Page 14 of Blade’s Edge (L.A.S.T. Defense #1)

Emi

Emi

Jasper sits at my breakfast bar, frowning at his phone, with a fresh cup of coffee at his elbow.

“Is everything all right?” I tug at my sweater, one of my many bruises protesting against my bra strap.

“My brother needs a permanent attitude adjustment,” he mutters. “AJ made some calls to his contact at Austin PD. Have you heard from a Detective Mitchell?”

“He called twice this morning.” I show Jasper the transcripts from the voice mail messages.

“That fucking idiot should know better than to leave such a useless goddamn message. That ain’t much more than I got from AJ. Sombitches. Both of them.”

I lean against the counter next to him. “Tell me how you really feel.”

Jasper laughs, a rich sound that vibrates his entire being. I could fall for that laugh. Easily. Hell, I’m already falling for it—and him.

“Mitchell and my brother would probably get along like two pigs in slop.” He runs a hand through his hair, tugging on the dark brown strands. “You call him back?”

“I tried. But I might as well just go in. It’ll be faster.“ I move to the fridge, rummaging inside for a container of yogurt. “Wait. You put my groceries away?”

“Yes, ma’am. Might have eaten some of your cheddar cheese popcorn, though. I missed dinner last night and left my groceries in the truck.” He nods toward his hat and keys resting on the counter. “Whenever you’re ready, I’ll drive you to the station.”

“You will do no such thing. For fuck’s sake, Jasper. You have a life to get back to. I’m fine .”

“I’m not askin’.”

Well, hello. Over-the-top Jasper is sexy as hell. Even if I do want to give him a piece of my mind. “I’m a grown-ass woman, Jasper Blade. You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

He growls—actually growls— and it does something to me I’m not prepared for.

I’ll need to change my panties if he keeps this up.

But I won’t back down either. He does not get to tell me what to do and expect me to be happy about it.

I ball my hands into fists at my sides so I’m not tempted to grab him and kiss him senseless.

“If you want to drive me, you can ask. Nicely. Maybe I’ll say yes.”

A vein in Jasper’s temple throbs. To his credit, he only blows out a breath and closes his eyes for a beat. “Emi, will you please let me drive you to Austin PD?”

“Why, yes. I would love a ride since my car isn’t…operational at the moment.” I offer him a sweet smile, then pop the top of the container of yogurt. “Want some?”

He wrinkles his nose. “Got anything that ain’t healthy?”

Now it’s my turn to laugh. “Besides the cheddar cheese popcorn? Not at the moment. There’s oatmeal? Or smoothie ingredients in the freezer?”

“Waffles, pancakes, muffins…” he says, longing in his tone.

“I’m in front of a camera anywhere from three to five nights a week.

I rarely have time to cook, and broadcast news requires me to maintain certain physical…

standards . Every couple of weeks, I splurge on the enchilada plate at Bar Roma.

The rest of the time, it’s yogurt, kale, and two handfuls of popcorn a night. ”

His blue eyes darken. “I’d say that’s no way to live, but my standard grocery order is two boxes of frozen lasagna and a couple of cases of Shiner. So I guess I’m not in any position to judge.”

“You’re right. You’re not.” I only make it through half the yogurt before my stomach twists into a knot. “I’ll be ready to go in five minutes.”

Jasper

Emi is glued to her phone on the drive to Austin PD, but between text messages, she steals glances at me.

I can’t read her. She doesn’t think she needs a bodyguard, but she’s got one—at least until I hear the bomb squad’s report on her car. AJ was less than helpful when he finally called me back this morning.

“The detective on her case is Nolan Mitchell. He’s an ass. But he’s a decent detective with a high close rate. He wouldn’t tell me anything, but he did let it slip that he’d gotten a call from the FBI.”

If the FBI’s involved, the explosion wasn’t an accident. Emi was targeted. But did they want to kill her or merely scare her off the story?

I ease the truck into the parking spot with the best visibility in the lot. It’s a police station, but that doesn’t mean I’m taking any chances with Emi’s safety. No one’s sneaking up on us.

She throws her door open, but I reach across the cab to take her hand. “Wait for me to come around, sweetheart.”

Goddammit. Why can’t I stop with the “sweetheart” shit? Emmylou Marsh is not my girlfriend. Hell, she’s barely a friend if the glare she’s giving me is any indication.

“Are you always this overprotective?” she asks when I wrap my hands around her waist to help her down.

“Yes. No. Fuck. I don’t know. I haven’t spent a lot of time around people since the explosion.” Scanning the lot, I note the half dozen cars, the mom pushing a stroller on the sidewalk, the clouds gathering on the horizon. Tonight’s storm is gonna be a toad strangler.

“Why not?” She lets me keep my palm at the small of her back all the way to the station’s front doors. “You’re a nice guy, Jasper. Handsome too. Any woman would be lucky to snap you up.”

A hint of sadness lingers in her tone. I don’t have time to figure out why before she marches up to the information desk and asks to talk to Detective Mitchell.

I should offer to sit in the lobby until she’s done. Instead, I reach for her hand. “I’m goin’ in with you.”

Emi’s brow wings up. “Why am I not surprised? Fine. But if you try to talk over me even once, we’re done. I get enough of that at work.”

“I wouldn’t dare try.” Holding my Stetson to my heart, I wait for her to turn those big brown eyes to mine. “Emi, I’m not stayin’ with you because I think you’re weak. And it damn well ain’t because you’re a woman. I’m here because I care.”

Her gaze softens. Does she squeeze my hand a little?

“Ms. Marsh?” An older man—late fifties if I had to guess—lumbers out from behind the security glass.

His detective badge is clipped to his belt.

From the way his jacket hangs, he’s tucked his gun into his shoulder harness.

“I’m Detective Mitchell. If you follow me, we can talk in one of the conference rooms.”

Mitchell doesn’t even toss a glance in my direction until Emi clears her throat. “This is Jasper Blade, detective. He’s with me.”

“We really should speak privately, Ms. Marsh,” Mitchell says.

As if she knows I’m about to give the man a piece of my mind, Emi wraps her hand around my elbow and squeezes gently.

“I trust Jasper. He was a Ranger until he retired last year, and he’s…

a friend.” With a sweet smile, she adds, “I’m going to tell him everything less than five minutes after I walk out of here, Detective. Save me the trouble?”

The look Mitchell gives me could melt the polar ice caps. Yeah. He knows who I am. And he’s not happy I’m here.

We follow him through the bullpen, down a hall, and into a conference room. “Wait here,” the detective says, then shuts the door with enough force to rattle the windows.

“What crawled up his ass?” Emi whispers.

“Ain’t no love lost between Austin PD and the Ranger Division. They think we’re cowboys who don’t play by the rules.”

She smirks, her brow arching in the cutest way. “And what do you think of them ?”

Mitchell stalks back into the room, and I give Emi a quick wink. “One of these days, I’ll tell you.”

Sinking into a chair across from us, the detective flips open a folder. He spreads half a dozen photographs out on the table. The remains of Emi’s car, some burned wires, and a blasting cap. “So, Ms. Marsh. Do you have any idea who might want to kill you?”