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expression.
Then her head whipped toward him, puffy eyes widening at his presence in
the bathroom, and her beauty punched him in the gut like an iron fist.
Although her shoulders sagged under the weight of whatever had upset her,
she somehow retained the stubborn set to her chin, the challenge in her eyes.
It humbled him, seeing her like this.
As Derek turned to close the door, he took a moment to gather his scattered
thoughts, then moved toward her. When he stood directly in front of Ginger,
they watched each other for one long, silent moment before her face
crumpled. Without hesitation, he came forward and put his arms around her,
holding her tight as she shook. To his utter shock, she wrapped her slight arms
around his neck and pulled him closer, sobbing brokenly into his neck.
In Derek s line of work, it was difficult to avoid crying females. They were
frequently present at crime scenes. Mothers, wives, daughters of the deceased.
He d hardened himself against it long ago. He wouldn t be able to perform his
job otherwise. But every so often, a loved one reached a deeply hidden part of
him. A child who d lost her father, unusually stoic, watching the coroner drive
away. A mother, days after her son s murder, still refusing to accept his death.
If such tragedies ever left him completely untouched, it would be time to retire.
But as Derek watched himself holding Ginger in the mirror over the sink, her
smaller, trembling body engulfed by his naked arms and chest, he felt the
furthest thing from unaffected. Every sob or shudder that moved through her
robbed him of breath. Derek wanted to decimate her sadness and anything
causing it. Feeling powerless, he rubbed circles on her back with one hand.
 I m not good at this, she mumbled against his neck. He barely heard her
over the drone of the still-running shower.
 Good at what, baby?
Ginger pulled away, wiping her tears away with shaking hands. He let her go,
even though he wanted to crush her back to his chest.
 Everything. Being responsible for my sister. Making decisions for us.
 Listen, Ginger, what I said earlier about you taking Willa out in the cold 
 No. No, that s not it. But it s one example. She took a deep, fortifying
breath.  That ceiling would have crushed me to death tonight. Five seconds
later, I d have been a goner and that would ve left Willa completely alone in a
strange city. Oh God, what was I thinking?
Certain he d gone white at her revelation about the ceiling, Derek did his best
to talk around the giant knot in his throat.  You couldn t have known the
ceiling was going to fall, Ginger.
She shook her head.  You don t understand.
 Help me, then.
 Coming to Chicago was my decision. She scrubbed a hand over her face.  I
thought we would be better here. Willa would have more opportunities. But, oh
God, I m in completely over my head, aren t I? I don t know how to repair a
flooded apartment or cook a decent potpie or even talk to my sister about
what s bothering her. I m not qualified for any of it.
He stroked her hair out of her face.  Listen to me. You ve had a long night so
everything seems a little worse than it really is. You and Willa weren t hurt. The
rest of it you ll handle, because you don t have a choice. Chicago or some other
town, the same problems will follow you.
Ginger choked on a disbelieving laugh.  Jesus. Your bedside manner needs
serious work.
 Sorry, but how bad can someone really fuck up a chicken potpie? I m sure
yours are fine.
Laughter bubbled from her throat.  I can t believe I actually feel better after
that locker room pep talk. But gee, thanks coach. I guess I ll get back out on
the field and show them whose house it is.
 I like a woman who can make a decent sports reference.
 Then get used to disappointment because my career in sports references
just peaked at one.
Sighing heavily, she slid off the counter, careful not to touch him.  So, it
appears we ve well and truly blurred the lines tonight.
 What do you mean?
 We were working our way up to something, I m not sure what. But here we
are, roommates, and that paints everything in a different light.
His eyebrow quirked up.  Make an attempt to be clear, please.
 I mean we can t sleep together now. If we did, you d never know if I
consented merely because I was grateful for your help. And I ll always wonder
if you only invited us to stay to score points and get me into the sack.
 Ginger, are you sure the ceiling didn t hit you on the head tonight?
Her face showed disapproval.  Now, Lieutenant, it s impolite to discuss my
recent upset.
He gave her a look.
 There s only one way redefine the lines and put us back on equal footing.
I m going to pay you rent until we get back into our apartment. That way, we ll
never have to wonder.
 Ginger.
 Wait. I have two rules. No more detectives coming into Sensation and
getting in my hair. I ve never needed a babysitter before and I sure don t need
ten of them now.
God, this woman exasperated him. She stood a foot away from him wearing a
transparent T-shirt and panties, oblivious to the danger she was in of being
dragged to the floor and fucked into submission, giving him rules.
 And the second rule?
 Huh?
 You said there were two rules.
She appeared to be deep in thought.  Oh, right. The most important one. No
sex until I m back in my apartment.
He barked out a laugh.  Baby, I m not sure I can make it five more minutes.
Ginger s mouth dropped open, her wide eyes dropping briefly to the bulge [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]