Page 32 of Girl Between
“What’s my one rule?” Cadie interrupted.
“No work talk during wedding festivities,” Neville parroted with chagrin.
“That’s right. Now let’s go make the rounds,” Cadie said, leading her fiancé away. “It was nice to meet you, Dr. Gray,” she called over her shoulder.
“See ya ‘round the water cooler!” Neville added as he was dragged away.
Once they were alone, Dana turned to George. “Why is everyone calling me Dr. FBI?”
“What? You don’t like the nickname?”
“I’ve been called worse,” Dana replied, her unpopular monikerwitch doctorcoming to mind. “But that’s not the point. Why does Neville think I’m working the case with you?”
“I may have mentioned that an FBI consultant was offering assistance.”
“On authenticating your mask,” she clarified. “I’m not FBI, and I’m not working the case.”
George flashed that infuriating dimpled smile again and shrugged. “We’ll see. Come on, let’s eat.”
32
George stood back,a smirk of awe permanently plastered to his face as he watched Dana Gray effortlessly charm his family. She’d won over his sisters when she’d replied to their gossip in Creole. And now, she had every NOPD officer in attendance eating out of the palm of her hand.
Well, almost everyone.
Officer LaSalle was grilling Dana, currently testing her knowledge of local folklore and legends. In George’s opinion, she passed with flying colors, but as usual, LaSalle continued to prod, asking questions about Dana’s past cases.
“Have you been following the Reaper proceedings in D.C.?” LaSalle asked.
Dana’s jaw ticked almost imperceptibly. “No.”
“Really? You worked that case, didn’t you?” LaSalle pressed.
Dana’s knuckles whitened around her beer bottle. Noting the tension, George stepped in. “Alright, LaSalle. This is a party, not an interrogation.”
The young officer shrugged. “I was just curious. You don’t mind, do you, Dr. Gray?”
Dana shook her head, but her body language said otherwise. Looking at George, she asked, “Is there any of that stew left?”
He laughed. “It’s called gumbo, and there’s plenty,” he said, placing a hand on her lower back to usher her away from LaSalle.
“Sorry about LaSalle,” George said. “She’s one of the best officers we have, but she comes on a bit strong.”
“It’s fine,” Dana said, passing George her beer so her hands were free to fill another bowl with gumbo.
“A little better than room service, huh?” he asked, watching Dana sigh with delight as she inhaled her meal.
“Okay, you may have been right,” Dana admitted. “I haven’t tasted spices this addicting since Coop’s.”
George beamed. “Somebody knows her gumbo.”
“This is Coop’s?” Dana asked. “I thought your mother made everything?”
George smirked. “She’s a hell of a chef, but nobody does gumbo like Coop’s. It’s Cadie’s favorite restaurant. They catered everything tonight.”
“I knew I liked your sister,” Dana said, before diving back into her bowl.
“If you think the gumbo is good, you need to try their Cajun fried chicken.”
