Page 22 of 3rd Tango
It’s hard for me to believe we’re talking about the same guy. “Everything I’ve seen and heard about him is positive. Hell, he started this citizens group for closing cold cases.”
JJ sits up now, facing me. He brushes back a strand of my hair, his fingers grazing my shoulder. “He may be a hero, who knows?” He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles one by one. “As always, you’re free to do whatever you think is best, but please, for me, be careful.”
There’s a tickle under my ribs. A warning. I can’t stand dirty agents. And if this one is misleading Mom and her group of do-gooders, I’ll kick his ass.
Sighing heavily, I push JJ flat on the bed and curl up in his arms.
10
Meg
Just before eight, my sister emerges from her side of our duplex as I’m saying goodbye to Jerome on my tiny patch of a front porch. The sun is shining, birds are chirping and by the look on Charlie’s face, she’s about to ruin my blissful moment.
“Morning,” she says, giving us fair warning in case we decide on some PDA.
Jerome pecks me lightly on the lips, a simple gesture that screams of familiarity and…belonging. Commitment, if I dare say it.
I love it so much it’s almost painful.
If this doesn’t work out, I will be devastated. I can’t go there. Doing so, will only make it happen. For now, I’ll stay present and enjoy every bit of this newfound companionship.
“See ya later,” he whispers, leaving me all sorts of fluttery.
He passes Charlie and she holds up a hand. “Hey, Jerome.”
As usual, she’s dressed to the teeth in a navy pencil skirt, pale blue blouse and stilettos that would make me snap an ankle. Sunlight glistens over her blonde hair and I take a second to glance at my cut-off jean shorts and ripped AC/DC concert shirt.
Hard to believe the two of us came from the same gene pool.
“Good morning,” I say. “What’s up?”
Generally, Charlie doesn’t check in on me in the morning. She prefers to not waste time and heads straight to the office where I eventually roll in.
Her presence now indicates something must’ve popped overnight regarding a case.
Leather briefcase in hand, she pauses in front of her car, leaning one hip against it. “Alfonzo.”
“The FBI guy you hired?”
She lets out a sarcastic grunt. “I may be rescinding that offer.”
Oh, interesting. Charlie is an ace when it comes to vetting people, not to mention her dedication to standing by her word, so if she’s bailing on an offer there must be something seriously naughty hiding in this guy’s closet.
I move closer, as if we’re about to share top-secret info. “Why is that?”
“I’ve received intel I don’t like.”
“From JJ?”
She cocks her head, but stays silent, reminding me of our rule that she won’t share what he tells her. Some call it pillow talk. Charlie prefers intel.
“Sorry,” I say. “Forgot I’m not supposed to ask.”
She waves it away. “Baez maybe dirty.”
Whoa. “Seriously? You missed that?”
In response, I receive the Charlie Schock death glare. It wouldn’t be the first time she’s drilled me with her pretty azure eyes, but it’s still enough to make my bladder weak.
