Free Twice as Hot by Gena Showalter Page B

chest.
    Then he whispered to me, “I’d be willing to bet Rome’s eaten up with
jealousy right now and it’s killing him.”
    Looking
up at Cody, not daring to hope, I freed my mouth enough to say, “Really?”
    “I’d
place my substantial savings on it.”
    “I
thought you wanted to speak with her, not eat her whole,” Rome sniped.
    Dear
God. Cat Man was indeed in a snit. I grinned up at Cody, happier than I’d been
in days. “He can do both,” I said without looking over my shoulder. “I’ve
always loved a man who could multitask.”
    “My
kind of woman,” Cody said, grin widening. “And why do you care, anyway,
Masters? You’re done with her.” To me, but just as loudly, he said, “I was
listening to your earlier convo with Kitty over there and wanted you to know
you were right. I leave my women so sated they can’t even speak. I’m willing to
let you find out for yourself.”
    I
had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.
    “I
told you. I need to speak with her. About the Desert Gal case,” Rome added
tersely, “and how it connects with our last mission.”
    “Don’t
worry,” Cody said. “I’ve already talked to her about that.”
    “Rome,”
Lexis said. “Take me home. Please. My head is throbbing and I need to get
cleaned up. You heard Cody. He’s got things under control.”
    I
pictured the two of them alone. Perhaps showering together, as Rome and I liked
to do. My stomach clenched painfully, amusement forgotten. “Cody, will you take
me to the nearest clinic? I need someone to dig the knife out of my back. Lexis
might need it again. And the good doctor might want to give me a tetanus shot.
I think she bled on me.”
    Stunned
silence.
    I
often had that effect.
    “Rome,”
Lexis said, and this time her tone was pure I’m-pissed .
    Not
wanting to hear his response, I whirled on them and said, “Actually, it doesn’t
matter if Cody has things under control or not. I’ve been placed in charge of
this case, which makes me your boss. Both of your bosses. And I expect
both of you to begin interviewing Desert Gal’s victims in the morning. Then I
expect you to report to John’s office at noon. We’ll compare notes and decide
what to do next. Oh, and a word of warning. Fail to show, and I’ll introduce
you to Mean Belle.”
    No
longer appearing stunned, but rather braced for whatever slipped out of my
mouth next, Rome snorted. “You mean we haven’t met her yet?”
    “Not
even close.”
     

CHAPTER FIVE
     
     
    Cody
drove me home ,  though
we didn’t speak. We sat in silence, the radio switched off. I wasn’t ready to
talk or listen—to anything—and he probably sensed it. What were Rome and Lexis
doing? Not knowing was killing me. It was like having a knife in my chest, the
blade slowly inching deeper while the hilt was twisted round and round.
    He
parked in the driveway, and we made our way up the porch. Mine and Rome’s. Not
that he’d remember. Jerk.
    A
tiny flicker of anger popped up and said hello. At least my hands didn’t catch
fire again. In fact, I wasn’t producing ice, wind or dirt, either, though my
emotions were in turmoil. Jealousy, love, hate, sadness, hope and helplessness
were all storming through me. Odd. Maybe my powers were on a break. Maybe they
were on the fritz again. I mean, I’d never been further away from Rome’s love
than I was now.
    I
sighed. Maybe I shouldn’t have walked away from him. Maybe I should have stayed
on his ass and reminded him of why he adored me. My eyes widened with the
thought. Of course! Of course that’s what I should have done. Constant visual
and auditory reminders were the best ways to trigger his memory.
    I
clapped my hands, a plan already forming. I was going to glue myself to Rome’s
side. Simple. Easy. “But probably painful, all things considered.”
    “What
is?” Cody asked.
    Oops.
I hadn’t meant to say that aloud. “Never mind.” Up the steps I climbed—and
stopped abruptly. A vase of pink, violet and