“A while ago.” Miller coiled that lock of hair around his finger, then let it go. “She thinks I have information I haven’t shared about the week before he died.”
“Do you?” His hesitation was more than interesting. “Miller?”
His hand dropped back to his side. “It doesn’t matter.”
“If it didn’t matter, you wouldn’t be struggling.”
His focus left me and went to the water, where peace still prevailed. “I know who he was visiting in Colorado.”
“The friend?
Miller picked up a stone, then gave it a fling in the creek. “The woman was more than a friend.”
“And Kayce doesn’t know?”
He picked up another rock. “She doesn’t know the extent of their relationship.”
“Why would you keep that from your sister?”
“Because she’s had enough heartbreak.” His tone was all protective brother. Miller had always been the head of his household, and he still clearly felt a fierce protectiveness. “It changes nothing. It doesn’t bring her husband back. It only makes things worse.”
“Isn’t that for her to decide?” I quietly asked.
“Leave it, Hattie. I have enough guilt without making Kayce suffer more.”
“Have you talked to someone about this guilt?”
“I’m talking to you, aren’t I?” Miller couldn’t quite pull off a smile.
I let my hand curve around his arm. “You know you’re not responsible for Jonathan’s death, right?”
Miller massaged the back of his neck where the last rays of light warmed. “I’m working on it.”
“You’re a kind man who’s done a lot of good in this world. You made a drone that brought water and safety to poor villages. You fight for veterans, you change lives, and you’re a hero to your nieces.” I brushed a bug from his t-shirt, ignoring the sensation beneath my fingertips. “And don’t even get me started on how well you two-step.” The atmosphere changed instantly, and I wanted to take back my reference to the wedding reception.Why had I brought that up?
“Thinking about that dance, are you, Hattie?” Like I’d flipped a switch, all sorrow and pain left Miller’s face.
There was only a hint of space between us, and I smelled the creek and setting sun on his skin, the elemental scent that was man standing amidst nature. I really tried to pull my focus from Miller’s lips, but they were too close. And I was having flashbacks. “I need you to quit looking at me like that, Miller.”
His fingers encircled one of my wrists, barely touching, yet a wildfire of heat billowed through me. “Like what?”
“Like you might kiss me.”
That same hand slid lightly up my forearm, a feather stroke of sensation. “I was considering it.”
I was dry wheat, a rain-starved field. Any moment the flame that was Miller would consume me, and I’d disintegrate right in front of him. Gone. “You should probably pursue another option.”
“Let me think about this a second.” He pulled me taut against him, causing every nerve ending in my body to sing. “I think it’s possible you’re into me, Hattie. And that’s why you’ve been lying low. Admit it. You have been avoiding me this week.”
Right now, under Miller’s spell, I would fess up to absolutely anything. This attraction, my dependency on Spanx, a murder I didn’t commit. Whatever.
In one last bid for self-preservation, I threw a weak punch at his ego. “You’re awfully sure of yourself, aren’t you, Miller?”
“With you? Not at all.” His voice sounded so sincere, so lacking in arrogance, I nearly threw myself at him right then and there. “Maybe you like me. Maybe I was just a convenient prop at a wedding reception. You do recall the reception, don’t you?”
I was officially beyond the ability to play this cool. “Vividly.”
“The night of thatokaykiss.”
