Page 33 of Tell Me Your Desires

Jaime contemplated how much to tell Anya.

She trusted Anya, but did Max feel the same way about giving a practical stranger—a civilian—sensitive information about a horrible case?

A case that had no clues or even a suspect.

Until Anya gave them one. And was Anya really a civilian, having been an FBI agent for so long?

“Here in Reno. Miles from the club,” Jaime finally answered. Max didn’t argue or pull a face, so Jaime relaxed ever so slightly. Her heart was still racing from being in Anya’s home again. How was she going to apologize? Would Anya even allow her to?

“Yet Maisie was killed at the club,” Anya said distractedly. “Frank wouldn’t want that attention on the club. The city is trying to shut him down, and being in the news this way isn’t helpful.”

“Maybe he didn’t have a choice?” Max suggested. “Maybe she saw him coming after her?”

Anya shook her head. “I agree with perhaps not having a choice. Maisie had a boyfriend. A live-in boyfriend. The others were single. They lived alone. Still, Frank doing this in his own backyard doesn’t sit right with me.”

“But he has access to your chambers,” Jaime reminded Anya. She turned to Max. “It’s worth a deeper look at him. And we need to get an unmarked to sit out front here. If Frank is the killer and catches on that we’re looking into him, he might get bold enough to come after…”

“Please don’t talk about me like I’m not here, Detective. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I’m already pissed about possibly being watched in some of my most vulnerable moments. I don’t need anyone else’s eyes on me.”

“I agree with Jaime, Dr. Grant. This is for your protection.”

“I don’t need it. I have a state-of-the-art security system.” Anya held up a hand to stop their rebuttal. “Don’t waste resources on me. Now, I need to prepare for tonight, including taking a nap.”

“Wait, you’re not going to the club,” Jaime ordered. “People are fucking dying!” After the night they’d had, Jaime couldn’t fathom losing Anya like she lost Taylor.

“If I don’t go and act like everything is normal, Detective, if Frank is the killer and he thinks you’re on to him, he will more than likely disappear rather than come after me.

He may be a disgusting pig, but he’s wily.

He’s been able to keep that club open and thriving despite the masses trying to close it.

If he vanishes, and he does have the means to do that, he will keep killing. And that will be on all of us.”

Max moved in when Jaime opened her mouth to argue. “She’s right, Baros. We have to keep up appearances while we’re investigating him.”

“So we let Anya be in danger and do fuck all about it?”

“It’s nice to know you care,” Anya said sarcastically.

She was fully aware that Jaime had just used Anya’s nickname.

Hmm. A very familiar way of addressing someone who just moments ago was a ‘person of interest.’ With any luck, Max was too preoccupied with Jaime’s outburst to have noticed.

“But, again, I can take care of myself.”

Anya started walking towards the door, an obvious sign she was done with this conversation.

In reality, she was scared. It wasn’t her first time in danger, but her FBI days were long past. Was she mentally and physically equipped to do this again?

You don’t have much choice. Someone put you in the crosshairs, Anya. Stop them or…

“Thank you for your help, Dr. Grant,” Max said, dipping his head in respect.

“Call me Anastasia or Anya. I haven’t been Dr. Grant for a long time, Detective.”

“The way you knew these women, I’d say that isn’t true. You may do your job a little differently nowadays, but you’re still helping people.”

Anya gave him a small smile. “I appreciate you saying that. If I can help in any way with your case, please let me know. You have my card,” she winked.

Anya gave Jaime a curt nod and closed the door behind them.

She leaned on the door, exhaling sharply.

She hadn’t expected to see Jaime again, especially so soon after being humiliated.

That, coupled with reawakening her past life, was too much for Anya.

She contemplated calling in sick, but she was serious when she told Jaime things needed to remain normal.

“Normal,” Anya scoffed. “Nothing about this whole situation is normal.”

“Hang on, I’ll be right back.” Jaime tossed her keys to Max so he could get in the car.

“The fuck you goin’, Baros? She made it clear she was done.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. I need…” I need to apologize. “I want to make sure that she doesn’t want the detail and that she really does want to work tonight. Two minutes, man. Get in the car and turn on the air. Play solitaire on your phone. I’ll be right back.”

Jaime’s heart was racing as she made her way back to Anya’s front door. There was a slight hesitation when she raised her hand to knock. If Anya slapped her, Max would wonder what the fuck had happened. Hell, Jaime deserved a slap. But she needed Anya to know she was sorry. So, she knocked.

Anya lifted her forehead from the cold metal of the door, a frown etched on her face. Surely they didn’t have more questions already. She cracked the door, bracing it with her foot, and scowled.

“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.”