Free Bought by Jaymie Holland Page B

you is a mistake, Roni.”
    The way he looked at her made her heart beat
faster. “I’m glad,” she said. “I wouldn’t want you to have any
regrets.”
    “I don’t have a single one.” He reached out
and laid his hand over hers. “Well, maybe one.”
    She raised an eyebrow. “And what’s that.”
    His voice was low as he said, “That I didn’t
meet you sooner.”
    With a smile she said, “Me, too.” She thought
for a moment and said, “How do you just happen to be into
kink?”
    “It was one of the reasons that I wanted to
be on this case,” he said. “I knew about KC and I like a little
kink. I could be more active in the group and observe things and
talk to people inside without raising suspicions.”
    After a moment she changed the subject back
to something she needed to know. “What about the killer? Do you
think he’s a member of KC? Was he at the auction?”
    “One of our leads is a member of the KC but
his alibis have appeared solid.” John frowned and shook his head.
“Something about the guy just isn’t right. We don’t have the
manpower to keep an eye on him and the other more suspect
individuals in the case.”
    “Who is it?” she asked then realized it was a
question that wouldn’t get her anywhere.
    “I can’t discuss that type of information.”
He pushed his hand through his hair again. “I wish I could.” He
leaned close to her. “Let’s just say I’d like you to steer clear of
Drake Pierson. If you see him around at all, you get somewhere safe
and call the police and me.”
    A slow chill rolled through her. “I bumped
into him at the grocery store the morning after the auction.”
    The line of John’s mouth grew tight. “He
approached you? What happened?”
    “I was getting a carton of milk and he was
right there when I turned around and I dropped the milk. He—he had
a loaf of bread and wanted to invite himself over.” She rubbed her
arms, trying to chase away the chill. “He offered to walk me home
but I said no.”
    John’s expression grew darker. “Has he made
any other contact?”
    “I saw him at that dungeon party.” Her cheeks
warmed. “Where I thought you were with another woman.” John gave a
nod for her to continue. “He wanted to go someplace but then you
talked to me and he disappeared.”
    “Does he know where you live?” John grasped
her upper arm, surprising her.
    “I don’t think so.” Confusion clouded her
brain. “Oh.” Her eyes widened. “He has my phone number.”
    “Damn.” John cursed something worse under his
breath, too. “You need to stay here. With me.”
    She started to protest that she’d be okay at
home, but she saw the wisdom in what he was saying. “Okay. I just
need to get a few things.”
    He gave a nod. “I’ll go with you.”

Chapter 10
     
     
    Another week went by and then another. The
killer hadn’t struck again and she hadn’t run into Drake Pierson.
She started to feel more relaxed. John had said Drake’s alibi had
panned out, and he was currently out of state on vacation, staying
with a relative in Boston.
    John was still concerned about Drake, though.
He’d said something about the guy just didn’t sit right with
him.
    It was after work on a Friday. It had been a
long and trying day, but like always when she came home to John’s
house, she was able to leave her problems on the doorstep. She sat
down in his recliner with her iPad, wishing that he were home. She
would be happy to make his day far more enjoyable.
    An email popped into her inbox and she looked
to see that she had a message from him. “Speak of the devil,” she
murmured. She loved getting messages from him. Sometimes he emailed
her or sent her text messages just to tell her that he was thinking
about her. Other times it was to give her instructions on something
he’d like her to do that would liven up their evening.
    She opened up the email and read it.
    I left a package for you in the closet, on
the shelf above my suits. I want you