“Are you okay?” he asked. “Do you feel safe?”

I smiled. “I’m fine. Deputy Miller checked the house and I set the alarm. I just need to take Muffy out.”

“Wait until I come home and I’ll take her out.”

That seemed counterproductive considering someone wanted Mason dead—not me—but I wasn’t going to argue the point. “Come home to me safe, Mason.”

“I will.” His voice lowered. “This afternoon I found out I have a meeting I can’t miss late tomorrow. I’m not sure if going to my uncle’s cabin this weekend is going to work out.”

He would be even less likely to want to leave town once I told him everything I’d discovered. But I didn’t want to get into any of it on the phone. “We can talk about it later. Okay?”

“Sounds good. See you in a bit.”

I checked the alarm and made a cup of tea. I figured I could read in bed while I waited for Mason. But I soon dozed off.

I woke up to Mason snuggling against my back, his arm wrapped around my stomach as he nuzzled my neck.

“You’re home,” I murmured, trying to rouse myself awake.

“I missed you,” he whispered, his breath warm against my cheek.

I rolled over and wrapped my arm around his neck, my mouth finding his in the dark.

“I’m exhausted,” he murmured against my lips. “But if you continue to kiss me like that, I’m bound to make a recovery.”

I could feel the proof of his recovery against my leg. “I do love a challenge.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

I woke up the next morning to the sound of a door squeaking. Mason stood in front of the open closet, his hair wet, pulling out a shirt. He was already wearing a pair of dress pants.

“You’re up,” I said lazily. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

He slipped his arms into his shirt, his gaze on me. “You were sleeping so soundly. I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“You have to go in early?”

“Yeah. I have a meeting at the sheriff’s office.”

I stretched, accidentally pulling the covers to my waist. The cold air hit my bare skin, making me shiver. I was about to reach for the covers when I noticed he was grinning at me.

“I do love to see you naked in our bed.”

“Come join me.” I kicked the covers all the way off and lifted my arms over my head as I faked another stretch.

He abandoned buttoning his dress shirt and pulled a tie out of the closet before he walked to the edge of the bed and sat down. Leaning over, he kissed me passionately and fondled my breasts, then lifted his head to give me an ornery grin.

“What was that?” I asked, coming to my senses.

“I’ve hardly seen you the last couple of days. I don’t want you to forget about me today.”

I laughed as I sat up and fastened his last two buttons. “I think you’re safe.”

He wrapped an arm around my back and pulled me to his chest to kiss me again. I was beginning to have second thoughts about buttoning him up.

He lifted his head, grinning again.

“And what was that?” I teased.

“To give me something to think about during my morning meeting.”

I took his tie and looped it around his neck. “What’s your meeting about?” I asked, expecting him to give me a vague answer about Fenton County business.

“The murders from yesterday.”

I started to knot his tie. “Deputy Miller said it was gruesome.”

He cringed. “I wish he hadn’t told you that. You have enough to worry about without hearing about a horrific double homicide.”

“I’m fine.” I slipped the knot to the base of his throat and smoothed out a wrinkle on his chest. “He didn’t give me any details.”

“Good. I’m sure I’ll have nightmares for weeks after what I saw.”

I shivered and his arms tightened around my back, pulling me to his chest again. “Be careful today. Joe thinks it might be tied to Skeeter Malcolm.”

I jerked away as a cold chill washed through me. “What?”

“Scott Humphrey was a known adversary of Malcolm’s. It looks like Humphrey and Marcus Tilton, one of his cronies, were tortured in an abandoned barn south of town.”

I closed my eyes. I didn’t know Marcus Tilton, but I’d questioned Humphrey a few days ago. Had I gotten him killed? Would Skeeter have tortured him to get his answers?

“Rose?” His hand brushed my cheek and I opened my eyes to see worry on his face. “Are you okay? You’re as white as our sheets and you’re shaking.”

I forced a smile. “I’m sorry I’m bein’ such a baby. It’s just hard to imagine something like that happening in Fenton County.”

“Thankfully, it’s pretty rare, but Joe is determined to find out who did this and get them off the streets.”

I nodded, but I was lightheaded. “Thank goodness.”

“Rose, you’re more shaken up about this than I expected.” Understanding lit up his eyes. “Are you scared because of our encounter with Malcolm back in December?”

I shook my head. “No. Of course not.” Mason and I had seen Skeeter while we were out for breakfast. Skeeter had tormented Mason by paying attention to me, which had in turn caused Mason to panic that I was in harm’s way. “Why would I be concerned? I’m nothing to Skeeter Malcolm.”