Flashback by Jill Shalvis Page A

closed. “But I’m not feeling as bad as I probably look.”
    Her face was relaxed now; and he realized it hadn’t been before—not on Blake’s boat, not when she’d crawled in bed with him, not even when he’d stripped her out of his shirt and proceeded to make her scream.
    That he’d undone her so easily didn’t stroke his ego. She’d undone him just the same. It’d always been like that for them, a virtual explosion of need and lust and hunger.
    But he’d attributed much of that to being young and horny. He hadn’t anticipated a resurgence of those feelings, And he doubted she had either. But that’s exactly what they’d gotten.
    With a sigh, she slid out of his arms and off the bed. He enjoyed the view as she walked to the bathroom, but when she shut the door, his smile faded. She needed sustenance, and a bandage change. Getting up, he pulled on his jeans and went into the kitchen, where he grabbed a pan and eggs and went to work getting them both some protein so that they could go back to bed and burn it all off again.
    His doorbell rang and Aidan stopped dicing peppers long enough to sign the clipboard of a pudgy guy in brown shorts, who handed him a slim package.
    When he heard the shower go off, he finished the eggs and then grabbed his first-aid bag and knocked on the door. “Bandages, aspirin and breakfast. And your package from L.A. is here.”
    â€œPerfect timing—I’ve got to run.”
    â€œYou mean back to Los Angeles?”
    The door opened and steam came out. As did Kenzie wrapped in another of his towels. “Not back. Not yet.”
    The towel was tucked between her breasts, which pushed them up and nearly out, a fact he’d have taken the time to thoroughly enjoy except for the nasty bruise arcing along her left collar bone. “You need rest.”
    â€œI need clothes.” She moved past him and into his bedroom. “Can I borrow a pair of sweats?”
    â€œSure.” He opened his dresser and handed the clothes over.
    â€œThanks. I’ve really got to go.”
    She was going to go snoop. Get in Tommy’s way. Get herself arrested. “Kenzie, listen to me. You need to stay out of the investigation. The chief doesn’t want you digging—”
    â€œI don’t work for him. He can’t tell me what to do.”
    â€œIf you stay—”
    â€œNo. Thank you, but, no.”
    Usually in the light of day, with a woman in his bedroom, he was the one who had to go. Usually.
    Okay, always.
    It felt odd to have the shoe on the other foot. Especially given the magnitude of what they’d shared last night, and he wasn’t alone in feeling it, dammit. He knew he wasn’t.
    But Kenzie moved carefully away from him, slowly, as if still in pain, but with conviction. She was set on going, leaving him with a disconcerted feeling in his gut.
    Was this how he’d made women feel? Like they’d already been forgotten? “Let’s change your bandages—”
    â€œI can do it on my own.”
    Seemed she was used to doing stuff on her own. That was new.
    So was his unsettledness over the way this was going down.
    â€œYeah,” she said at his quiet surprise. “I’m not the same helpless little thing I used to be.”
    â€œI never thought you were helpless.”
    â€œWell, I was. But I’ve grown up. I’ve changed. In many ways. And I don’t need anyone’s help. For anything.”
    He arched an eyebrow. “You needed me when we—”
    â€œNo. Well, yes, yes, I needed you to save me from the fire, but—”
    â€œThat’s not what I was talking about.” He pointed to his bed.
    â€œOh, no. That was just me, breaking your heart. I warned you, remember.”
    Bullshit. That hadn’t been just revenge. “Kenzie.”
    â€œSorry. Got to go. Have to go.” Once again she dropped her towel, which had the same