Page 44 of Bonded in Death

“Ah now, that’s lovely, isn’t it? Send it to me, will you? It lifts the day.”

“Did you have a hard one?”

“I didn’t, no. But it’s clear you did. So you’ll share that with me over dinner, and we’ll do what comes next.”

“I love you. So much.”

“A ghrá.” He drew her in again, kissed the top of her head. “You’re a rainbow to me, even in a shitty mood.”

He made her laugh, then she squeezed him tight. “I’ll never understand that. I don’t need to. Tons of fries. What goes with tons of fries?”

He tapped the shallow dent in her chin. “I’d say your mood requires red meat. We’ll have a steak.”

“Now, that sounds like the right choice. I’ll get it. You haven’t even had time to take a breath. You can feed the cat.”

“I’ll do that, and while we’re at it, you can start with the happy, and Nadine.”

More than fair, Eve thought as they moved into the little kitchen.

“Quilla’s doing a report or project on Homicide. She did one on EDD.”

“You told me, and you’d had a moment and agreed to let her do the same in Homicide.”

“Yeah, a moment. So she’s there, and Nadine’s there, and I wanted to see if Nadine had anyone going at her about me. The card.”

“I follow.”

She programmed the meal while he fed the cat, who acted as if he hadn’t eaten in days.

“Then she’s about this moving-in business. And all jumpy and weird. Worrying about screwing it up. I told her I screw up all the time.”

She looked over at him. “You’re not disagreeing with that. I don’t get: ‘No, darling Eve, that’s nonsense. You’re just perfect’?”

“For me, you are. But you will screw up, won’t you? I’ve been known to do the same myself.”

“Damn right. Anyway, she’s stupid in love with him, and I think that’sgood because Jake’s solid. He’s not an asshole, and he gets her. I did the friend thing. There are rules.”

“Of course there are. You must have them.”

“I must have them,” she agreed, and set the plates on the table. “Rossi had rules.”

Nodding, Roarke brought side salads—she’d never think of that—and a basket of bread. “Tell me about him.”

So she did, what she believed, what she’d learned from his widow, his son, even from Peabody’s interview with his former supervisor.

“So what you see is a good man, a loyal friend, a family man who led a secret life.”

“In a nutshell. Why is it a nutshell?”

“They’re compact.”

She considered, nodded. Cut a bite of steak to go with her French fry mountain.

“Okay. He had a number of old injuries. DeWinter can pinpoint dates there. They’re not going to be from wiping out on his scooter.”

“I agree with you. Why you? I’d like that question answered.”

“I think, from what we have, he wants someone he thinks is good, but he’s better.”

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