Angus remained on his side, his eyes shut as Nari quietly found her clothing and escaped to the other room to get dressed. Morning light streamed into the room beneath the cheap blinds, while her cinnamon scent hovered all around. His body began to awaken again. He’d learned every inch of her the night before, and now he only wanted her more. A part of him, one he didn’t much like, wanted to let her sneak away quietly.

Instead, he rolled from the bed and yanked on a pair of jeans from the floor. He padded barefoot to the doorway and stopped as he heard her speaking softly.

“I’m going to miss you so much.” Her voice was muffled.

He sighed and walked into his barren living room to see her somewhat dressed, sitting on the floor with her face buried in Roscoe’s furry neck.

The dog looked up at him, his ears perked and his eyes intelligent.

Was he judging Angus? Angus frowned at the mutt and Roscoe’s tongue rolled out.

Nari leaned back and scratched his neck with both hands. “It’s okay, boy.” Then she stiffened and looked over her shoulder. “Oh. Um, hi.”

It wasn’t fair that she should look so damn appealing in wrinkled clothes with no makeup on her face. She looked edible, despite the obvious whisker burn down her neck and over part of her jaw. “Hi,” he rumbled.

Her gaze ran down his bare chest to his unbuttoned jeans and she blushed a light peach. “I was just leaving.”

“I can see that.” He held out a hand to help her up, fighting every instinct he had to keep from tossing her over his shoulder and returning to the bed.

The dog whined.

“Knock it off,” Angus muttered. It looked like Nari was already having a tough time saying goodbye to the mutt. She turned and edged away from him, plastering a fake smile on her face. He sighed. “I’d offer to make you breakfast, but I don’t have anything but dog food here. Should we talk about last night?”

She lifted her chin. “What is there to talk about?”

Good question. They’d set the perimeters the night before, and he had to let her go. This was the last time she could be seen with him, because he was going after whoever had killed those two women, Lassiter or not. “I guess this is goodbye.” The idea hurt more than he would’ve expected. Even if the circumstances were different, he wasn’t relationship material. Not even close. “I’m sorry.”

She ducked for her jacket on the floor, quickly donning it and covering her wrinkled silk shirt. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. Last night was our one night.” Her smile came more naturally this time. “I enjoyed myself and so did you.”

Yeah, he had. “You deserve more.” The words were out before he could stop himself.