Missing in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law #5)(50)

Jadyn nodded. “It’s a relief to know it happens to someone else. Someone who’s not crazy, that is.”

He grinned. “Who says I’m not crazy?”

She smiled, then thought about the shooter. Was he crazy or calculated? They presented different problems, but calculated was sometimes predictable if you could figure out what they were after. Crazy was a whole different story and a lot more dangerous. Suddenly, she remembered the sample Colt had cut from the couch and she straightened in her chair.

“Oh no,” she said. “The sample with the blood is ruined from our dip.”

“No big deal. I didn’t cut away the entire thing. I’ll just cut off another piece before we leave.”

She studied him while he devoured his ravioli. He said it so casually, as if they were having breakfast at the café and could walk out and to their homes at any minute. How did he get so calm, so centered? Was it his work on the New Orleans police force? Or just lots of experience in dangerous situations?

If that was the case, then Jadyn decided she’d rather remain jumpy. In her opinion, living the mess she was in now over and over again wasn’t worth the gain. She’d always known her job would hold some element of danger, but what she’d experienced so far hadn’t been on her radar and certainly hadn’t been taught in her college courses.

She picked the last of her ravioli from the bowl and washed it down with the remainder of her cup of water. “Dinner was great,” she said, “but I think you owe me something better for getting shot at.”

He grinned. “You owe me. I’m your employee, remember?”

“That’s right, then the dishes are all yours.”

He rose from the table, tossed the two empty bowls in the trash along with the plastic cups. “Any other duties you’d have me perform?”

Her pulse ticked up a notch and she hoped her thoughts weren’t conveyed on her face, because the first thing that came to mind was something she’d never ask an employee to do, even a sort of fake one.

“I guess that’s it,” she said, trying to sound nonchalant. “Should we do a watch schedule?”

He raised one eyebrow. “You planning on sleeping?”

She sighed. “No. I wouldn’t be able to manage a minute.”

“Then I suggest we retire to the living room.”

“One minute,” she said and retrieved another sheet from the storage bin. She tossed it over the couch, covering the entire piece of furniture.

“You afraid Bart has cooties?” Colt’s voice sounded right next to her.

“Everyone has cooties,” she said. As she turned to look at him, she realized just how close to her he stood. Her pulse ticked up another notch as her gaze swept down his perfectly chiseled chest.

He dropped his hand to her bare shoulder and set her skin on fire. “We’re going to get out of this. I promise you.”

“I hope our clothes dry first. Otherwise, it’s going to be an odd rescue picture in the Mudbug Gazette.”

He looked her up and down and smiled. “At least one of us looks good in a toga.”

“Yeah, but I think women may argue about which one.” The words flew out of her mouth unbidden, and the mortification was right behind. Not since she was a teenager had she said anything so embarrassing.

And true. Which was completely beside the point.

Colt’s eyes locked on hers and his hand moved up to stroke her neck. When he leaned in, she knew he was going to kiss her.





[page]Chapter Twelve


Never in her life had she wanted something more, and when his lips brushed against hers, her body exploded in a tingling frenzy. Such light contact had flooded her with emotions she’d never felt before—emotions so strong they frightened her as much as they excited her. He pulled her closer to him and deepened the kiss. Through the thin sheet, she could feel the heat coming off of him and a flush ran through her, setting her entire body on fire.

You have to stop!

Her mind shouted out in desperation, but her body refused to listen and pressed closer to him until his bare chest touched her thinly clad body. He groaned and wrapped his arms around her, then began kissing her neck, working his way down.

And that’s when she heard the voices outside.

“Colt! Jadyn! Are you in there?”

Colt jerked his head toward the window and released her. Cool air passed over her as he moved away and to the window.

“It’s Maryse,” Jadyn said as she hurried up to join him. “I’d know her voice anywhere.”

She peered out the window and watched as two flashlights bobbed up the path from the deck. “I can’t make out who’s with her but she doesn’t sound like she’s under duress.”

Colt nodded. “I’d like them to move in a little closer first. “

“Colt! Are you here?” a man’s voice boomed out of the darkness.

Colt let out a sigh of relief. “It’s Luc.”

He opened the front door and yelled out. “We’re here and it’s safe.”

Maryse broke into a run and took the steps two at a time. She barreled into the cabin and grabbed Jadyn in a hug so hard, she might have bruised a rib.

“Oh my God!” Maryse said as she clutched Jadyn. “We were so worried. I was afraid…”