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“Very well,” I said firmly. I slid my arm across Jane’s shoulders as I leaned back in the booth. “Now, tell me what's up with life, work, and so on.”
My sister shrugged. “I’m busy, and things are okay at work. I’m not loving being at a large law firm. I have a new boss from a different department, and I’m hoping we get along. A good job can turn into a shitty job really fast.”
“Don't I know it,” Jane offered. “You both heard about my old boss. He wasn’t even who hired me, but he was moved over. He was needy and useless all at the same time.”
“It seems like you're happy where you are now, though,” Thea offered.
Jane nodded. “I am. I have more independence, but things can change.”
I simply nodded along. My job had been great until lately. Now, I was seriously considering striking out on my own once the investigation was all over. Fortunately, our conversation moved on to other matters. I didn't have to dwell in my guilt about everything I was withholding about my work.
Every so often, I wondered if Dallas or Noah had caught wind of what was going on. The FBI was involved in the investigation, but it wasn’t their office. Even if they knew, they wouldn't be able to ask me about it, and I wouldn't be able to talk to them about it. Not until the team I was dealing with gave me the okay.
I managed to keep my hands mostly to myself during dinner, and Jane only had to swat my hand off her thigh twice. To distract myself, I asked Thea, “So why aren't you seeing anyone?”
Thea leaned back in the booth and took a swallow of her wine while we waited for dinner to arrive. “I didn’t say I wasn’t.”
I cocked my head to the side. “Okay, who?”
“None of your business,” she retorted.
“Oh, I’ll find out,” I countered.
Jane interjected, “We need to plan to have coffee soon.”
“You’re out of town visiting Ian every other weekend.” Thea gestured to me. “Then he’s here, and I don't want to do coffee with you and my brother every time I see you. We need girl talk.”
Jane laughed softly, glancing over at me. “I've always got work I can do when I’m here on the weekend. I'll just stay at the apartment when you two have coffee,” I offered.
“Tomorrow morning then,” Jane prompted.
“Deal.” Thea lifted her palm to high-five Jane across the table.
A few minutes later, we were eating. “The steaks are chef’s kiss,” I said. “They even got rare right.”
“Well, you don’t make it easy. You practically want the cow mooing,” my sister offered dryly.
A while after my sister had departed, we were walking home on the sidewalk, and I reached for Jane's hand. Pausing for a moment in front of her, I leaned down to catch her lips in a lingering kiss. When I lifted my head, her cheeks were flushed and her eyes a little hazed.
“What was that for?”
“I just wanted to kiss you. I'm feeling really grateful we ran into each other in Haven’s Bay.”
“Yeah?”
“Definitely.”
Her eyes held mine, and my heart kicked faster. I was getting accustomed to how much I wanted Jane and to the emotion twined within that want, but it still startled me sometimes. After another moment, we turned and continued walking back to her place. Being with her was more comfortable than I had ever expected. I was already impatient to get back to her place so I could have her all to myself.
ChapterNineteen
Jane
I breathed in the cool spring air with Ian’s hand warm around mine as we walked down the street. Darkness had fallen, and the streetlights were on. It felt really nice to have him here.
I was a little skittish sometimes, thinking too much about what was happening for us. I knew I was falling hard and fast for him, and I wasn't sure where he stood or how he felt. Every time work came up, he got tense. I couldn’t help but wonder if we got really serious, who would make the move?
I shied away from that train of thought and told myself to just enjoy what we had. Fortunately, that wasn't difficult. The instant he closed the door to my apartment, he spun me around, pressing my back to the door and claiming my mouth in a heated kiss.
