The weather was clear and a bit warmer on Monday, a nice respite from the constant wind they’d had. Boone waved good-bye to the last of his customers around four, then glanced at the sky. He had time for a swim in Superior before darkness fell, and the lack of wind might make the experience a little more fun. After locking the office door behind him, he started for his cabin but paused when Dana’s blue Prius pulled into the parking lot.
He waited for her to reach him. She wore a lighter coat today with no hood, and her light-brown curls glowed in the late-afternoon sun. “You just getting off work?”
She nodded. “I should have called, but it was a gorgeous day and I thought I’d drive out and see if you wanted to go for a hike. I’ve been cooped up all day and felt like doing something strenuous.”
Would she be game? “I’ve got a better idea. Come with me.”
She fell into step beside him. “What do you have in mind?”
“Swimming.”
“You have an indoor pool?”
“I’ve got something better.” He gestured to the deep-blue lake. “Superior.”
She stopped and shook her head. “No way, big guy. You have to be crazy if you think you’re going swimming in forty-degree water.”
“I do it all the time. The benefits of cold thermogenesis are well known. It will be good for you. I’ve got a wetsuit that will fit you, and we’ll only go in for a little while since it’s your first time. You’ll jump out of there feeling like you just won a marathon.”
“I’ll jump out the minute I put one toe in it.”
He took her arm and turned her toward his cabin. “I take it that means yes you’ll give it a try?”
She chewed on her lip, then sighed. “It’s not a good thing for a relationship when a man can talk a woman into something that extreme.”
Relationship. Did that mean she had feelings for him? He kept reliving that moment she kissed him and had come to no firm conclusion. When she’d actually touched his scar, he hadn’t known how to react. No one had put a finger on that ugly ridge other than himself when shaving, yet she’d caressed it like it was the most attractive thing about him. He hadn’t been able to forget it.
He opened the door to the cabin, then steered her toward his bedroom. “There are wetsuits hanging in the closet. You’ll need a small. I’ll change in the bathroom and meet you in a few minutes.” Before she could back out, he retreated and closed the door behind him.
His wetsuit was hanging by the wood stove. It had dried overnight, so he carried it to the bathroom and tugged it on. He’d need to find her a hoodie, shoes, and gloves. How many women would do something like this? Renee had but not many would. He’d wanted to talk to Dana about that kiss ever since it happened, but he was afraid she’d say it was just a whim, that she only thought of him as a friend.
That kiss had been much more than friendship.
He yanked on his cap, then went to rummage in the storage chest for the rest of her equipment. The bedroom door creaked, and she stepped out in the wetsuit. His mouth went dry. He knew he was staring, but he couldn’t help it. Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea. She wasn’t one for tight jeans and tops, but the neoprene suit showed off her curves and long legs.
“I look like I’m a cat burglar.” She tugged on the sleeve of the suit. “All I need is a mask and I could steal the crown jewels.”
“I’ve got the hat right here.” He held it out.
Her smile faltered as her gaze locked with his. Her lips parted a bit as she stared up at him. He should make the first move this time. He took one step in her direction, but his cell phone rang and it broke the magic of the moment.
He snatched it from the coffee table and glanced at the screen. “It’s Detective Morgan.” He answered the call on the third ring. “Boone Carter.”
“Mr. Carter, I told you I’d let you know if I had any news. There’s a couple of things going on here. I checked with DMV to see if I could get hold of any photos of Leland or Dixon. Neither had a driver’s license.”
Boone inhaled. “Fake names.”
“It appears so. And I had Gwen Marcey do a composite as part of the class she taught here on Friday. I faxed it up to the detective in charge of the Rogerson case. He remembered interviewing Faith’s fiancé and said it looked like it might be Justin Leyland. He couldn’t say for sure since composites aren’t exactly pictures, but he was certain enough to say he believes there’s a 90 percent likelihood that we’re dealing with the same killer.”
Goose bumps ran up Boone’s spine. “So Allyson was right. There’s a serial killer out there.”
“Well, a budding one anyway. A serial killer is defined as someone who kills at least three people with at least a month of cooling off between murders. These murders were a year apart.”
“What about Allyson? She makes number three.”
“True, though she was never engaged to the creep. Her killing was likely more out of fear.”
“But he drowned her,” Boone reminded the detective.
“And that’s reason enough to call in the FBI. Thanks for the tip on this. We might have a chance at stopping him now that we know he’s operating out there. I’ll have the Feds cross-check against the database for any other murders with a similar MO.”
“Thanks for calling, Detective. Please let me know if you hear anything else.”
“You got it.”
Boone tossed his phone onto the sofa and told Dana what the detective had learned. “So at least they have a rough description. With the FBI on the case too, we have a better chance of finding him.”
“Good news for sure. I say we get dressed and go have pizza to celebrate.”
He tugged the cap onto her head, then began to tuck in the curls. “You’d throw away all the hard work of getting that thing on for pizza?” Her hair was as soft as bunny fur, and he wanted to linger with his fingers in those springy curls.
“You’re right. That was about the hardest thing I’ve done. Besides, if I do this, I’ll have bragging rights to being the toughest one on the dispatcher team.”
He reluctantly dropped his hands back to his sides. “Stay in for ten minutes, and I’ll spring for squeaky cheese.”
“Now you’re talking my language.” She tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow, and they went toward the door.
Instead of heading to Rock Harbor, Boone had driven to Houghton to Pilgrim River Steakhouse, a place Dana had only heard about. The food had been amazing, and the moon glimmering on the treetops on the trip home had made it feel like a fairytale night. She didn’t want it to end.
Boone parked his truck beside her Prius in the parking lot and shut it off. “I’m almost too full to move.”
“Me too.” She touched her curls, which were still a bit damp. “I think my hair is nearly defrosted.”
His laughing scoff was soft. “Come on, you loved it. Admit it.”
“It was the longest ten minutes of my life, but worth every moment with a meal like that.” She shifted in her seat and released her seat belt. “But I will say my skin still tingles from the cold water. I’m sure it was good for my circulation.”
“I think you should do it several times a week. It’s good practice.”
“For falling overboard in the winter?” She could sit here for hours and just banter and talk with him. Had she ever been this relaxed with anyone? He made her feel she could let down her guard and totally be herself with him. That he liked everything about her and wouldn’t judge her. Her hair and clothes had never been perfect enough for Garret.
“You never know.” His seat belt clicked as he unbuckled it.
She didn’t want to get out of the truck. “Did the detective say what his next move was?”
“Just calling in the FBI. I’d like to do something myself, but I don’t know what it might be. The FBI will be taking it over, and I doubt they’ll be as tolerant of my pushing and questions as Morgan has been.”
“Have you heard anything from Mason on getting into Allyson’s files?”
“Not yet. He mentioned that the diver didn’t find anything under the ice though. And there wasn’t anything strange in her phone records.”
“Maybe you and I can monkey with the files a bit. We could give it a try after my martial arts lesson on Wednesday.”
“I don’t know how far we’ll get, but I’d like you to come over. I like having you around.” His voice went husky at the end.
She licked suddenly dry lips as he slid toward her on the bench seat. His arm went around her and gently tugged her closer to him. Closing her eyes, she inhaled his clean, masculine scent as she tipped her head under his chin. They sat like that in companionable silence for several long moments. Dana almost didn’t want to breathe in case it upset the contentment she felt.
His fingers found her chin and tipped it up just before his lips swooped down on hers. She curled the fingers of her right hand around the zipper of his jacket to drew him closer. Too soon he lifted his head, and she made a small mewl of protest and pulled him back for another kiss. He chuckled and tugged her onto his lap, then kissed her until she was breathless.
“We can’t stay in the truck and neck all night.” His words were a soft growl at her nape.
She ran her palm down the scars on his cheek and stared into his eyes. “Are you sure? I’m game if you are.”
“What am I going to do with you? You’re way too tempting to resist.”
“You could try falling in love with me,” she whispered. Her hand flew to her mouth. Did she say the words aloud? “I’m sorry, that was a stupid thing to say.” She tried to scramble from his lap, but he held her cradled in his arms while she died inside. How could she say something like that?
He pressed his lips against the side of her head. “I didn’t think I’d ever love anyone again, but you’re making me doubt the truth of that. I’m willing to see where this relationship goes if you are.”
Was he just saying that because she’d been so bold? Her eyes burned. “You don’t need to pity me.”
He stiffened. “Who said anything about pity? If anything, I’m the one who should wonder if your attention is because you’re sorry for me because no other woman would look at me.”
She managed to scoot off his lap. “You’re an idiot! Any woman would want you, but you think this scar,” she touched it, “disfigures you. It doesn’t at all. I think you’re incredibly handsome, but more than that, you’re good. You make me want to be better, to care more about other people, to make more of a difference.”
“You’re already doing that, honey.” The outrage went out of his voice. “Look, let’s start this over. You want to explore the relationship, yes or no?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Shew, you had me scared for a minute.” He cupped both her cheeks in his palms, then leaned forward for one more brief kiss. “We’re friends first as we figure out where this might lead. Okay?”
“Okay.” Her chest felt like it might burst with the spurt of joy and disbelief that filled it. “Bree won’t be surprised.”
“I know. She said something to me about it the other day and told me I’d better not hurt you.”
“What’d you say?”
“I told her it wasn’t me she had to worry about. That I was more afraid of you trampling on my heart.”
She put her palm against his chest and felt his heart pounding against it even through his coat. “I’d never do that.”
“We’ll see. I’m willing to risk it if you are.”