Free The Problem with Paddy (Shrew & Company) by Holley Trent

rat again.
    “Dana, sweetheart, I can smell your sweat. Chill out.” He yawned and the mattress sank a bit as he rolled onto his side, facing her, given now she could feel his breath tickling her waist.
    “You’ve got to understand where I’m coming from.”
    “I’ll never understand where you’re coming from. I haven’t been in your shoes. I’m not going to pretend I know what you’ve been through. I just want you to get that I know it’s hard for you to open up. I’m not going to take anything personally that isn’t meant to be an insult.”
    “You can tell the difference? Most people can’t.”
    “I’ll learn it.”
    And just like that, he’d committed. What kind of shit is this? Men aren’t that easy.
    She let him stroke the side of her leg for a moment, then swung her other leg over the edge of the bed. “Shit, I need to find out where Sarah is.”
    He put an arm around her waist and pulled, ineffectually, then sighed. He sounded way too tired, given his occupation. He should have been raring to go for another few hours at least.
    “All right. I’ll keep the bed warm.”
    There was something in his voice she didn’t like. It was rough, and not from the sexy brogue that’d been making her private parts clench all evening, but as if he were in pain or had been drugged somehow.
    She’d been told she was a good shag before, but not that good. But, he’d said he was all right, so she stood.
    She slipped around the bed, patted the floor in search of clothing, and stood again with his shirt. She pulled it over her head and carefully made her way to the kitchen, somehow managing not to stub her toes in the dark before switching lights on.
    Her phone was in her blazer pocket, and when she plucked it out, there was one missed call, one missed message.
    She queued it up.
    “ Hey, Boss lady. It’s Sarah checking in. Believe it or not, I’m at a payphone out in Macon County . Shit, hold on. Some guy is staring at me from his truck. ”
    Dana looked at the clock. It was barely eleven and Sarah had left the message at ten. She must have ignored every single traffic law to get out there that fast. Or maybe…
    “ Sorry about that. I’m back. Yeah, I took my dad’s plane. Don’t get mad. Flight instructor said I needed some night hours, so he came out with me. He has family in the area, and they loaned me a car. Listen, I’ve already picked up some leads and I’m going to go check them out. Give me a call and let me know where to meet you. I’m going to move out of this area and should have cellular connectivity again soon. If I don’t, I’ll find another payphone and check my messages that way. Bye. ”
    Dana shook her head in awe. Leads already. When it came to picking up trails, even cold ones, Sarah was better than anyone…even Dana. She would have made a great cop, and it helped that she knew so many people, thanks to her last gig.
    Dana dialed Sarah’s number and when the voicemail prompt ended, relayed directions to the cabin. She stood, and decided to keep her phone on her just in case.
    There was cold water in the refrigerator, so she helped herself to a bottle, and on second thought returned to fetch a second. In the bedroom she patted the nightstand, found the lamp base, and eased her hand up until she found the switch. She clicked it.
    “Patrick, I brought you some—” She dropped the bottles and climbed onto the bed, shaking him.
    “Patrick!”
    He’d thrown the covers aside and his naked skin had acquired a sheen of sweat in the few minutes she’d been away. Dark circles hung beneath his closed eyes and his cheeks, formerly pink and healthy now stretched drained and white over his bones.
    He didn’t respond, only moaned.
    She straddled him, clamping him by the shoulders and shaking hard. “Patrick O’Dwyer, you answer me, now .”
    His skin was so hot to her touch. It was as if he’d been laying out in the sun for hours and his body was now reflecting all those rays back at