Slow Burn

Chapter Twenty

Dylan called nate to fill him in on Kate's plans to drive to Savannah.

"I like the idea of getting her out of Silver Springs," Dylan told him, "even if it is just for a day or two, especially since it was a spur-of-the-moment decision and very few people know about it, but…"

"The letter coming out of the blue."

"Yes," Dylan said. "Kate and her sisters have never heard of this relative, so I've got to wonder, why now?"

"I'll check him out and let you know what I find. Make sure you keep me apprised of what you're doing. I'll call Chief Drummond to tell him you'll be by his office first thing in the morning. It's his jurisdiction, and as for the legal ramifications, you won't only be on loan from Boston PD, you'll be under his command."

"That's going to be an interesting change. What about the FBI?"

"I'll let the agent running the show know where you're going."

"You don't know who's in charge?"

"I've narrowed it down to three candidates, but it looks like this guy Kline from the Georgia field office is taking over."

It was apparent Nate had an attitude toward the FBI. Dylan couldn't blame him. No detective liked being squeezed out of his own investigation.

Kate sat on the front hall stairs and waited for Dylan to finish his phone call. She was so exhausted she could barely keep her eyes open.

He checked the door locks once again and picked up his garment bag. "What are you doing?" he asked.

She finished yawning before she answered. "Waiting to show you where the guest room is."

"You look wiped out. Didn't you get much sleep last night?"

"I was in the hospital last night."

"Ah, Kate, that's right. You should be in bed."

She led him up the stairs to the guest room. It was the first door on the right and directly across from her room. She opened the door and stepped back so he could go inside. "You'll have your own bathroom. It's-"

"I'll find it. Night."

He shut the door in her face.

She stood there for several seconds staring at the door trying to figure out what had just happened. He hadn't been rude or angry. In fact, he'd been smiling.

She suddenly felt very foolish. She'd been expecting him to try to kiss her good night, but that apparently was the last thing on his mind.

She went into her room and closed the door. All right then. Her "that was then, this is now" explanation had obviously gotten through to him. And that's exactly what she wanted, wasn't it? So how come she was feeling so disgruntled? And come to think of it, how come he hadn't argued at all when she'd told him it was fine and dandy to move on? Not a single word of protest had he uttered.

She couldn't stop thinking about his behavior while she brushed her teeth and got ready for bed. Women were like fish in the sea, and Dylan was such a playboy he would always have a new catch.

Kate tried to muster up some disgust over his sexual conquests but couldn't quite manage it. So she tried anger. Dylan was an arrogant jerk. How dare he show up on her doorstep without warning. Who did he think he was? Walking in and taking over like that.

She had to admit, however, she did feel safer with him in the house-and the way he talked to Isabel about safety had made an impact. After he had come down hard on all of them because of their lackadaisical attitude about security, his focus had turned to Kate's younger sister. When he was finished with her, Isabel knew everything there was to know about dead bolts, and then some. She wouldn't be walking anywhere on campus without looking over her shoulder or being aware of her surroundings. He had been very candid with her, and yet he hadn't scared her. Kate had watched as Isabel sat transfixed by Dylan's calm instructions.

He'd actually been very sweet. He had no business being sweet. How was she ever going to keep this relationship platonic and forget about him when he went back to Boston if he continued to do caring things for her and her sisters?

Why oh why did she go to bed with him? That had been a huge mistake, and then what had she done to top that? She'd given him the "It means nothing to me and I'm sure nothing to you, so move along" speech.

She got into bed and pulled the sheet up. And how had he responded? She was a dream come true. That's what he'd said all right.

"Great," she whispered. "I'm a frickin' dream come true."