Love Under Two Benedicts(52)

Matthew sighed. “We’ve had a bit of a breakthrough on both cases, actually. The Highway Patrol notified us that a car with occupants matching the description of Benny’s mom and the man she was with stopped at one of the Pit-Stop service stations just off the state highway about an hour north of here on Sunday evening.”

“So they’re going to focus their efforts looking in that direction?”

“Yeah. They’ve begun checking the motels along that route, which leads to Abilene.”

“The other development would be about my accident? Did they find that drunk?”

Matthew picked up her hand, kissed it. “The car that ran you off the road is owned by a woman named Mary Peterson, who works as a shop clerk at a discount mall just outside of Waco. The local cops interviewed her at work earlier this afternoon. She’d been at work all day, with witnesses to prove it. However, when she led the cops out to where she’d parked her car, it was gone. They did find it, on mall property.”

“You look really worried. What am I missing?”

“The person behind the wheel of that Taurus wasn’t drunk, sweetheart. He was trying to kill you.”





Chapter 17



“I don’t understand. Are you saying that asshole targeted me specifically?” Kelsey couldn’t wrap her head around what Matthew had just said.

“We believe so, yes. He picked up the Taurus at the mall, likely early this morning. We think he sat and watched, determining which cars belonged to mall employees. Then, of course, he returned it, likely because he’d left his own car there.”

“But…who would want to kill me? I haven’t done anything!”

Matthew shook his head. He slid closer to Kelsey and stroked a finger down her face. “Baby, we’re not going to let anyone hurt you. We have no idea whatsoever why this happened. The Waco police seized the Taurus and are going over it very carefully. That bastard had to have left some evidence. They’ll find it. They’re also going to go over the mall’s security surveillance tapes. In the meantime, until we know what’s going on and he’s caught, we don’t want you going anywhere alone. Okay?”

Kelsey couldn’t imagine why someone would deliberately try to harm or kill her. There had to be another explanation. One look at Matthew, though, and the answer to the question he’d just asked seemed obvious. She’d never seen such a serious expression on his face. She recalled the way Steven had looked as he’d taken her out of the cruiser and carried her into the clinic. She didn’t want to cause these two good men any unnecessary worry.

“Okay. You’re the cop. I’ll do whatever you say.”

His beautiful smile melted her heart. Amazing that such a simple thing on her part could please him so.

“No more dealing with reality for tonight,” Matthew murmured. “Lean back, close your eyes, and let the water, and me, make you feel better.”

“I have a real good idea how you could make me feel better,” Kelsey said. She sent him a smoldering look. A quick glance down at Matthew’s hardening cock told her he thought it was sexy, too.

“So do I, baby. Now relax, close your eyes, and let me take care of you.”

The heat of the water and the skill of Matthew’s hands as he set about massaging her combined to turn her bones as soft as butter. At least that’s how it felt as the tension eased out of her and her stiffened muscles began to relax. She hadn’t truly understood how much discomfort she’d been in until it began to ease. Her groans of delight elicited smug masculine chuckles, but she didn’t care.

With her eyes closed and her body relaxing, her mind let loose of the questions and the worry. She drifted on the slightest thread of wakefulness, going to that luscious pre-sleep state where sounds muted and melded, cares evaporated, and her spirit soared free.

Matthew lifted her into his arms, and she turned into him, her head seeking the hollow in his collarbone. With her face flush against his chest, she inhaled him. His scent, so masculine right there at the base of his throat, both aroused and soothed her at the same time.

“You’re like a sleepy little kitten,” Matthew whispered. She felt the soft fluff of a towel against her flesh. A part of her mind knew he dried her and she should probably help. The rest of her decided to just stay in this happy place of care and comfort.

She thought she might be very close to sleep, and although she really wanted to make love with Matthew, she decided that maybe her body needed the sleep more.

“On your tummy, baby,” Matthew said.

He helped her so that rolling over didn’t take a great deal of effort on her part. Kelsey drifted some more, not really paying any attention to sounds or anything else. The ache in her shoulders had lessened, and lying prone proved comfortable. The brush of cotton against her nude flesh felt wonderful. He must have turned down the bed before he laid her on it. She’d already discovered all the eight hundred thread count linen for this giant double king bed had been made to order. It was the most luxurious bedding she’d ever felt.