Ash tucked the paper bag with the note in the pocket of the coat he was still wearing. “We’re just going to have a little chat.”
She slammed her fists on her hips, glaring at him with a smoldering frustration.
“Ash. Dammit. If you get yourself hurt, I’ll . . .” She didn’t finish the sentence. Either because she didn’t know an appropriately awful threat or because she simply couldn’t bear the thought of him being hurt.
Without thought, he leaned forward and brushed his lips over her mouth.
“I love you too,” he murmured.
He felt her stiffen in shock and he slowly lifted his head to study her pale face. He wasn’t sure if he meant the words teasingly or from the depths of his soul.
Maybe both.
As disturbed as Remi by his impulsive words, Ash turned to leave the kitchen through the back door. Not only was he in a hurry to get away from Remi before she could remind him that they were no longer a couple, but he had an idea of how he could ensure an opportunity to do more than just ask a few questions.
Five minutes later, he was knocking on Doug’s door. The porch light flicked on, and he saw the man peeking through the curtain. He disappeared from view and Ash waited for him to pull open the door. And waited. And waited.
The wind swirled and tugged at Ash’s coat, the chill slicing through him like a knife. He felt as if his toes had frozen into ice cubes by the time the door swung inward and Doug glowered at him.
“Yeah?”
The man was wearing a wrinkled gray sweat suit that emphasized his paunch. His hair was mussed and the potent scent of whiskey wafted through the air. Gone was the neat and tidy man from that morning. Also gone was his affable smile.
“Ash Marcel,” Ash said, holding out his hand. Not because he was overly polite. He just wanted to feel whether Doug’s fingers were cold from recently being outside. “We met earlier.”
Doug grudgingly clasped his hand for a brief shake. His skin was warm. It was possible he’d been wearing gloves, of course, but Ash was starting to doubt that Doug had been the one peering through the window.
Still, he had every intention of checking out his house while he was there.
“It’s late,” Doug complained.
“Sorry to bother you.” Ash stepped forward, using his larger frame to force the man backward so he could enter the foyer. It was a technique he’d perfected while he was a detective. “But there was someone sneaking around Remi’s house.”
Doug stiffened, an expression of outrage rippling over his face. “Are you accusing me?”
The man’s defensive manner was way too aggressive. Which meant he had something to hide. “You?” Ash offered a faux smile of confusion. “Why would I accuse you?”
Doug’s anger faltered and he flushed as he realized that he’d overreacted.
“Why else would you be pounding on my door?”
“I was too late to get a good look at the perp, but I chased him around the house and into your backyard. I think he might have gone into your shed.”
“Impossible. I keep it locked.”
Ash hid his smile. It wasn’t locked. At least not after Ash had given the flimsy door a sharp shove with his shoulder.
“Okay.” Ash gave a casual shrug. “I just wanted to make sure the creep didn’t manage to steal anything.”
Doug’s lips flattened. He was no doubt thinking about his new lawn mower stored in the shed, along with whatever tools he might own.
“Damn,” he finally muttered in defeat. “I’ll check it out.”
Ash took another step forward, able to see around the edge of the foyer into a small living room. There was a couch, a low coffee table, and a TV hung on the wall. That was it. Hard to believe anyone would have a home more barren than his own, but there it was.
He turned his attention back to Doug. “I’ll go with you, if you want.”
“No, you can leave.”
“Are you sure?” Ash tried to appear sympathetic. “My whole family is in law enforcement. One call and I can have a patrol car here ASAP.”
Doug didn’t look reassured. He looked pissed. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Okay. Have a good night.”
Ash turned toward the door and took a couple of steps forward. At the same time, he could hear the sound of Doug hurrying toward the back of the house.
He paused, waiting until he heard the sound of a screen door slamming shut to be sure Doug was outside. Then, knowing he’d only have a couple of minutes, he turned to jog toward a nearby hallway. Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he touched the screen. The light was dim, but it was all he dared to use.
Entering the first room he found, he didn’t have to do any searching. It was a spare bedroom with a set of twin beds and nothing else. He peered into the bathroom before entering the last room. It was clearly the one Doug was using. There was a bed that hadn’t been made in days. Maybe weeks. A pile of clothes on the floor and a few clean ones hanging in the closet. There was a dresser filled with underwear and T-shirts, except for the bottom drawer that was stuffed with porn magazines.
Ash shook his head as he jogged back up the hallway. Most men used the computer for porn. Doug was either old-fashioned or afraid that his online use was being monitored. Perhaps by an angry ex-wife who was looking for a way to keep his daughters from him.
The kitchen was as barren as the rest of the house, but as Ash entered the dining room, he abruptly realized why Doug had been reluctant to let him in.
Muttering a curse, he moved across the carpet toward the telescope that was set on a tripod and arranged next to the window. He didn’t have to look through the eyepiece to know that it wasn’t being used to study the stars. It was pointed directly at Remi’s bedroom window.
Fury pounded through him as he ripped the expensive telescope off the tripod and slammed it against the ground. There was the sound of glass breaking, but he wasn’t satisfied. He stomped on it until the outer casing was shattered and spread across the carpet. Only when he was certain it was busted beyond repair did he turn and storm out of the dining room.
He met Doug, who was entering from the back door. The man jerked to a halt, his eyes widening as he took in the sight of Ash. “What the hell are you still doing in my house?”
Ash folded his arms over his chest. “I wanted to offer you a warning.”
“More imaginary thieves sneaking around my house?”
Ash ignored the taunt. “I’m afraid your telescope is broken.”
Doug’s eyes bugged out before he was trying to cover his ass. “What telescope?”
Ash curled his lips in disgust. “The one you’ve been using to spy on Remi.”
“What? That’s a lie.” Doug clenched his hands into fists, trying to meet Ash glare for glare. Less than a minute ticked past before he was lowering his head to stare at his feet. “You can’t prove anything,” he muttered.
Ash snorted. Doug would be a fool if he ever tried to embezzle funds from his bank. He was a terrible liar.
Unless he was pretending to be a terrible liar in the hope of throwing Ash off his trail . . .
He shook his head. Right now, he was focused on the crime he’d caught Doug committing red-handed. “I don’t need to prove anything; I know exactly what you’ve been doing.”