Page 29 of Solanum

"Don't fucking say that shit." I grabbed a pillow and tossed it at her where it hit her rear before tumbling to the floor. "You look fine."

"I don't want to look fine. I want to look pretty." She huffed at me and grabbed her makeup bag from the bathroom sink to toss in her purse. "I'll put it on in the car."

"You don't need makeup to look pretty. You're already pretty."

"Says you. The woman who looks hot just while breathing."

I snorted, rolling my eyes so hard they nearly strained my face. "Get real." I glanced at my watch. "We better go."

"I'm starving," she said as we hurried back into the living room.

"Let's get McDonald's on the way in."

She let out a dramatic moan. "Best suggestion ever."

"Such theatrics." I popped her on the rear when she turned around to lock the door once we made it into the hall.

Her cheeks burned bright red when the gesture flustered her. We'd shared actions like that countless times over the years, but now, our frame of reference changed for sure.

"You okay?" I asked, my brow furrowing. "You're all red."

"Um…yeah." She gulped. "Hot flash or something."

I laughed at her and shoved her shoulder. "Weirdo. Onward to the fast food."

"'Kay." She smiled and followed me down the hall toward the elevator.

My hand fell to the small of her back when the doors opened to us, and I glanced at her. She smiled at me, though not a shy one anymore. Something else lingered behind her soft gaze, and it made stepping into the day feel much more interesting.

***

"Did you know Wilkinson asked me to interview Detective James first thing tomorrow? A full reenactment." Nora drew in a breath while leaning against the counter in my kitchen. "Anita's not sure she can handle it."

I rinsed out a few dishes in the sink before loading them into the dishwasher. "I heard. That little noob called Miller broke open the case."

"I know. Think they'll take him down?"

"No." I turned off the water and dried off my hands. "I don't, honestly. I think he'll take them down."

"Don't say that…"

"It's bad enough Miller fits his preferred signature, Nor. Allowing them to go forward without federal support was a mistake," I said, stepping in front of her now. "But we're in it now."

"Yeah." She gulped, then closed the space between us, her stomach pressed against mine.

"What are you doing?" I asked, cocking a brow at her.

"Looking at you."

I smirked and surveyed her face, folding my arms over my chest.

"We have a few hours before we need to head to Grays Harbor…" She gnawed her bottom lip as if contemplating something.

"Hmm. Do we?" I dropped my arms to slip my hands around her middle.

"Why don't you let me kiss you?" she asked, lifting to her tiptoes.

"Because," I said, grabbing her hips and tugging her firmly against me. "You're not my girlfriend."

---