Jamie laughed. She looked over at Cole to see if he shared her amusement, but the expression on his face stole the breath from her lungs. Lingering heat combined with dark wariness.
The tension that had hung over them in the hallway returned, the same tension she’d been hoping would go away if she distracted them both with the cute dog.
Evidently there was no avoiding it.
Leaning an elbow against the counter, Jamie swallowed. “Listen, I always carry my weapon—”
“I get it,” he cut in. “You’re a cop. You carry a gun.”
He didn’t sound upset by it, but she couldn’t stop thinking about the look on his face when he’d seen her gun. She knew she had no reason to apologize, but I’m sorry tickled the tip of her tongue.
Cole spoke before she could voice the words. “I don’t know why I was so surprised,” he said roughly. “I guess…we were having coffee in the living room and I forgot about why you came to town…rather stupid of me, huh?”
“I forgot too,” she confessed.
And what a thing to forget. Cole was a suspect in his ex-wife’s murder. Jamie was supposed to be investigating him. How could those little facts slip her mind? How could she have let him kiss her?
“The kiss…” She took a breath. “I can’t get involved with you, Cole. It wouldn’t be appropriate.”
His gaze dropped to her waist, to the bulge beneath her shirt. “You’re right,” he said with a tense look.
“Your ex-wife was murdered,” she added. “Whether you’re cleared of the crime or not, you’re still a part of this case.”
She wondered if he heard the wobble in her voice. Hopefully the torrential downpour outside covered it up. She meant every word she said, though. She couldn’t get involved with this man. It went against every professional ethic she possessed.
“You don’t have to say anything else,” Cole answered, his deep voice pulling her from her thoughts. “I don’t want to get involved either.”
She couldn’t stop a prickle of offense. “You don’t?”
“My marriage just fell apart like a damn game of Jenga.” His chest rose as he inhaled an unsteady breath. “I’m attracted to you, but the last thing I want right now is to jump into anything new.”
He was attracted to her. An unwanted thrill which only made her head spin shot up her spine at the confession. Joy and disappointment and relief mingled in her belly, forming a cocktail of confusion. She’d just said she couldn’t be with him and he’d agreed with her, so what was there to be disappointed about?
And why had her pulse kicked up several notches when he admitted his attraction?
“Yeah,” she finally said. “Neither of us is in the place to start something up. My job, your marriage…not a great combination.”
“Right,” he said with a nod of concurrence.
“So it’s settled then.”
“Settled.”
“That kiss was a dumb idea.”