Page 41 of Deception

“No!” I nudge her in the ribs. “I just mean the importance of family. Sticking together, especially when you are on the run.”

I can hear Adriano's voice in the back of my head shouting for me to shut the fuck up, that I’m going to slip up and tell her too much.

She takes my explanation in stride and our attention drifts back to the movie.

I find myself drawn towards her. The warmth of her body.

Maybe it's the snow outside. Maybe it's been so long since I've been intimate with anyone.

But I find myself relaxing around her and her presence.

At the same time, every fiber of my body is extremely aware of exactly how close she is to me.

She leans in closer about halfway through, resting against my arm.

“I always wanted to be a detective, you now? Like Poirot.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Just like my father.” It’s offhanded, distracted. Until she realizes what she said, throwing me a look like she slipped up.

The hairs on the back of my neck shoot up, a warning. Why would she be nervous to tell me that?

Unless …

“My family’s been in law enforcement for as far back as I know. So I always thought I would too.”

“Like an obligation?” I ask, not wanting to give away my suspicions, and not wanting her to stop sharing with me.

“To honor them.”

“I know what you mean. I went into my family business, too. Not that I had much choice,” I admit.

“Mine was a choice. And the fact that my mother forbade it…” Her brow furrows for just a second. “Oh, I love this part!”

And just like that she’s back to her snappy, controlled self, the vulnerability and hesitance gone.

I let it lie for a few moments before I scoot a little closer, adjusting in my seat.

“You know, you're clever enough to be a detective.”

“Oh, am I now?”

“Too clever. I’ll bet you could even guess my favorite movie.”

“I noticed you still didn’t tell me.”

“So?”

“Hmm. I suppose I should list the clues…”

“Indeed, detective.”

“Well, you're secretive,” she says and my eyes narrow at her.

“Your family is very important to you.”

“True.”

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