Something flickered in his eyes. “Terrible idea,” he agreed.
Their gazes held, and she attempted to keep her expression as blank as the one he displayed at her. God, she hated games. There was no doubt in her mind that he’d been just as blown away by that kiss as she had. But maybe it was best to pretend it hadn’t shattered either of their worlds.
And it was certainly best to ignore the appealing picture he painted at the moment, with his wet shirt emphasizing every sinewy muscle on broad chest, the razor stubble gracing his strong jaw, the way his dark hair gleamed in the candlelight.
She hastily turned to look at Elmer, who’d finished eating and was now staring up at her with curious eyes. “Uh, I guess I’ll turn in. Is there a bedroom I can sleep in?”
“It’s eight o’clock,” Cole said with the amused twitch of his jaw. “Maybe you should have some dinner first.”
Dinner? With him? Sitting at the same table, fighting each little spark of desire that ignited her belly from his mere proximity?
Then her stomach gave a little growl, and she realized it was probably a good idea to eat something. She hadn’t had a single bite since the morning and she couldn’t sleep on an empty stomach.
“You’re right,” she conceded. “We should have some dinner.”
He was already heading to the fridge. “I’ve got some leftover Chinese food from yesterday. We won’t be able to heat it up, but I like it better cold anyway.”
“Me too,” she admitted.
She couldn’t help but ogle the way the muscles of his back bunched and flexed as he bent into the fridge to pull out several white food cartons. Without those sexy black eyes on her, she drew in a calming breath and ordered herself to keep it together. So what if she hadn’t felt an attraction this strong to a man before?
If Cole could waltz around the kitchen pretending their kiss hadn’t affected him, then so could she.
Cole didn’t sleep a wink that night, and it wasn’t the sound of the rain battering the house or the roof’s moans of protest each time the wind hit it. His insomnia had been the direct result of the woman in the next bedroom.
The woman who needed a gun on hand in order to be in the same room as him.
As he’d lain in bed and stared up at the ceiling, he’d choked down the bitterness that coated his throat, and forced himself not to dwell on it. He didn’t blame Jamie for being cautious. Everyone else in town believed that he was a killer—so why wouldn’t the federal agent who’d come here to solve the case?
Still, it grated, knowing that the lighthearted conversation in the living room hadn’t been completely genuine. It wasn’t about a man and a woman getting to know each other. They were a cop and a murder suspect. Definitely not the foundation for a love connection.
Besides, he had no intention of getting involved with Jamie, no matter how much the kiss had affected him. In that moment, he’d been so grateful that she hadn’t been hurt in the storm that he’d given in to the reckless desire he felt for her. But her gun had been the kick in the ass he needed, a reminder of why he couldn’t be with her. With anyone.
During the night, he’d kept going back to the day he’d met Teresa, the thrill that had shot up his spine as the raven-haired beauty had approached his table, her lips curved in a teasing smile. How different his life would be if he’d simply stood up and walked out of that bar. Instead, he’d allowed himself to tumble headfirst into an uncharacteristic whirlwind affair, letting his lust for Teresa Matthews cloud all common sense. Why hadn’t he seen how wicked she was? Picked up on the toxic thread winding through her body?
Stupid fool that he was, he’d married the woman. And she’d poisoned him. Infected every inch of his life, to the point that he wasn’t sure he trusted his own judgment anymore.
Jamie Crawford wasn’t Teresa. He knew that. He saw it, from the perception exuded by her gorgeous violet eyes to the determination she displayed about this case. But he wasn’t going to jump headfirst into anything again. Or ever. Hell, just the notion of lowering the shield around his heart and letting another woman in made his palms grow damp.