Her heart shuddered.
Oh no. She’d skipped over all the steps between attracted—things such as “like,” “fond of,” “comfortable with,” “connected to,” “starting to see a future”—and love.
She swallowed and pulled her legs up in her chair then wrapped her arms around them and rested her chin on her knees.
It was a stupid thing to do. He’d warned her. She’d seen him in action. When things got tough, he pulled so far inside himself that up until a few hours ago, he had probably been determined never to see her again.
That thought gave her palpitations.
Regardless of all that had happened he had yet to ask why she was here.
And until this moment, she hadn’t been sure, either.
Whatever was going on inside her had nothing to do with his feelings, or even his approval. It went deeper than that.
This feeling was wild, tough, unreasonable. The kind of love where you know that, whatever happens, it will remain.
Even if he didn’t.
It felt scary but good, certain and real. It was an outflow of emotions from her heart toward the heart of this hard-to-love man. It was unconnected to the hope that he might, should, must return it. No, this kind of loving was a gift.
Hold what you love in your open palm. If it remains, it’s yours.
She’d heard that somewhere, or words to that effect.
Law’s head might not ever get to love with her. But it was enough for now that she was there. Now was all anyone every really had.
And it felt so damn great.
She was grateful for the now of loving Lauray Battise.
Jori looked up. Where had everyone gone? The hallway was empty. Except for Law, standing at the counter.
Her heart flipped over at the sight of him. Lust stirred much lower. But in her gut, fear flickered. She didn’t have a prayer.
“You are an idiot, Jori Garrison,” she whispered to herself. She wanted him, all of him, and for him to want her back.
The phone in her pocket chimed. She looked at the number. It wasn’t one she knew.
“Hi. You must be Wonder Woman.”
“Uh, I’m Jori Garrison. And you are?”
“Jori. He never told me your name. I’m Yardley, Law’s sister.”
Jori’s eyes got big as Battise came toward her. She put a hand up to block her voice and whispered, “Law told you about me?”
“Let’s just say that I heard what he wasn’t saying. Heard about your adventure today. You and I have lots to talk about. Privately.”
“Okay. Then I’ll have to call you back.” The legendary Yardley Summers had called her!
Law thumped his way over to her chair. “Sam looks good.”
“I can tell. You’re perfumed with her tongue.”
He smiled a little through his weariness. “Want a kiss, babe?”
Jori held up her hand. “Later. You’re a few Tic Tacs short of yummy.”
“Let’s go.”
“Where are we going?”
“I’ve called in a favor with a fellow trooper. You’re going to the emergency room.”
Jori stood up. “Think again.”
Law stared at her. “I don’t have a vehicle. You don’t have a vehicle. It’s still snowing. What do you suggest?”
“I need a bath and dinner.”
He studied her for a long moment, noting her color, her breathing rate, and the pulse beating in the hollow of her throat before nodding. “Got it.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“This isn’t exactly what I had in mind.”
Jori looked around the neat but too-frilly-for-her-taste bedroom of the B&B. It was the place Troop L used when an officer who lived in the county needed to stay close to the office overnight. It had been years, but Mrs. Watson remembered Law and readily agreed to give Jori a room.
Law stood just inside the door, looking about as comfortable as a six-year-old in a crystal shop. “The owner says she’s got a can of soup she can heat up for you. I’ve arranged to have your car towed here as soon as the roads are passable.” Something struck him. “You didn’t leave Argyle in your SUV?”
“No. I didn’t think I’d be staying overnight. I left her at WWP.” She hadn’t thought through a lot of things. For instance, how Law would react to her presence. She’d used her need to know about the Tices as an excuse to see him. Now it seemed like the ridiculous errand it was.
She started to sit on the bed but then thought better of it. She dropped into a small wicker chair next to a matching wicker table. “Make yourself at home.”
He let out a long breath. “I’m not staying.”
Jori popped up. “You’re not thinking of going back out in that storm?”