Page 65 of Kiss of Deceit

He cocked his head slightly, curiosity filling his gaze, and I realized I’d stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. I ran a handdown my face, taking a moment to collect myself. He didn’t move as if waiting for me to start walking first.

“Sorry,” I mumbled. “It’s been a long couple of days. I feel like I’m running on fumes.”

“Go home and sleep. Let Natalie handle the work today.”

“She’s at the clinic today…” I trailed off, my pulse thudding. “I think Harry wants to talk to Adella again.”

My lie didn’t seem to catch his attention. All he did was slide his hands into his pockets as he continued to look at me. There wasn’t a crack in his expression, making my stomach flip.

“Makes sense,” he mused. “I followed Riggs into the woods too. Are you going to call me back to the station, Dani?” A dirty smirk lifted his lips. “You want to be alone with me in the interrogation room? How about we skip that, and I just take you to bed now?”

If I wasn’t obsessively observing his behavior, his light teasing would have completely disarmed me. The playful side he rarely revealed always made my stomach flutter. I cleared my throat, reminding myself to stay on topic. My heart dipped. The way this man distracted me was not a good thing.

“I don’t know why Harry wants to talk to Adella again,” I replied, keeping my voice light. “You both already told us everything. Unless either of you might have forgotten something?”

“Blood,” he stated calmly. “Tons of blood smeared and puddled in snow. There isn’t anything else to forget.”

Ice traveled through my veins.I couldn’t tell. There wasn’t any hint that he was lying. Absolutely nothing. He was an exceptional liar.

I bit my tongue, and I broke our stare to start walking again, forcing out a chuckle. “Then I guess I’ll be wasting my time today by talking to Adella.”

My mind was racing with all our past conversations. Did he lie to me about anything else? Fingers snagged the sleeve of my thick jacket before I was spun around. The humor was now absent from Kole’s face as he met my gaze.

“We did find more,” he admitted roughly. “You knew I was lying just now. I can’t get anything past you, can I?”

My heart pounded against my ribs as I searched his face. If Adella hadn’t told me the truth, I would have believed his words. His grip on my arm tightened as he pulled me closer.

“We followed bloody footprints,” he continued, keeping his voice low. “They stopped right behind my condo—facing your bedroom window. I didn’t want you to worry for no reason.”

“No reason?” I echoed, acting surprised as if this was the first time I was hearing this. “I think it’s important to know if someone is watching me.”

I tensed when he released my sleeve, only to wrap his arm around me, crushing my chest to his. I tipped my face up, swallowing thickly at the determination swimming in his eyes.

“You have nothing to worry about,” he clarified, his voice laced with dark promise. “No one will touch you. I’ll make sure of it. If someone tries breaking in to get to you, I’ll kill them.”

My eyes widened, not even trying to hide my shock. After seeing him threaten Tristin, I was well aware he could be violent. But murder? I should probably be more suspicious of himandeveryone else in this weird town.

Afterall,Iwas a killer, and no one would ever guess it by looking at me.

“You’d kill for me?” I asked, keeping my voice teasing. “Didn’t we agree that this was just sex? Getting soft on me, Kole?”

He leaned down until his lips hovered an inch from mine. “Sure, Dani. It’s just sex. But there is nothing to worry about when you’re sharing my bed.”

“I don’t need protection. I’ve learned to take care of myself.”

He chuckled. “That’s obvious. But you don’t need to do everything alone.”

“Letting people in is how you get hurt,” I whispered, regretting the honest words as soon as I spoke them.

He grasped my chin, rubbing his thumb over my lips. “Then just let me in. If I hurt you, I give you full permission to use those hidden knives on me.”

My chest tightened, a pain slicing through me that I hadn’t allowed myself to feel in years. I’d isolated myself after my attack. My therapy was the reason I was able to function in society again. But my trust? I didn’t believe that would ever come back. I swore I would never let anyone get close to me.

Kole was making me rethink that. Even after how effortlessly he lied to me.

Which was far more alarming than someone possibly watching my window. I was letting this man in. I’d told him about my past. Slept in his bed. Revealed much more about myself than I had to anyone else.

He was clouding my judgment.