Page 48 of Homebody
Tessa pushed the chair back from the desk and reached for her cell phone. Hitting the button to check the time she saw instead all the notifications.
Two texts plus a missed call and a voicemail had come in while she’d had the phone set on silent and face down on the desk. All from Dean.
He couldn’t reach her so he’d come looking. This man was definitely hero material.
Her heart speeding, she headed toward the door just as he knocked. Flinging the door open wide, she grinned and said, “I got a job!”
His lips twitched. “So I see. And how do you like it?” he asked.
“So far so good. Gabe’s been good company.” Tessa took a step back and gestured for Dean to come inside.
Dean lifted one dark brow as his gaze hit on the naked cadaver under clear plastic on the table.
“Yes, I’ve heard all about Gabe.” He shook his head before he pulled his gaze away from the body. “I can’t believe you’re okay working alongside… him.”
“Honestly, I forgot all about him being here once I got into the files. Dean, your friend Liam is a genius.”
“Is he? I wasn’t aware.” Dean leaned back against the cabinets and countertop along the wall and folded his arms. Keeping his eyes on her, he said, “You’ll be happy to know Liam’s pretty impressed with you too.”
“He is?” She couldn’t control the smile.
“Yeah. He is.” Dean scowled and Tessa’s smile grew.
Dean was jealous. And she was enjoying it. “I can be done here for the night, if you wanted to do something.”
Was that flirty? Was she flirting? More importantly, was it working?
Dean pushed himself off the counter and took a step closer. “Actually, that’s why I was looking for you. I have a surprise for you.”
“A surprise?” Her eyes widened.
“You’re not one of those people who hates surprises, are you?” he asked.
“Depends on the surprise, I guess.” She eyed him as she gathered up the pages of notes she’d taken while there and took a step toward the door. “Is it agoodsurprise?”
“I think so but you’ll have to judge for yourself. You ready to go?”
“I am.”
“Then let’s go.” He grinned and led her to the car… where he made her close her eyes for the duration of the drive, which luckily was a short one.
“We’re here,” Dean finally announced. “You can open your eyes now.”
“We’re at my apartment,” Tessa observed.
“Yes we are. Come on.” He got out of the car and she scrambled out her side.
She followed Dean up the walk. He paused at her door, waiting for her to unlock it. Confused, she did, wishing once again she had a nicer apartment if Dean was going to insist on surprising her in it.
With the door unlocked, she pushed it open and turned to ask, “Now what?”
“Go on in,” he said, physically turning her around with a hand on each shoulder.
Her breath caught in her throat. “You got me a sofa. And a coffee table?” She spun to face him.
“I did. Don’t be too impressed. Both pieces are used.”
“I don’t care.” She rushed inside and bounced onto a seat cushion. “It’s not plastic.”
