Part 16 (1/2)

She was cleaning out and rubbing his wounds gently but, after a few moments, Jack clenched his teeth tightly together and balled his hands into fists.

”Congratulations on solving your first case,” he said with some effort.

”Shut up.” Replacement rubbed a little harder. ”That sucked.”

”Look, if his wife had paid someone else to look into it, it may have turned out differently. Trust me, his wife will be a lot better off knowing.”

”I did all that for free.” She pouted.

”You're not taking any money?” Jack asked.

Of course she wouldn't take it.

”No way. She's sick and he's was.h.i.+ng dishes; how can I?”

”Maybe they'll refer you?” Jack grinned, but it quickly faded. ”You need to be careful following people.”

”It was easy. I just waited and drove over to where he was.”

Jack leaned back as he stuck his face under the water. ”How did you know where he was?”

”GPS.”

”GPS? That's not going to do you any good unless... DID YOU PUT A GPS DEVICE ON HIS CAR?”

Replacement straightened up as she shrugged. ”Where else would I put it?”

”Are you out of your mind? It's illegal. You can't do that. Where the h.e.l.l did you get it?”

”Online. I won it in an auction.”

Jack spun around so fast he almost fell. ”You used my credit card. Is that thing in my name? d.a.m.n it, kid. Great. Just great.”

”Relax. I always use a throwaway account and get a different card when I'm doing anything online. The FBI couldn't trace it back to you.”

Interesting choice of words.

”You can't put a GPS device on someone's car without a court order.”

”They do it all the time.” She grinned, and the water running down her face detoured into her dimple.

”On TV. That's not real. In reality, you go to prison for that.”

She put her hands behind her head as she twisted back and forth. ”I'll be more careful.”

If you didn't look so stinking cute I'd... d.a.m.n.

Jack turned back to the wall, so Replacement washed his cuts again. After a few more minutes of wincing and gritting his teeth, he grumbled, ”Okay. I'm good.”

”It's almost there.” She continued to rinse and clean it. ”Put it under the water and I'll look at your leg.”

”My leg?”

”It's cut, too. Face the wall.”

Jack turned around as Replacement knelt down.

”Put your leg back,” she commanded.

As she pulled the cut apart, Jack snarled and fought back a string of profanities that flew through his mind.

”Enough. Enough with all of this. You're always walking in and seeing me half-naked in the shower. Why? It's just too weird.”

”It's not weird.” Replacement scrunched up her face, leaned her head back under the water, and grinned. ”You're smoking hot. It would be weird if I didn't want to see you naked.”

She stood back up. Jack looked down at her. His soaking wet T-s.h.i.+rt clung to her body and showed every curve. He stared as the water ran down her neck and traveled down her chest. Jack always worried about how much he let instincts guide him, but right now he didn't care. Something deep inside him wanted to let go and run with it.

He surged forward. One hand snaked around her waist while the other slid up the back of her neck. Her arms fluttered at her sides as he pulled her into him and kissed her. She offered no resistance as his lips glided over hers. He pressed his mouth against hers until he felt her relax. His kisses softened, but his grip tightened and he pulled her closer.

She moaned softly as he kissed her. His hand slid lower until he cupped her b.u.m. The warm water splashed off her skin and then ran down her face. Jack felt his hand tremble as he realized how much he wanted to be with her right now.

Replacement wrapped her arms around his shoulder and kissed him with a pa.s.sion she'd repressed for years. Her fingers entwined in his hair while Jack inhaled her hot breath. Both of his hands slid down the curves of her body until they rested on her hips. He reached for the hem of the s.h.i.+rt and started to raise it up. He felt her breath catch, and then her hand touched his arm. Jack opened his eyes to see Replacement gazing up at him, breathing heavily. He could see the desire in her eyes, but something else was there, too.

She's going to say stop.

She stiffened.

”No, no, no,” Jack whispered as he turned his kisses into quick little pecks, which headed toward her neck once more. Her eyes fluttered and closed. She reached behind her and turned the water off. Jack slumped. Blinking, he straightened up and brushed his hair back. Replacement jumped out of the shower and grabbed a towel.

”I'm sorry.” She clutched the towel to her as she pressed her legs together. ”I want to, I really do, but...it wouldn't be right...now.” She bit her lower lip as she looked him up and down.

Jack turned his hand out and tried to smile. ”It's right. Now is good.”

Replacement took a step toward him and then ran out of the bathroom.

d.a.m.n.

Jack glared at the closed door.

Perfect.

If she didn't have that la.s.so...

Jack's bedroom door slowly opened until he saw Replacement's head appear.

”Not tonight,” Jack grumbled as he continued to look at the ceiling.

”Can we talk?” She walked to the edge of the bed.

”No. I'm just starting to calm down, and I don't want you messing with my head anymore.”