H: A Time for Healing

Chapter 36

(The next morning in Miami)

Horatio picked up his coffee and went to his study. It was barely 5:30 a.m., and he'd been awake since 4:00. The thought of going in to the Lab and possibly ruffling feathers of the night shift team held little appeal, so instead he had laid there, staring at the ceiling, wondering how he was going to approach Jo when he arrived in Minnesota. Memories of their last Saturday evening together washed over him.

While Jo was enjoying a hot shower, Horatio stretched out on the bed, a Forensics Journal in his hands. Fifteen minutes later he couldn't recall more than five words from the article he had just read. Instead, his mind seemed set on listening to the shower running, while images of Jo rinsing the soap from her long tresses teased him. When he felt he could stand it no longer, Horatio set his book aside, intending to knock on the bathroom door and offer his help. Before he could put his plan in motion, the shower became silent. The sounds of the dark-furred shepherd snoring softy in the hallway mingled with the muffled movements of Jo finishing up. Horatio was sitting on the bed, when Jo walked into his bedroom several minutes later, her skin and hair fragrant with coconut and lime from her shower and shampoo. He remained quiet, enjoying the sight of her wearing nothing but a thick terry towel, ending mid-thigh and tucked in the hollow between her breasts. Her dewy skin glowed in the low light of the single reading lamp beside the bed and Horatio found himself holding his breath as he imagined what might happen were he to slip his fingers into the knot of her towel and slowly undo it.
"Did you enjoy your shower Josie?" Judging by the startled expression on her face, Jo hadn't expected to see him until after she had dressed.

Jo yawned and opened the wooden screen door that led into the attached garage. Roxie bolted out, her nails digging into Jo's feet bared in her flip-flop style slippers. Grimacing, she followed Jezebel into the chilly morning air and clicked open the metal screen door leading to the backyard. The metal rattled loudly as Roxie hurtled past it, intent on chasing the early morning squirrels visiting the backyard feeders. The coffeemaker was beeping when she got back inside, signaling that her coffee was ready to be poured into her waiting mug. Standing at the sink, Jo watched the two dogs out the window, but she her mind was miles away in Miami. Since Kieran's suggestion that Horatio attend their Career Day at school, the red-haired lieutenant had never been far from her mind. And he had made several appearances in her dreams these last few nights as well, she reflected with a small smile.

"Can I help you with anything, Josie?" Horatio's husky voice startled her and Jo almost dropped the bottle of coconut scented lotion she pulled from her overnight bag.
"Horatio! I … didn't see you there. I'm sorry. I'll just get these things from my bag and change in the other room." She gathered up the t-shirt and her unmentionables, turning quickly when she heard him move to the side of the bed.
"No worries, Josie," he answered huskily. "I don't mind." For a long moment they regarded each other, blue eyes meeting blue eyes. Jo felt her face grow warm as she felt his gaze travel over her from head to toe, almost as tangible as a caress.
"Would you like me to lotion your back?" he finally asked softly, the sexy timbre of his voice sending shivers zinging along her skin. The clothes slipped through her fingers, slithering into a silken pile at her feet. With a small nod of his head, he beckoned her to join him on the bed.

Mutely she offered the bottle of scented lotion, obeying his instruction to sit down in front of him. At the first touch of his warm hands on her skin, Jo closed her eyes. His touch was warm and gentle, caressing her shoulders and arms as the heady scent of coconut surrounded them. Horatio's breath was warm on her neck when he leaned closer, moving the heavy curtain of hair aside from where it had escaped the clip on top of her head.
'Or did he let it loose?' she wondered fuzzily. As his hands traveled over her shoulders to stroke some of the creamy lotion across the smooth skin bared by the towel, Jo was sure he must feel her trembling beneath his sure touch. When one of his fingers slipped between the shadowy hollow and loosened the knot of her towel, she put her hand up to cover his.

The familiar log in screen appeared on Horatio's tablet, and he set his coffee down before entering his password. As the screens changed and loaded, he picked up his cup, taking another disinterested sip. The house was quiet, almost too quiet, he thought. He had gotten used to the sound of water being lapped noisily from a bowl and the comforting click-clack of nails on the floor as Jez trotted by or the skittering sound made by Roxie. Maybe Kyle was right, he thought, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the list of emails. A dog would be company, if he could find the right one. Surprised that he was even contemplating such an idea had him shaking his head as if to rid it of the thought, but then he stopped in surprise as his eyes fell across a familiar looking name in his Inbox - Jo Allen. Surprised that she would choose his work email as a way of contacting him, Horatio found himself hesitating before tapping the screen. He frowned when he saw that there was no subject. As soon as he began to read, he understood why.

Dear Mr. Horatio,
How are you? Is it hot in Miami? Have you been catching a lot of bad guys?
We are having a Career Day at school. May we please ask you to consider coming to Minnesota for Career Day? It is in 2 weeks at our school. We can show you how to get there if you stop at our house in the morning to pick us up in your Hummer. That would be so cool! Make sure you bring warm clothes – it is very cold here. It is winter. You will need boots, gloves, a hat and warm jacket. And maybe snow pants if you want to go sledding or snowboarding.
Liam said you wouldn't want to do that, but I like snowboarding and could show you how. Kieran.
Let us know please if you can come to our Career Day. We have to let our teachers know who is coming by next Monday.
Sincerely,
Liam and Kieran

P.S. I think Aunt Jo will let you stay at our house when you come to Minnesota. We will clean our room and you can sleep in there and we can sleep in the living room in our tent. Roxie is staying with us, but we will make sure she has lots of toys to chew up so she doesn't ruin any more of your stuff.

Horatio read the email several more times, a smile creasing his face. Jo's nephews seemed to share some of her directness when going after something. The youngsters may unwittingly have provided him a means to contact Jo when he arrived in Minnesota, Horatio thought. Setting his coffee cup on the desk, he sat down and began to compose a carefully worded reply, wondering if the boys had figured out a way to receive his reply without involving their aunt.

"May I?" Horatio asked huskily, his fingers stroking Jo's soft skin. She leaned against him, her damp hair rubbing against his bare chest as she nodded.
"Tell me if you want me to stop, Josie," he said softly. Again her hair rubbed against his chest as she shook her head no. He felt her hand leave his to travel up his arm and slip around his neck. As she tilted her head to one side to allow his wandering lips to nibble her earlobe, Horatio became aware of her other hand stroking his cotton-knit covered thigh.
He carefully undid the towel, pushing the damp terry away from her skin. Horatio didn't miss the shudder that ran through her at the touch of his hands against her soft curves.
"Sweetheart, you're shivering," he murmured. "We need to get you out of this damp towel."
"What are you suggesting, sir?" Jo asked, turning into his arms. Horatio felt her hands slide up his chest, her slim fingers tangling in the silky mat of hair.

"Why the long face, Harmon?" Lieutenant Allen watched as the young soldier peeled the label off the bottle of water he was turning in his hands, his chocolate chip cookie sat untouched on the table before him. "I'd guess you would be looking forward to leaving this sand trap and heading back to Miami."

"I am looking forward to going home, Lieutenant." Kyle's blue eyes looked troubled. "My dad won't be in Miami though, so I suppose I'll visit my mother, hang out with some friends. I was … really hoping to spend time with him though. He's seemed a little, … down I guess, since Jo moved back to Minnesota." After a glance at the older man's face, Kyle asked quietly,
"Do you know what happened Lieutenant? I can't find out anything from Dad. He won't tell me anything and it's not that I'm being nosy," Kyle added hurriedly. "I worry about him, that's all."

Looking around the crowded eating area, Jasper finished his coffee.
"Let's take a walk Harmon."

TBC