Page 74 of Floodgates

“You’re such a wiseass.”

“One does what one can, Inspector,” I said dismissively and thought that would be it, but he jabbed me gently with his elbow. “What are you––Cord?”

The smirk I was getting made my breath catch. So much arrogance but sexiness at the same time, and the way he was looking at me was really hot.

“Just unclench already. I’m sorry I opened my mouth about Dimah. You’re fiercely loyal, and I forget that sometimes.”

“I––thank you.”

“Don’t sound so surprised, I can be nice to you.”

I nodded, almost dazed with the change in the man, his willingness to call a ceasefire.

He bumped me with his knee and then didn’t move it away after.

“Maybe we can both try harder,” I offered.

“I would love that,” he husked, his smile kind and unguarded.

Cord got on his laptop then, and after a moment I was able to tear my attention away from him so that we could both do some work. Breckin turned around in his seat and asked if he could switch places with Cord so he could talk to me, but I told him we both had too much to do.

“Tracy, I—”

“Talk to Celia,” I instructed him. “You guys don’t want to mess up.”

“I—”

“And what are you going to do about a ring?” I questioned him. “The devil’s in the details.”

He cleared his throat as he looked over the top of the seat at me. “My mother told me I could have my grandmother’s ring when I got married. I just have to ask her to get it from the safe-deposit box for me.”

And it was a girl ring already, so win-win. “Oh, that’s perfect.”

“It’s supposed to be yours.”

I shook my head. “This way it can just slide right on Celia’s finger.”

He glared at me. “We’re going to talk at my folks’ house, Trace.”

“Sure,” I agreed.

Cord said nothing about the exchange, but he gently gripped my upper thigh. His touch was comforting, and I appreciated the gesture.

Drinks came, and then the meal was served. It didn’t look appealing, but I watched Cord wolf down what appeared to be lasagna.

“I promise to feed you when we get there,” I said playfully, “because that is so not going to hold you.”

“Oh yeah? You’re gonna take me out to dinner?”

“I will,” I sighed, bumping him with my shoulder.

“It’s a date.”

I smiled at him as I went back to my Excel spreadsheet.

When the lights went out for the movie, I saw Celia and Breckin lean their heads together. It was good they were talking; they had a lot to figure out.

“I’m sorry.”