Page 64 of The Murder Between Us
Maybe he shouldn’t have asked. Katie had been so upset, so certain he was pushing her away in favor of Cole, and what was he doing now? This was supposed to betheirdinner. Stupid, he was stupid. This wasn’t smart at all. Of course she wouldn’t tell him not to bring Cole. She was too nice to do that.Never mind. Let’s keep it you and me. I’m sorry.
Dad, stop. You told me to tell you the truth. I did. I DO want to get to know him. Getting to know him more means I get to know YOU more.
Another text, almost immediately.Don’t push me out of your life. Please.
You’ll never be pushed out of my life, K-Bear. Ever. I swear.
Okay then it’s decided. Both of you pick me up? The library closes in twenty minutes.
He checked his watch. With traffic, he could get there in thirty, if they left now.You sure? Really?
Stop acting like a teen girl, Dad. :)
He laughed.Thanks. You know, I’m the luckiest dad in the whole world. I have you.His throat clenched.
I’m gonna remember this the next time you tell me to pick up my shoes and put away my bag for the seventy zillionth time. Free pass for life on putting away my shoes for finding your dad with his BF??She sent a smiley with a halo over its head.
Fat chance, missy. Chores are chores. Learning responsibility is important.
Eye-roll emoji.Maybe put the lessons on responsibility on hold for 24 hours after I catch you with a hickey…
He flushed.Be there in thirty minutes, K-Bear.
Love you Daddy.
He sent her a heart emoji as he left this office. Cole was in the conference room, working one end of the table while Jacob kept up his grind through the files at the other.
“Jacob, go home.” Noah slouched in the doorframe, shoulder against the wood. “Go see Holly and Brianna. That will all be here in the morning.”
“I can go another hour or two. It’s no problem. I feel like I’m close to finding more connections.”
“Yeah, that’s what the gamblers in Vegas say. They’re always close.”
Cole coughed. Noah flushed.Vegas on the mind. Always on the mind.
Jacob grinned. He stretched, his huge arms rising over his head and nearly hitting the lights, even though he was seated. “You have a good time in Vegas? I never asked when you got back, with everything. I know it was cut short, but you had most of the week there.”
“Conference was good.”
Jacob’s eyes glittered. “See any… sights?”
“You ever been to the conference?” Jacob shook his head. “They make you scan in every morning. If you’re late, or hungover, they send you home. It’s not really a conference where you can see the sights.”
“You didn’t have any fun in Vegas? Not even a little bit?” Jacob held out his fingers showing an inch’s width.
Cole was staring at his own files, the spread-out papers on the three most recent crime scenes. He didn’t look up. His ears and the back of his neck were burgundy.
“I had one really good night,” Noah admitted. “Best I ever had, in fact.”
Jacob reared back. He beamed, his arms thrown over his head like he’d just made a touchdown. “Excellent!”
Cole looked up at Noah. Surprise warred with adoration on his face.
Jacob’s gaze slid from Noah to Cole.
“Got plans for dinner?” Noah asked Cole.
It took Cole a moment to answer. He cleared his throat, blinked. “Pizza in my hotel room, probably.”
