“Yes, I like to stretch in the graveyard. It’s peaceful here. Usually. When there aren’t dead bodies lying around with knives jutting out of their chest cavities.” A semi-hysterical giggle caught in my throat. I instantly swallowed it down with an embarrassed gasp. “Goddess, that’s not funny. I apologize. I don’t know why I said that. I didn’t mean to be so… flippant.”
Cade’s kind expression didn’t even flicker. “You’re in shock. You’ve experienced a trauma. It’s quite all right. Normal, even.”
Jeeze, he was nice. Suddenly, I had the overpowering urge to throw myself into his arms and weep like a child while he pet my hair in soothing strokes. I managed not to humiliate myself further by doing so, but there was no holding back the flood of emotions. My tears began to flow, and once they started, there was no stopping them.
“Sorry. Ignore me,” I said idiotically, wiping at my face. It was useless — the tears were a torrent. “I’m just really freaked out, you know? I was walking down the path toward the gate, turned around a bend, and then… there she was. At first I didn’t even realize it was a real body. I thought—” I sniffled hard, trying to contain my sob. “I thought it was a stupid p-p-prank. I didn’t even r-r-ealize—” My hiccups grew more frequent — and more pathetic — as I blubbered. I squeezed my eyes closed, trying to stem the weeping, but it did little good. “—that she was d-d-dead until I saw her f-f-f-face.”
My hiccup was smothered by the fabric of Cade’s shirt as he reached out and pulled me into his arms. He was warm and solid and right then, I desperately needed something to hold onto, something to keep me from shattering into a zillion pieces.
“Shh,” he whispered into my hair, cupping his hand at the nape of my neck. “It’s okay, Gwen. You’re okay.”
I cried, gripping the lapels of his blazer with both hands, burying my face in his strong collarbone, allowing him to hold me close. Normally, such a public show of emotion would’ve been grounds for changing my identity, fleeing the state, and running off in the night, never to return. But right now, I didn’t have a choice in the matter. There was something about Caden Hightower that made me feel safe enough to be completely vulnerable — even in front of a crowd of gawking strangers.
I’m not certain how long we stayed like that. Long enough for my tears to slow from ragged sobs, for the shaking of my body to subside. Only when my mind cleared did I become aware —highlyaware — of our position. Cade’s arms were locked tight around my body. I was half-sitting in his lap. His head was bowed, his lips were pressed against my temple. It felt good. Great, actually. Beneath those fitted button downs and basic khakis, the silver fox detective was packing some serious muscle.
I tilted back my head to meet his gaze. His blue eyes were so bright, so warm, a Caribbean sea soothing away all my jagged emotions. I opened my mouth to say something to him. I hadn’t even fully decided what that something would be — an apology, a thank you, yet another plea concerning my innocence — but I never got the chance, seeing as someone else spoke first.
“Isn’t this cosy.”
I practically vaulted out of Cade’s arms at the low, clipped voice that rolled across the cordoned-off section of cobblestones. My head whipped around to see Graham ambling toward us with long strides. His Bronco was parked behind Cade’s SUV, apparently having had no trouble bypassing the mass of rubberneckers still gathering on the narrow street. I’d been so overwrought, I hadn’t even heard him pull up.
“Graves,” Cade said, sounding annoyed. “Wasn’t expecting you just yet.”
“Why’s that?” Graham’s gaze cut to the graveyard, where a photographer was snapping pictures of the scene.
“Not sure it’s connected to your investigation,” Cade informed him. “Which means it doesn’t concern you.”
“If it concerns Gwen, it concerns me,” Graham fired back without missing a beat.
My whole body went solid at this statement. He said it in a cold, unflinching tone, his manner completely detached, but heat bloomed through me regardless. I stared up at his face, but he wasn’t looking at me. He kept his gaze on the graveyard — even as he said, “You two plan to sit there and cuddle all day or are we going to sort out a crime scene?”
With a rattle of displeasure that shook his broad chest, the detective helped me to my feet. My knees faltered for a moment, threatening to give way, but he steadied me with a steely arm around my waist. The pads of his fingers dug into the slice of bare skin between my leggings and sports bra as he plastered me against his side.
“You good?” Cade whispered, head tilted down to me.
“Good,” I echoed, lying through my teeth. I was sonotgood it wasn’t even funny.
Cade didn’t release me. His head lifted back to look at Graham. I did the same, and the moment I did, found myself ensnared by a frosty green gaze. It was a look I knew well.Captain Cold, my old nemesis. No trace of the man I’d gotten glimpses of beneath the ice, these past few weeks. It took all my remaining strength — and, honestly, there wasn’t much of it left — to keep from shivering. We stared at one another for a small eternity before Cade cleared his throat and Graham jerked his eyes away from me.
“I haven’t had a chance to see for myself. I only got here a few minutes before you did, Graves, and I was—“
“Occupied,” Graham growled. “Yeah. Saw that.”
I was still hauled up against Cade’s side, so I felt him suck in a deep breath long before I heard it leave his mouth in a sharp gust. “Preliminary assessment from the forensics guys indicates she was likely killed elsewhere, then brought here and intentionally staged. You’re free to look around when I do, form your own judgments on what you see.”
“I always do,” Graham returned, sounding distinctly unhappy but not entirely surprised by this news.
I, however, was surprised. My eyes went wide. “Staged? She wasstagedhere?”
“Looks that way, honey,” Cade said gently.
“Why?” I nearly started crying again. “Why would someone do that? What possible purpose could that serve, except—”
My words choked off into silence as emotion won the battle over coherence. I tilted my head up toward the sky, trying to banish the impending tears. I would not cry, not again. I was stronger than that.
Right.
Cade loosened his hold on my waist — not much, just enough to turn and look fully down into my face. “Gwendolyn, why don’t you go wait in my car?” he asked, his blue eyes as gentle as his tone. “You don’t need to hear this shit, honey. I’ll come get you after I’m done here.”