Page 79 of Flash Freeze

Flash’s eyes danced at her while her palm circled the small of Athena’s back. “Keep going.”

Athena sighed as feelings too deep for words welled inside her. She swallowed. “Exhibit Three: Expressing Vulnerability. The subject not only comforted the victim, but allowed the victim to comfort her. She opened up about the tragedies of facing death: her husband’s, Agent Cruz’s, and her childhood dog, Milly.” Three small photographs accompanied the text.

That did it. There was no holding back the stream of tears that streaked down her face unbidden. She flipped the page.

“Exhibit Four: Irresistible Beauty.” Staring back at her was a candid photo of Athena in sexy lingerie she had no idea Flash had taken, another of her in mid-stride wearing one of her FBI power suits, and one of her laughing in a swimsuit, taken at Galveston Beach last summer. This one drew a laugh from her. “Irresistible beauty?” She pointed to the business pic. “I look like I’m about to send someone to the gallows in that one.”

“Yeah, hot,” Flash agreed. “You’re so powerful and in command. Don’t you know what a turn-on that is?”

Athena shook her head, sniffed, and fished a tissue from her purse. “Exhibit Five: Makes One Firefighter Dangerously Distracted.” A two-page spread burst with pictures of Flash and Athena together, more of Athena wearing next to nothing, and one of her cuddling Snuffles, who delightedly licked her. Athena stared at it, unable to recall ever seeing such unabashed joy on her own face. Without realizing it, she lifted a hand to her heart.

“Flash, when did you take all these pictures?”

“Oh, I have more.” She grinned like a wolf about to enjoy its dinner.

Athena turned to the last page. “Verdict: Guilty of stealing my heart.” A big red paper heart filled the page with a selfie of Flash and Athena, smiling at the camera in the middle of the West Texas desert a few days before Christmas. Beneath it were Flash’s handwritten words: I love you!

If it were possible for a human to melt into a puddle, Athena would have done so right then and there. “I love you too.” She reached for Flash, embracing her tightly as more tears flowed.

“I know it’s just a little homemade—”

“Don’t!” Athena ordered. Then, in a softer tone, added, “Don’t diminish this. It’s perfect, and I love it.” Closing her eyes, she kissed Flash, her lips and tongue lingering, her fingers digging into Flash’s shirt, then roaming to catch her cheeks.

Flash rose and reached for her hand. “Come with me.”

Flustered by the case file and the toe-curling kiss, Athena followed but stopped just outside the bedroom door. If she hadn’t been sure before, she was now, and needed to get this out before letting fear rule her heart. “There’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”

Flash turned to face her with guarded curiosity. “What?”

“Well, this weather, the power out, staying over here got me thinking.” She stopped herself. Despite practicing her speech, her thoughts fell into a jumble. “That’s not right. I’ve been thinking about it for a while and just haven’t brought it up.”

“What, sweetie?” Flash stared at her with a vulnerable look, as if she were bracing herself for bad news.

Athena draped her arms over Flash’s shoulders … powerful, firm, muscled shoulders that should be free of that shirt. No! Focus.

“This arrangement isn’t working well enough.”

Flash’s eyes rounded. Her lips parted, and she retreated a step.

“You don’t mean—”

“No, no, honey, please.” Athena groaned, lacing her fingers behind Flash’s neck, not letting go. “What I mean is, we don’t get to spend enough time together. Now, I know you’re an independent woman who loves her freedom, and the last thing I want to do is take any of that away from you. But I wanted to point out a few advantages for you to consider if we, you know, were to decide to live together.”

“Advantages?” Flash’s expression did nothing to bolster Athena’s confidence.

“Yes. For example, if we split the rent on one apartment, we’d each have more money left over to do fun things, maybe take a vacation,” she explained.

“You mean when we both have days off at the same time and aren’t tied up with life-threatening emergencies?”

“Exactly. And I realize my condo is rather bland and a long drive for you to get to work, especially on your bike if it’s raining,” she continued, leaving no dead air between them. “So, maybe your place would be better—if you think it wouldn’t be too crowded. Or,” she added, “we could look for something in between that would accommodate both our needs. No pressure at all. I just think it would make sense—”

“It would make sense,” Flash repeated. “Save money.”

“Yes.” Athena offered a hopeful smile.

Flash scowled. “Cut the crap, Athena. This isn’t a business transaction. Either you want to live with me, or you don’t. It’s that simple.”

“I do,” she rushed to say. The dread of rejection twisted in her gut. “If you do. But if you don’t, I totally understand. We can keep dating, making time when we can, if—”