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Scene #18
By the time the ATF agents and detectives from NOPD's Sixth
District finished questioning Nikki, her back had started to sting.
She watched CSU load her burned car onto a flatbed wrecker, then
preceded Chaz into the house. Her fear level had flat-lined, and in
its place was weary resignation. She yawned as he locked the
deadbolt and double-checked the other doors. "I'm
exhausted." She rubbed her eyes, which were gritty from the smoke.
"That shower will definitely feel good." "Amen, sister." He
led her to his tiny bedroom and hurriedly scooped up the dirty
clothes littering the floor. She smiled wryly. "I see some
things haven't changed." "I live alone. Nobody sees it."
"Except the women you bring home." "They overlook it," he
said with a smirk. She hoped he was joking, but figured he
wasn't. With his dark good looks, he probably had women lined up to
date him. The idea made her heart constrict. She had ignored all
the talk about Chaz at the district station so she wouldn't have to
hear about his love life. It wasn't her business anymore.
She looked away and found herself staring at his queen-sized bed. A
knot of regret choked her. He dumped the soiled clothes in
the bathroom hamper and returned to her side. Tension rode the air
as he reached for the quilt. "I'll change the sheets. Won't take me
but a minute." "Has anyone else slept here since you changed
them?" "No." He went still. "I just washed ‘em Saturday, so
they should be okay." "They're fine, then." "If you
say so." A look of relief flashed over his face, and he dropped the
quilt. She perched on the edge of a chair near the bed. "You
said you have something I can sleep in?" "Oh, yeah." Concern
poured off him as he turned away and dug out a worn yellow T-shirt
and a pair of red Nylon gym shorts. He handed them over. "These
should do." "Thanks." She hugged them to her chest. They
smelled like him. "I feel bad taking your bed. I don't mind
sleeping on the couch. It would probably be a much better fit for
me than—" "No." He shook his head. "Forget about it."
"Are you trying to play macho man by putting yourself between me
and the door?" She arched a brow. He quirked his mouth.
"Smart girl. You caught me." "You don't need to protect me,
Chaz." "Yeah, well...maybe not." He chewed his bottom lip, a
trait which made her heart flutter. "But I'm going to do it anyway.
We were together too many years for me not to care." "I
appreciate that," she said, trying to hide her surprise. Did he
still have feelings for her? Surely not. He shrugged. "Don't
let it go to your head. We were partners, remember? Old habits are
hard to break." "Yes, I know." Like loving you. She blinked
and struggled to even out her breathing. Holy cow. She'd just been
sucker punched by her own psyche. What the heck was wrong with her?
Seemingly unaware of her anxious state, Chaz drew his
brows together. "What about your back? It's blistered, and I have
lotion in the bathroom. If you need me to rub it in—" "If I
do, I'll let you know." She couldn't breathe at all now. The mere
thought of his hands on her body, stroking her sensitive skin, sent
a shiver skittering down her spine. "I-I need to go. Take a shower,
I mean." Before she made a total fool of herself. "Okay,
then." He backed away. "Well...goodnight." "‘Night."
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