Page 20 (2/2)

Parker shook his head at her persistence He knew but he wasn’t telling her "Even if I did, I couldn’t tell you until we notify next of kin You know that"

"So you do knoho it is At least tell hed and scrubbed a hand over his face "The victi to the Chocolate Ball nexta bachelor auction If you’re on the auction block, you better get ready for--"

"Good-bye, Julia" He disconnected and slipped his phone back in his pocket The tall, leggy brunette was hot, but she’d been after hio and she wasn’t his type Hell, he didn’t knohat that was, but it wasn’t a bulldog in high heels who’d use hi else

As he headed back to the station, he otten an anonymous call about the body If it had been discovered later in the day, he’d have understood, but Abel had found it before anyone else and he wasn’t known for gossiping No one at the station would have tipped her off And he doubted anyone in town even knew about it yet Fontana ht be small but news didn’t spread that fast The best possibility he could think of was that someone connected to the victim called Now he had even more questions

Someone obviously wanted Julia to think a shifter had attacked a hu paranor a body in the middle of town like that Unfortunately he wouldn’t know ot results back from the lab Since they were a s out It would be a few days until he knew more

At least he could still contact the family If he could find theue and hadn’t co concrete He’d found names but no addresses That in itself was odd A dull headache started at the back of his skull So told him there was more to this case than a si around for a few hours, Liam and Jayce parked on Avalon Street a few blocks down fro the fae, Liam hadn’t wanted to come directly to see December He wasn’t exactly concerned they’d have any interest in her, but he didn’t like the idea of the of her existence or her importance in his life Their opinions of hu tiiven Jayce a chance to scout out the rest of Fontana and get a feel for the layout of the town Lia at round was the only way to do reconnaissance Noell past lunchtime as Liam opened the front door to December’s store

Immediately he was accosted by the scents of the candles that lined theButterscotch cookies and vanilla Nothing could overpower her scent, though The jasmine was probably too subtle or evenabout her called to his ister and half saze trailed past hi that she was unco his blades He could only i in line and Kat was busy helping another He realized sheDecember out since she was short staffed And Kat had almost the same reaction as Decelare for Jayce Next to hirowl in his throat She couldn’t hear him, but Liam could It was a strained, almost distressed sound Liam was careful not to look at hi them apart, but it was obvious Jayce was messed up over her The sexual tension in the air was so thick it was nauseating

"Quit looking at her like that and at least pretend to be browsing or so," Liam said under his breath

Jayce shot hi down one of the aisles

A steady stream of customers flowed in and out for the next hour, but finally the place cleared out The second the last wo at and riveted his attention on Kat

"You were fucking kidnapped and didn’t tellwords were directed at Kat, as if he’d been holding it in the entire ti

"Shit" Liam tried to place hierously "I didn’t tell you because it’s none of your business," she shot back, her voice just as low as his

Both of thenored Liam’s attempt to come between them

"I had to find out weeks after the fact What the hell, Kat?" He took a step toward her

Liaister, her eyes ablaze "Don’t talk to her like that She doesn’t owe you anything"

When Jayce turned his angry stare on Decerowl started deep in Liam’s throat Before it had a chance to escape, Jayce relaxed and took a step back as he focused on Kat "Can I talk to you in private?"

Kat sighed and glanced at Decerab a late lunch with Lialared at Jayce as she spoke to Kat "You sure?"

"Yes I’ll be fine, I prolanced between the two of theone long" Once Decereed, Liam let out a relieved breath

After she slipped on her coat, he hooked his arm around her shoulder as they exited She stiffened but didn’t pull away Considering the kiss they’d shared last night, he didn’t understand why she was acting as if he were a stranger Like she hadn’t been ready to let hiainst her front door His body instantly hardened at the thought, but he forced hisEarl’s okay?" He motioned to the local diner at the end of the block