Love Can Be Murder

eyes? Or just convincing?
    "Did something happen?"
    She took a deep breath and told him about Jimmy Scaggs waiting for her, and what she'd found when she had entered her apartment, She showed him the little car and explained its connection to the doll. B.J. held the toy by two fingers. Too late, Penny realized she had probably obliterated any fingerprints.
    "Jimmy is that woodsman of yours?" he asked.
    "Right."
    "Did you call the police?"
    "No."
    "Why not?"
    She hesitated, then exhaled noisily. "Because I...don't want the police to question Jimmy."
    His eyebrows climbed. "Why not?"
    "Because Jimmy saw me...do something I'd rather the police not know about."
    B.J. crossed his arms. "I'm listening."
    She closed her eyes briefly. "I might have tried to kill Sheena."
    His eyebrows flew up again. "Excuse me?"
    "It was an accident. Well, I meant to do it, but—"
    "What did you do?"
    "I pushed her off the sidewalk in front of a car."
    He pressed his lips together. She couldn't tell if he was smiling or grimacing. "And when was this?"
    "Friday."
    "Friday, the day your ex-husband was murdered, you pushed his girlfriend in front of a car?"
    She winced and nodded.
    "And what precipitated this, um, push?"
    "She told me that she and Deke were engaged...among other things."
    "Ah. And what makes you think she didn't tell the police what you did?"
    She lifted her chin. "Because...I threatened to tell Deke I saw you at the house."
    He frowned. "Me?"
    "Remember? I saw you at the house Friday morning. I assumed you were lovers and that she didn't want Deke to know."
    His frown deepened. "No—I told you, it was the first time I'd met her."
    She wet her lips. "Then why were you there? What was the dead end lead?"
    "The Reynolds girl liked to tan, so I stopped by the tanning salon in the square to show her picture, and the kid working there told me the owner lived down the street. I thought I'd check with her."
    Penny squinted. "From what I saw, she seemed angry."
    "She was angry, but damned if I know why. Said she'd never seen the girl and how dare I disturb her at home, then she practically slammed the door in my face."
    "So why wouldn't she want Deke to know you'd been there?"
    He shrugged. "Maybe he was a jealous guy."
    She started to deny it but bit her tongue—just because Deke wasn’t jealous where she was concerned didn't mean he wasn't jealous where his mistress was concerned.
    B.J. pulled his hand down his face. "Do you think this Scaggs guy could have murdered your ex?"
    Penny grimaced. "I don't know why he would."
    "Maybe he has a crush on you, and he thought Deke had treated you badly."
    She recalled Jimmy comparing Deke to a polecat. "It just seems so—"
    "Crazy? Look around. Everyone in this town is a little cuckoo."
    "I beg your pardon?"
    He gave a little smile and leaned in close. "Sorry—except for you, of course."
    His nearness made the breath catch in her lungs. If standing next to him fully clothed could make her body do such crazy things, what would it be like to have sex with this man?
    He pulled her to him slowly, as if he expected her to resist. But she didn't, lifting her mouth to his for a long overdue exploration of what he felt like, tasted like. He slanted his mouth over hers and flicked his tongue over her teeth, moaning as he delved deeper and slid her body against his. She sank into his arms, her senses electrified as his erection grew against her stomach. She slipped her hands beneath his T-shirt and ran her fingers over the expanse of his back. When he cupped her bottom and pulled her against his erection, an age-old tug on her womb answered, setting off warning signals in her brain. Slow down...proceed with caution...bumpy road ahead.
    She wrenched her mouth from his and stepped back, breathing hard. She brought the back of her hand to her mouth and swallowed. His eyes were hooded, his lips parted, his body in an obvious state of arousal.
    "I...can't," she said.
    "But you want to," he said bluntly.
    "It doesn't matter," she said, then turned away. "I'm in trouble...big trouble. I have too many things going on in my life for another complication." She drew in a cleansing breath. "I need for you to concentrate." She lifted her gaze to his, and he blinked, as if she'd slapped him.
    "Okay," he said, pulling on his chin. "No problem." He cleared his throat and straightened. "If the Scaggs guy comes around again, call the police—or call me, understand?"
    She nodded, still trying to regain her