Brandon watched her, wishing he could skip out on his workday and spend time with her. It was Friday, and for the first time in weeks, he wasn’t on call all weekend. He had a shit-ton to do, though, starting with trying to persuade his lieutenant that his missing-person case needed to be upgraded to a homicide, ASAP. His lieutenant didn’t want to put more detectives on it until and unless a body turned up or the lab work came back from the blood in the woods showing a match with the blood in Vanessa’s car. And the lab work was dragging because the case wasn’t a homicide. It was a catch-22 that he’d dealt with before. Meanwhile, the precious, never-to-be-recovered early days of the investigation were ticking by. So if and when the case ever did become a homicide, the trail would likely be stone cold.

Leigh leaned forward, and he caught her scent again, the same tantalizing scent he’d gotten a nose full of last night when he’d kissed her hair.

Why he’d done that, he had no idea.

Except that he did. Leigh got to him. And not just her looks—it was everything about her, from her pushy attitude to her stubborn refusal to butt out of his case. She’d come to her door last night with her hair all disheveled and her sexy bare feet, and all the fantasies Brandon had been trying to ignore for days had come flooding back. And when she’d stood on her patio and looked up at him with those watery green eyes, he hadn’t been able to resist touching her.

“You seem upset,” she said now.

“Yeah, well.” He raked his hand through his hair. “It’s been one of those days.”

She made a face. “The day’s barely started.”

He checked his watch.

“Look, I know you need to go.” She scooted her chair back. “So do I.”

They stood up, and he grabbed the coffee she’d bought him that he didn’t really want.

“Stay alert,” he said.

“I will.”

“Put your phone away and think about situational awareness.”

“I will.” She shouldered her purse.

“If you notice a black pickup again—”

“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll definitely call you.”

*   *   *

Leigh checked her surroundings as she neared her office. No loiterers. No suspicious black truck. She passed a yellow Mini Cooper and watched in her rearview mirror as it turned the corner. Much to her relief, Leigh found a free space in front, saving her from having to circle the block.

She got out and stood beside her car for a moment. Dread filled her stomach as she surveyed the building, which looked deceptively peaceful. Sunlight glinted off the dormer windows. The flower boxes brimmed with petunias. The freshly cut lawn was green and dewy from the sprinklers.