Quinn was busy staring at the woman’s face. “I know why they picked Jonnie Sharp for the sin of greed,” said Quinn, glancing over at Luke.
“Why?”
“She was the local woman of opportunity. She was married three times, and each husband was richer and more powerful.”
“A gold digger?” asked Luke.
“Yep, that’s the word for it.”
Quinn tried to get a better view of the body. “Hey, what’s that?” he asked, pointing at the floor. At his instruction, the tech leaned down to pull a tool from beneath the seat.
“It looks to be a wrench, sir,” said the technician, bagging it before handing it to Quinn.
“Hey, Luke. Check this out,” he said, calling the FBI agent over. “We have a tool with blood and tissue on the one side. Someone was nice enough to carve their name into the handle.”
“What does it say?”
“Ed.”
“Well, hell, Quinn. I’m sure there are about a thousand-people named that in this berg alone. It’s a pretty common name.”
Quinn grinned, his mood finally lifting for the day, “Yeah but how many of them in the town own a body shop, and are notorious womanizers?”
“Well, well, well, we have a dead social climber and lecherous body shop owner. I say we check for prints, and then take a trip to the garage for a sample.”
“I’ll call the judge and see what he can hook us up with. This tool should be enough to get us a warrant of some sort,” said Quinn, pulling out his phone. Finally, they were getting somewhere. They had their first major piece of evidence.
* * *
Three hours later, the evidence was logged. At that moment, Quinn was headed with Luke back to Callie’s house to pick up his car. He needed to head home for a few hours of down time before they picked up the warrants later that afternoon. When they got there, the Fed asked him to come in to check on her.
“I can’t now, Luke, but thanks. Take care of her for me,” he said, as he pulled the keys from the glove box to start his car. Now, all he really wanted was to head home and drop off into what he hoped would be a dreamless sleep.
The whole way, his mind spun with so many thoughts of guilt and regret. What he wouldn’t give to be able to redo it all.
When he parked the car in the garage, he remembered the food in the trunk. Taking it inside, he dumped it in the garbage. When he held the cookies in his hand, they were still warm. He snagged one and whistled for Zeke. For the first time in the years of their living together, he didn’t come when called.
Where the hell was his dog? Maybe Callie decided to keep him with her. If she’d forgive him, he’d willingly give up custody of his beloved companion.
Quinn would give her his heart right out of his chest, if that’s what it would take.
He whistled again, finally giving up as he headed for his bedroom. At the door, he stripped out of his clothes. What his body was craving now was his sheets. Quinn knew that they would smell like Callie’s hair.
His heart broke at the mere idea that she wasn’t going to be sleeping in his bed anymore. When he touched the knob, a low growl came from behind the door.
Cautiously, Quinn opened it, and called off his dog. “Down, Zeke,” he ordered. As he glanced around, the most amazing sight in the world unfolded before his eyes.
Callie was there!
His heart stopped. There she was, looking incredibly pale, but otherwise okay. He ordered Zeke off the bed to slide in beside her.
“Good, boy! Were you guarding our Callie?” He lovingly patted his dog on the head before sending him to sleep on his dog bed in the corner.
Quinn didn’t know what he did to deserve this miracle, but obviously, he was lucky. He stripped out of the rest of his clothes to move under the cotton sheets. The minute he caught Callie’s scent, his whole body reacted to her. She must have felt the bed move because she rolled toward him, resting her head on his shoulder.
“Mmmm… you’re home. I missed you.”
“Yeah, baby, I’m home, and I see so are you,” he replied, kissing her on the top of the head. Her hand slid down his body and his muscles reacted.
“Where else would I be, Quinton?” she asked sleepily. “I’m tired,” she whispered, her breath blowing across his chest. “My head really hurts.”
“Shhh… go to sleep baby. We’ll talk later.”
“Okay, Quinn. I just wanted to tell you something important,” she said, fighting to stay awake when the drugs were pulling her under.
“What is it, baby?” he asked, kissing her on the lips.
“Mmmm…. I love you, big guy,” she answered, unable to fight it anymore.
Quinn wasn’t sure he heard her right. He didn't know what to think.
Did she just declare her love for him?
“Damn it, Callie,” he whispered, pulling her close as he tried to force himself to sleep.
Unfortunately, now his mind was moving a mile a minute, as he tried to rationalize her words.
* * *
When ‘The Brethren’ gathered later that day to revel in the kill they had made, one of the members was worried.
“I can’t find the wrench.”
“What do you mean, you can’t find it?” asked the leader.
“We used it to knock her out, and I swore it was in my back pocket.”
“Well, hell’s bells. Now, we have a problem.”
“Don’t worry,” reassured the other one. “The sheriff is too wrapped up with the doctor to figure this out. We’ll be fine, just watch and see,” said the leader.
“What if he’s not distracted enough?” the worried one asked.
“Well, then let’s give him something to keep him busy.”
* * *
Saturday Afternoon
Quinn guarded Callie as she slept. She reminded him of an angel. Everything about her was so peaceful and relaxed, except for the wicked looking set of stitches on her forehead. He had spent the last hour tossing around what to do about her declaration of love.
Was it real?
Was it a slip of the tongue?
Could she possibly feel the same about him?
Deep down, he wanted to hold her to it, but he didn’t want to pressure her if it was said under duress. It had been a rough night for both of them. When her lashes started to flicker, a sure sign that she was waking, he stayed motionless and silent.
Callie could feel the drugs beginning to release her from their hold, and she was acutely aware of Quinn beside her.
When had he come home?
She slowly opened her eyes, only to see him studying her.
“Hey, baby,” Quinn said, kissing her softly. “How are you feeling?”
“Mmmm… I’ve had better days, but I managed to wake up beside you, so it’s off to a good start. I needed a little nap.”
Quinn couldn’t help but look sad.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” she asked, touching his face.
“I’m sorry, Callie,” he said, kissing her cheek. “I should have been more cautious, sticking to you like glue.”
Callie wrapped her arms around his body, holding him close. “It’s over, Quinn, let’s not talk about it.”
Quinn dropped his forehead to hers, and she flinched. “Oh, baby, I’m sorry. Shit!”
Callie laughed. “Quinn, let’s get some coffee. I need some caffeine, and it looks like so do you,” she said, sliding out of bed. “Besides you can catch me up with the next victim, and I can get to work.”
Quinn silently observed her as she stood there in one of his t-shirts and panties. His body went haywire, as he found himself trapped between love and lust.
“What?” she asked, trying to read the look on his face.
Quinn decided to own up to it. “You look good in my things, Callie,” he said, roughly. His entire body felt like it was going to shatter apart at any second. Here was the woman he loved, fresh from his bed, and wearing his clothes. She was sexy as sin, and he wanted her in
the worst way.
Callie could tell what he was thinking and brushed a curl off her face. The coffee could wait. Quinn needed something to soothe the pain which was damaging his heart. “Really? Because I think I look even better without it,” she replied, pulling it over her head before tossing it to the floor.
Common sense prevailed, as he was reminded that she had been hurt only hours ago. “Callie, your head,” he said, as she began crawling toward him. Never in his life had he wanted anything this much.
No, needed it.
God, he had to have her.
Callie wasn’t going to let him out of the bed, or her sight, until his heart was patched back up. Yeah, she had a headache, but he was hurting far worse than she was at the moment.
“Big guy, I don’t believe it was my head you were interested in a second ago,” she teased, lying back against the pillows. When she shimmied out of her panties, she had his full attention.
“Callie,” he warned. He was so damn close to losing all control of his brain.
Her fingers ran up his body, over his chest, and to his neck. “We didn’t get to make out in your car,” she admitted, sliding one hand down under the sheet, until she found him.
He sucked in a breath as her warm palm cupped him. “Are you sure, Callie?” he asked, kissing across her collarbone.
“Oh, yeah, darlin’,” she purred, as she arched against him. The slow seductive rubbing of her body against his said it all. “You’re the best medicine for me.”
Quinn started kissing his way down her torso and planned on showing her how much she meant to him by way of pleasure. He moved slowly across her skin, leaving no spot unattended. By the time he reached her breasts, he was already wild for her. Somehow, he managed to stay in control as he licked his way even lower.
“Mmmm…Quinn,” she whispered, arching against his exploring lips.
Quinn licked around her bellybutton, trailing even lower still. He could feel the lust pounding through his body. What he needed was to completely explore his treasure. As one finger slid through the wetness, Callie moaned and buried her hands in his hair.
Together, they both healed what was broken.
For the moment, gone was her physical pain, and his emotional hurt.
“Quinn, please,” she begged.
He glanced up her body and their eyes met, right before he kissed the inside of her thigh. When she shook in anticipation, he didn’t keep her waiting. Teasing her with his tongue, Quinn enjoyed her writhing on his bed. His slick fingers slid slowly into her body, as she arched and tightened around him.
Then came the tumble.
Callie couldn’t hold on anymore. The man was really good at giving her as much pleasure as possible. Quinn’s devouring of her body was too much. When his fingers invaded, she let go and fragmented apart.
“Did I hurt you, Callie?” asked Quinn, moving up her torso. He cautiously placed his excited body off the side of hers, so as not to crush her.
Callie started laughing. “Quinn, do I look hurt?” she asked lovingly.
“No, baby, you definitely don’t look hurt.”
Callie pushed him to his back, and reveled in the startled look on his face.
Now, it was her turn.
“Sit up against the headboard, big guy,” she whispered into his ear. “I have plans for that sexy body of yours.”
He didn't have to be told twice. He stared in wonder as she straddled his body and slid him home. With her arms, Callie caged him between her and the headboard. When she started the slow glide, he thought he would go crazy. “Oh, God, baby,” he drawled, holding onto her hips. “More. Give me all you have.”
Callie used the headboard to keep her balance, since the room was still tilting. Yet, she wanted to give him something to think about, other than pain. As she increased the speed and rode him, the heat began building.
“Callie, this feels so damn good,” he whispered hoarsely, as she began torturously grinding against him. When her body shook, and she threw back her head to cry out his name, he was out of control.
It was the best feeling in the world, as she tightened around him. Quinn pulled her down one last time, slamming deeply into Callie as he followed her into the ecstasy.
This was pure heaven.
Callie leaned against him, brushing her lips across his shoulder. “Mmmm…you were fantastic, Quinton.”
“Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing about you,” he said, finally catching his breath as he closed his eyes.
For a moment, they took the time to just bask in the afterglow of their mating. Sensuously, his hands moved up and down her body, as he enjoyed the silky feel of her skin. Neither moved, and he remained buried in her.
“When I found you, I received a really amazing gift,” he whispered, as she nuzzled against his cheek.
Callie was equally lucky.
Here was a really good man.
Suddenly, Zeke started growling. Quinn had just enough time to grab the gun sitting on the nightstand and point it at the door. It swung open to reveal the very shocked Nathaniel Carter.
“Holy shit,” Nate shouted. His hand went over his eyes as he tried to block out the scene before him. No brother wanted to walk into a room to see his sister, naked, and in some man’s lap. It was obvious what had been going on.
“For Christ’s sake! She just got out of the hospital a few hours ago,” he hissed between his teeth.
Callie broke into a fit of giggles. As much as her brother may want her to move off Quinn’s body, she wasn’t going to do it. Instead, Callie simply pulled the sheet up to cover their nudity.
“Nate, you should have knocked,” Quinn stated. “Actually, you shouldn’t have just strolled into the house unannounced. I do have a gun and guard dog.”
Yeah, that was the least of his problems.
“God, I think I’m freakin’ blind,” he muttered. “Can I open my eyes now?”
“We’re covered,” he stated, grinning. Why should he make her move? This was, after all, his bedroom. “We were just about to get up and make some coffee,” he said to the FBI agent in front of him.
Nate glared at his sister. The sight in front of him wasn’t that much better. “Seriously? You know the doctor told you no fast movements, it could make the concussion worse.”
Callie started giggling again at her brother’s words. When Luke appeared at the commotion, it turned into full-blown laughter.
“Oh, holy Moses. Someone’s feeling much better.”
“Well, come on in, Luke. There’s nothing like an audience while you and your woman are naked in bed,” drawled Quinn sarcastically. While the whole incident should turn him off, it was having the opposite effect on him. Callie refusing to be embarrassed by their lovemaking got him going.
“Uh, I’ll go make some coffee, this is too much for even me,” replied Luke, backing out of the doorway. This had to be mortifying his partner.
She was his baby sister.
Nate stood there glaring at Quinn like he had deflowered the village virgin. “I can’t believe this! You have a concussion, and he can’t even control his hormones for a few hours,” snapped Nate, pointing at a very naked sheriff.
“Hey! Wait a minute there,” said Quinn, getting angry.
“Nate, it’s none of your business, so march your ass downstairs before I shoot you myself,” she said pointing at the door.
He didn't move, as if daring her.
So be it. “If it matters, I was the one who accosted him this morning. I happen to like starting my day wrapped around Quinn. I happen to prefer sex in the morning.”
That last part did it. Nate was horrified. He walked out of the sheriff’s bedroom, slamming the door behind him.
“Nice touch at the end,” he said, laughing.
“It happens to be the truth.”
Quinn slid her out of his lap. “I need a shower. You wouldn’t happen to want to join me, would you, baby?” he asked, holding out his hand to her. He watched her ca
utiously move across the bed. “Does your head hurt?”
“Oh, yeah, and I have a suspiciously large pain in my ass on top of it.”
It took him a second to get it, before he broke into laughter. “That earned a ride to the shower,” he said, grinning. Cautiously, he picked her up in his arms.
“What do I have to do to earn a ride IN the shower?” she purred seductively in his ear.
He snorted. “Just keep breathing.”
Yeah, that she could do.
* * *
Once dressed, the two walked hand in hand down the stairs and into his kitchen. They needed to find the two Feds and catch everyone up to speed. Honestly, Quinn hoped that the reception would be a little friendlier than before. Walking in, both men glanced up at them. Luke was grinning as he tried to hide it behind a coffee cup, and Nate was glaring at Quinn.
“Hey, gorgeous, how are you feeling today?” asked Luke, standing to give her a kiss.
“I feel fine, Luke,” she said, dropping into a chair.
“Quinn, you want coffee?” asked Luke, as he headed to the coffee pot. “Or have all your needs already been fulfilled this morning?” he asked, teasing him.
“You’re funny, but since I was the one with the gorgeous woman in my bed, I think I’ll gloat. Now, give me some of my damn coffee.”
As always, Luke didn't let it bother him. “Touché.”
“Why are you cranky? Didn't you get a good wake up?” asked Nate with his voice full of venom. He ignored the dirty look his sister was giving him.
“Actually, I didn’t sleep at all. I was too busy worrying about Callie,” he replied, taking a cup of coffee from Luke. “I screwed up once, and it isn’t happening again.”
Nate was about to say something but Callie cut him off. “How about someone tell me what happened this morning?”
Quinn picked up his phone and began reading her all his notes. “Jonnie Sharp, twenty-eight, was found dead in her car. She had the word ‘greed’ carved into her body along with a minor head wound.”
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