She returned the kiss, and he felt the tightness in her lips vanish. The kiss intensified as he pulled her closer. Savanna’s fingers drifted down his stomach, tracing the narrow strip of hair below his navel.

Cole kissed his way down her chin and over her neck. He opened two snaps on her shirt, allowing his tongue the freedom to traverse the freckled skin between her breasts. His mouth crept over the fabric of her bra until his lips discovered the stiffness of her nipple.

Savannah leaned her head back, surrendering. She opened another button at his fly and moved her hand inside. She took hold of him and stroked him slowly. Growing harder with her every thrust, Cole brought her down onto the mattress and parted her legs with his own. Kneeling above her, he took his time unfastening the buttons of her jeans. The denim parted to reveal the yellow lace band of her panties. As he moved up to kiss her again, Savannah raised her hips and slid her jeans farther down. She expelled a quiet moan as Cole pressed himself firmly against the rise between her legs.

Then they heard a knock at the front door.

Cole shot to his feet.

Savannah launched upward from the mattress. The movement brought a stabbing pain to her ribs where she had struck the dresser the night before. The pain stole her breath as she hurriedly closed the snaps of her shirt.

The knock at the door became a pounding fist.

Savannah started to speak, but Cole placed a finger to his lips and motioned for her to stay in the room. He buttoned his jeans, threw on a sweatshirt, and rushed out, closing the door behind him.

Savannah stood and finished dressing, her head spinning. She rubbed old mascara out of her eyes and fought to shake the tingles that had seized her entire body moments before.

The pounding on the front door ceased.

Her curiosity was luring her toward the door, but she forced herself to follow Cole’s instruction and wait.

Her eyes moved back to the window. Rain had washed away most of the blood, but not all of it. She stepped over and peered between the cracks in the glass. There was no sign of Coodles in the yard, but what she did see was no less alarming—Curtis’s squad car parked behind the Honda.

No sooner had she seen it than the sheriff’s raised voice brought her back around. Curiosity took over. She moved to the door, opened it slowly, and crept into the hallway. She heard Curtis stomp a boot on the wooden deck outside.

“No more crap, Logan! I need to know what you know!”

“I’m telling you, Curtis, I don’t know shit. I’ve been asleep all night. I only woke up when I heard you knocking.”