Free Their Summer Heat by Kitty DuCane Page A

eligible bachelors, which, by the way, is not the term I’d use for them?” sneered Connors.
    “I already told you. I had to work, and when I’m not workin’, I’m studyin’. My life is fairly simple, Detective Connors.”
    Connors shrugged as Bates turned to Max and Logan, both of whom appeared relaxed, despite the inquisition.
    “And how did you feel when Miss Swenson showed up instead of Miss Heat.”
    “Amused,” grinned Logan.
    Connors arched a questioning brow.
    “Miss Heat doesn’t like to be manipulated,” he added.
    Summer smiled. “Wow, you actually get it.”
    Logan’s mouth quirked, and Max beamed, showing his beautiful white teeth. God, she’d never get enough of those boyish grins.
    “Can you look around and see if anything is missing,” asked Connors. “Don’t touch anything. If you need something moved, let me do it for you.”
    She nodded and headed straight to the kitchen, but she didn’t need Connors’ help. “My laptop’s missin’ from the table.” Lucky for her, she had all her research backed up on a thumb drive in her purse. “The thing is seven years old, so they either didn’t know what they were stealin’ or they didn’t care.” She looked through the rest of her stuff in the living room, but as far as she could tell, everything or pieces of everything was accounted for, though the items were taking up space on the frayed carpet instead of in their orderly spots.
    Twenty minutes later, she and Connors went to her bedroom, which was clearly where the worst of the violation took place. The crime techs still snapped photos and took samples. Her clothes were scattered about the room.
    “Can you pick up everything and see if I have anything left to wear?” On a normal day, she would be embarrassed at the cheapness of her clothes, but she was way past normal.
    Connors sent her a weak smile of pity even though she clearly was high on his suspect list. But she didn’t have a motive for killing the ladies. What motive did the Prestons have?
    The only thing she was certain of was that all three were each other’s alibi, putting them in the same pot in the detectives’ minds.
    Ten minutes later, it was obvious she only had the clothes on her back. Hell, even her white all-purpose underwear was nothing but tattered strips of cloth. She didn’t have the funds to buy seven days’ worth of clothes. Even if she had money, her favorite thrift store didn’t open until tomorrow.
    But something was missing in here. Letting her gaze sweep the room again, she gasped as realization punched her in the gut. “Detective, the black dress, black high-heeled pumps, and the underwear I wore at the gala are gone.” No doubt taken by a sexual pervert.
    “The outfit you were wearing in the picture of you in the paper?”
    She nodded. Summer followed the detective back into her living room. “Will I be able to move back in today, or is this still considered a crime scene?”
    Bates opened his mouth, but Max cut him off. “You’re not staying here. You can stay with us, or we’ll put you up in a secure hotel.”
    Summer wanted to get angry, defy his commanding comments, but she was out of options and out of fight.
    “Detective Connors says the creep destroyed all your clothes. We need to go shopping,” said Logan.
    Somehow, she didn’t think Logan was talking about a trip to the local Target.
    Logan glanced around and then back at her. “What do you need to take with you?”
    Summer knew he didn’t see anything worth taking, and he was right. “I just need my books from the kitchen table.” Her apartment was a testament to her impoverished life.
     

Chapter Six
     
    “Don’t worry about how much it costs,” said Logan.
    The three of them sat in the back of the limo, and it was well past nine. Summer was tired, somewhat upset, but Logan couldn’t tell if her mood was because of her stalker or because she didn’t accept gifts gracefully. She was so independent; it was enough to