Page 35 of Ice Cold Liar (Ice Breaker Cold Case #14)

“Of all the people in this world,” Madeline mused, “you know there is just no redemption for some individuals. Sometimes we can try, but we can’t ever wipe away our sins. They’re permanent. Like scars or tattoos we will always wear.”

The bike slipped off the hoist. Crashed to the ground.

“She saw you in action tonight.” Madeline edged closer to him as the tow truck driver shouted angrily at his assistant.

“If Naomi truly is innocent, do you think she’s going to want to tie herself to a killer?

” Her hand slid from his shoulder and pressed to his chest. “For plenty of people, you’d be a hard no.

” A pat against his chest. “Better get ready for her to leave you. It will happen as soon as she’s cleared.

We find the person who murdered Hudson, we lock that individual away, and you will never see Naomi again.

Sucks, I get it, but that’s life. In particular, that’s our life.

You know no one at the Agency ever really gets a happy ending in this world.

We lie to everyone, even the people we want to love. ”

“They seem cozy,” Naomi noted crisply. Yep, her words held an edge because she was pretty certain jealousy was slicing and dicing its way through her body.

“Who? The tow truck drivers?” Hunter rose from his relaxed position. “They seem kinda pissed if you ask me. And loud. They are loud as hell. It would probably help if they stopped dropping shit.”

“You know I’m not talking about the tow truck drivers,” she grumbled right back at him. “Stop being difficult. Eb and Madeline. Those two. They seem…cozy,” she repeated. Too cozy. In fact, Madeline could stop touching Eb’s chest at any moment.

Any old moment.

If Madeline wasn’t going to stop touching him, then would it kill Eb to remove the woman’s hand from his person?

Soft laughter. Then Hunter said, voice amused, “I don’t think she’s his type.”

“She’s beautiful, smart, and some kind of super spy. I’d think all of those things appeal to Eb.” She hadn’t asked him about his love life before they’d, ah, jumped into bed together. Oh, no. Naomi’s stomach dropped. What if he was involved with Madeline?

Spies with benefits?

Naomi took a hard step back. Oh, no. No way. Naomi was not a side piece. She was the main piece. Dammit.

“I think…” Hunter’s tone was musing. “Call it instinct, but I suspect Eb likes a different sort of woman. The type of woman who takes your favorite ride, aims it at your enemies, and guns it for all she’s worth.”

She barely heard him. Her gaze was still on Eb. And Madeline. And Madeline patting Eb’s chest. Naomi’s eyes narrowed.

“Personally, I’ve never really been jealous,” Hunter continued.

“Just never cared enough about someone to feel it. But, judging by your reaction and your glare, it looks like a real bitch. My advice? If you have a problem with what you see, go fix it. A doer like you should never sit around. I mean, aren’t you the same woman who just plowed into a biker gang?

You really gonna retreat and wilt? Or are you going to?—”

She stalked past him and down the steps.

“Fight,” he finished and sounded smug.

She kept right on stalking until she was beside Eb. And Madeline. They both turned their heads and frowned at her. Because every light in the city seemed to have been brought into the yard, Naomi could clearly see them.

And the hand that was still on Eb’s chest.

Sighing, she reached out. Removed the hand.

“What are you doing?” Madeline asked her.

It should be obvious. But she’d spell it out. “Removing the hand.”

Madeline gaped at her.

She ignored the other woman. But she did glare at Eb. “You should have removed it.”

“ What is happening here?” Madeline seemed to be choking.

Naomi felt a burn in her cheeks. Clearly, she’d let Hunter egg her into an action she should not have taken but—screw it.

Too late to back away now. “Jealousy.” A nod.

“Hunter was right. It is a bitch.” Naomi sucked in a deep breath.

The tow truck hoist was grinding nearby and the sound grated like nails on a chalkboard. “Are you two involved?”

“No,” Eb replied.

“No.” Adamant. From Madeline.

Naomi spared Madeline a glance. “Good. Keep the hands off.” Another nod. “Now I’m going inside, and I’m going to bed.” Before she did or said anything else that would be terminally embarrassing. Naomi prepared for a fast march away.

Only Eb’s hand flew out and curled around her wrist. Electricity instantly surged through her. At this point, Naomi figured she’d always feel that particular surge whenever he touched her. A hazard of being around Eb.

“I wouldn’t fuck you while being involved with someone else,” Eb stated, his voice low. “ You are the woman I’m involved with. Only you.”

Good to know.

His thumb slid along her inner wrist. “Jealousy, huh?”

“I don’t just ride to the rescue for anyone.” A sniff. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…” With her head up and her spine straight, Naomi walked right back to the porch.

“What just happened?” Madeline asked behind her.

Naomi didn’t hear Eb’s response. The pounding of her heart was too loud as it echoed in her ears.

Hunter smiled as Naomi approached. “Feel better?”

Actually…yes.

“Told you,” he added with a half-shrug. “She’s not his type. He’s far too obsessed with you to see anyone else.”

Obsessed. Obsessed wasn’t the same as loving someone. But…no, they weren’t talking about love. What was happening between her and Eb? It was lust. Passion. Need.

Obsession.

She tapped her thigh. Henry hurried to her side. They went in the house.

And she only looked back once, but when she did, Naomi found Eb’s gaze locked on her.

“Be careful,” Madeline urged.

Eb couldn’t drag his gaze off Naomi. She’d just looked back at him.

She was jealous. She still wants me.

He was about to go insane with wanting her.

“Maybe she’s not the cold-blooded killer we assumed, but…no way she’s going to go after forever with you. It’s just not in the cards.”

He forced a smile as he finally glanced at his former boss once more. “Since when am I the forever type?”

What could have been sympathy came and went on her face.

“Even tough agents can get broken hearts. Just watch yourself, that’s all.

” She backed away. “Now I have to go handle Morris before he has a heart attack. I’ll update you on my interrogation with Brock.

You know, after he has medical clearance so I can talk to the man.

” Waving her hands in the air, she hurried away.

“Morris, stop trying to help the tow truck drivers! You’re about to get your ass crushed! ”

Eb headed for his Impala. The steam had stopped pouring out, so that was a good sign. He touched the hood. Still warm, though.

“Are you going to keep her?” Hunter asked.

He wasn’t the least bit surprised that Hunter had sauntered his way over to the vehicle.

“Of course, I’m keeping the car.” As if he’d ever let go of his baby. “Probably just some small problem from when Naomi was gunning it around the yard. You’re supposed to treat my baby with care.” But he wasn’t mad at Naomi. He could overlook the gunning of his Impala. Actually…

It was hot the way Naomi saved me. Not that he’d needed saving, but, still…

You learned a lot about a person in dangerous times. Some people would break. Some people would panic. Some people…

They’d risk everything to save someone else.

“I wasn’t talking about the damn car.”

Yeah, he’d known that. But… “You don’t get to keep people. They either choose you or they don’t.” Simple fact of life. You couldn’t make someone stay. Not when the person just wanted to leave. Or worse, not when the person just didn’t want you.

“She ran into a biker gang for you. Literally. Ran the car right at them. If that’s not choosing you, what is?”

He wanted to believe that Naomi would choose him.

So badly. “I fucked up with her.” Stark.

He’d lied. He’d tricked her. He’d intended to lock her sweet ass in a jail cell.

Now, he wanted to do whatever it took to keep her out of a cell.

To protect her, always. So, yeah, he’d done a one-eighty. It happened.

“Did you grovel?” Hunter wanted to know. “I told you it would be necessary. Women go for big grovels.”

“There are some things that apologies don’t fix.” Some hurts that went too deep. He’d never been good at apologizing. Hell, his family could tell Naomi that fact. But for her, he was willing to try just about anything. Including the best grovel he could manage.

Or maybe I’ll just find the real killer, beat the shit out of him, and tie him up with a bow for Naomi. When she gets her name thoroughly cleared, maybe she’ll forgive me then. Maybe…

Or maybe Madeline had been right. And, in the end, Naomi would walk away from him.

“If it were me, I’d keep her.”

Eb’s head swung toward Hunter. Frustrated, he growled, “I told you, you don’t get to?—”

“Find a way. Find. A. Way. If she really matters, you’ll do it.”

Did she really matter to him? Hell, yes, she did. So, as far as keeping her, as far as finding a way…

I damn well will.

He’d start with the game plan already swirling in his head. Find the real killer. Beat the shit out of him. Tie him up with a bow…

Deliver him as a gift to Naomi.

Some women liked flowers. Not his Naomi.

She’s going to get a killer on a silver platter.