“Forgot the tip, Detective?”
Jaime winced, hanging her head in shame. “I’m so sorry, Anya. I —”
“You thought you could get a discount if you followed me home?”
“I freaked out, okay?” Jaime looked back at the car. Max was watching her with interest. “I… didn’t dream of Taylor,” she said, thinking that explained everything.
To Anya, it did. It divulged quite a lot to the former psychologist. She nodded. “I would give you your money back, but I think Derek ate some of it.”
“It’s… what?”
Anya shrugged. “I threw it on the floor and told him he could eat it.”
Jaime’s lips twitched. “Right, okay. Look, throw it away if you want. I don’t care. Last night was… incredible. I know I ruined it by letting my head rule my emotions. But if you could forgive me, I’d love to see you again. T-to take you out.”
Anya’s brows furrowed. “Are you asking me out on a… date?”
“Yeah, I am. But this time, when I take money out of my pocket, it’ll be to buy you flowers and dinner.” Jaime shuffled her feet, as nervous as a fucking teenager.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Detective.”
“Please call me Jaime, Anya. I know I need to focus on this case, and that’s exactly what I will be doing until the threat against you is over. But I still need to eat. Why can’t we do that together?”
“Are you doing this to keep an eye on me?”
“No! It’s a byproduct of being together, but not a reason. I’m attracted to you, Anya. I haven’t felt like this since…” Jaime drew in a deep breath. “I just want to know what this is.”
“You realize that what we did last night puts a target on your back, Jaime. You want to put a protective detail on me because you’re afraid I’ll get hurt. Do you not understand that I have the same fear for you? It’s not safe to be with me. As much as I want to say yes to you, I… can’t. I’m sorry.”
To Anya’s surprise, Jaime smiled.
“You care. Don’t roll your eyes at me.” Jaime gave Anya a knowing look. “I’ll throw your words back at you,Doctor. I can take care of myself.” Jaime held up a finger when Anya opened her mouth to protest. “Will you think about it at least? Remember last night. Something that mind-blowing shouldn’t be ignored.” She wanted to reach out and touch Anya’s beautiful face. “I have to go before Max gets suspicious. I know you insist on going to work, but please be careful, Anya.” Jaime stepped back off the small porch. “Please?”
“Jaime, you know what I do, and you don’t like it. Why are you really doing this?”
“I told you. You tell me if I’m lying, Doc.” Jaime simply shrugged. She couldn’t change how she felt about this woman, and she didn’t want to. “Do I want to think about you having sex with someone else? Fuck no. But?—”
“I won’t be,” Anya said suddenly, cutting Jaime off. “I can’t put anyone else in jeopardy. And I have no desire to…”Unless it’s you.Anya knew in that moment that this was far more than Jaime finding her release. And vice versa.Fuck, I’m in trouble.“Go.”
“Yeah.” Jaime lowered her eyes, a plan forming in her head that she knew neither Max nor Anya would like. “Think about what I said?”
Anya nodded before closing the door. She would think about it, even if it would torture her. But Anya knew that being with her again would put a target on Jaime’s back.
“Meow.”
Anya sighed. “Yeah, I know. One minute, I want to slap her, and the next, I want to fuck her.Again.” She bent to pick Derek up. “Something is always in the way, isn’t it, boy? Do you think happiness is anywhere in my future?”
“Mew, meow.”
“I’m going to pretend that was a yes.” Anya thought about last night. The sex was just as Jaime had described it. Mind-blowing. That wasn’t enough to chance it with a serial killer on the loose, was it? Anya shook her head. “We’ll just have to catch the killer then, won’t we?”
“Meow.”
Chapter Eighteen
Jaime tightenedher hands around the steering wheel, focusing ahead of her. She could feel Max watching her, trying to get inside her head, but she couldn’t do this right now. The thought of Anya being hurt… the idea of the very same thing happening to her that had happened to the previous women…Jaime was sure she would throw up if she didn’t focus elsewhere. It may have been one night together, it may have seemed fleeting, but fuck, it was anythingbutthat.
“It’s not safe to be with me. As much as I want to say yes to you, I… can’t. I’m sorry.”
