Page 2 of Sinful Deception

“You’re gonna be out of a job if you don’t stop Fifi-blocking me.” I bring my coffee up and take a smiling sip. “Family relations count for nothing at work, and you’re not promised a job simply because we share matching jewelry.”

“Make the call.” She reaches into the cupboard and takes down a to-go coffee cup, then lifting her freshly filled mug, she pours the contents inside and quickly works to wipe up the spilled excess before it dribbles off the counter and onto the floor. “Not my circus, Boss. Keep reopening those old wounds. I’m sure everything will be fine.”

“It will be.” But I’m done discussing the matter with her, so I turn to Archer and lean back just far enough to search his eyes. “Active cases?”

“Wealwayshave something going on, but Fletch and I closed the Merren homicide on Friday, so we’re free and clear until something fresh rolls in. I’ll take a look at some unsolved files until Lieutenant Fabian tosses something our way.” He leans in and presses a smiling kiss to the dimple on my cheek. “You?”

“Same. I’ll work through pending files and see what I can close out. Then we’ll have rounds. Doctor Patten will have stacked a bunch of bodies for us overnight. That’s my job unless, and until, you call us with something new.”

“It almost sounds like you prefer the bodies that are still warm,” Cato mocks. “Little Miss Justice-Matters prefers fresh death over old paperwork. Charming.”

“Shut up, Mafia Boy. You’re still in school. Let the grownups speak.”

Wide-eyed, he looks to Mia for sympathy. “Do you see how mean she is to me? Did you ever hear such disrespect?”

“She’snevermean to me!” Laughing, she bounces the ball and swipes it closer when Cato fakes an attempt to steal it. “She saves her mean for you. And Daddy. And Uncle Archer, too!”

“She saves plenty for me.” Grabbing my jaw, Archer spins me around and stares down into my eyes. “It’s our wedding anniversary next month. Wanna go to Jamaica?”

“Good lord.” I turn out of his arms and escape his grip before he convinces me to takeanothervacation. In the midst of a freezing winter. Then I head to the couch and sit on the edge so I can slide my feet into my shoes and bend to fix the buckles. “We’re not celebrating two anniversaries every year, are we? Remembering one is already going to be an issue.”

“We have a winter anniversary. And a summer anniversary. I hardly think that’s excessive.”

“Never mind the fact the first anniversary is also on his birthday,” Aubree quips. “Should we add reminders to your phone so you don’t forget your husband’s day of birth, Chief?”

“What did I say about getting fired?”

She zips her lips in an instant, blushing and hiding behind her mug. So I shake my head and work on my shoes, one-handed.

“We can ignore the February anniversary and give that day back to you,” I huff. “And we can keep thesummeranniversary where we actually celebrate.”

“Or we can keep both,” he counters playfully. “Because I like to celebrate you all the time.”

Aubree forgets her vow of silence, poking a finger into her mouth instead and gagging. “He’s too sweet for you, Mayet. It’s like Gomez Addams married Dolores Umbridge.”

“I don’t…” Clueless, I glance up and look from her to Archer. “Who?”

“Forget it,” he chuckles, pushing away from the counter and crossing our tiny apartment. He kneels in front of me, settinghis coffee on the table beside a beaming Mia, then works on my second shoe and fixes the buckle with gentle hands. “If I’m Gomez, you’re Morticia. Don’t worry about Dolores.”

“Who the hell is Dolores?”

“His sidepiece,” Cato taunts. “But don’t worry, he saves his affections for you.” He makes a goofy face for Mia. “You want me to take you to school today, McStinkerson? I’m heading that way.”

“My name is Mia! Not McStinkerson.”

“This is way too much noise and far too many people for this hour of the day.”

“Drink your coffee.” Archer finishes with my shoe and places his fingers beneath my mug, gently guiding it higher. “Caffeine will make you happier. Don’t worry about birthday or anniversary stuff yet. It’s a long way out.”

“You’re the one who brought it up!”

“That was my mistake.” He moves to his feet but remains crouched, resting his free hand on my thigh and looking up into my eyes. He’s so handsome. So perfect, despite my glaring flaws. His eyes are emeralds, far more valuable than the stone-encrusted charm he gifted me on our wedding day. But his smile… that’s what he gives me. Daily. His love. His acceptance. “Take it easy today, okay? There’s no need to run head-first into this week when you have an entire staff to delegate out first.”

“I like working with the bodies.” I cup his stubbled jaw and thrill in the way he leans into it, exactly how cats lean in to their owner’s touch. “I especially like working them with you. So if you catch a case…”

He kisses my wrist. “I’ll call my favorite medical examiner team.” Finally, he pops tall and looks at Fletch. “Ready to go? We have a mountain of paperwork to get through before Fabian sends us back on to the street.”

“Yep.” He chugs whatever is left of his coffee, then turns and sets the empty cup in the sink. “You sure you’re good with Mia, Cato?”

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