AllFreeNovel
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Only after she’d called Kat before bedtime in the US did she switch focus from the girl to working on this case. Around an hour later, I’d fallen asleep on the couch, my own computer humming away on my lap while she worked at the table. Earlier today, after a restful sleep, I’d woken up with her curled at my side again, my rig on the coffee table. Single-handedly, she’d graced me with the two best wakeups I’d ever had—I included Christmas Day among those memories.
Santa Claus had nothing on Star Sullivan.
“What would we do on a date?” was her next wary question.
“Eat.” I paused. “Drink, if you want.”
“Water or alcohol?”
“I can afford both. But if you’re worried about my net worth, by all means,” I mocked, “order still water.”
Her grin peeped out again. “Sassy. What would we discuss?”
“Life?Game of Thrones?Halo? Whatever the hell you want.”
“If we stayed here, we could talk about the case.”
“All the more reason to head out. We’re letting our code do the work for us, Star, so we can go and play. It’s for one night. I think you deserve to let your hair down.”
She frowned. “I don’t even know what that looks like.”
“Then we need to work on that. Remember when I asked you what you’d do once this was over?”
Her gulp was audible. “Yeah.”
“That time is approaching, Star.I canfeel it.” I stepped closer to the bed, and though I still had shit to do and so did she now, I lifted the duvet and burrowed beneath the blanket and pillow fort she’d made for herself.
I was surprised when she leaned over and put her laptop and mouse on the floor next to the bed for safekeeping. At first, I thought she was going to leave because I’d climbed in, then she was turning on her side to face me and her hand was reaching out to gently trace the furrow between my brows.
“Have you ever let your work define you to the point that you don’t have anything else in your life?”
I blinked. “You do know who you’re talking to, don’t you?”
Her snicker warmed my heart. “You’re funnier in real life.”
“I have an active audience.”
“True,” she teased, eyes gleaming.
“And, to answer your question, of course. I didn’t have anything in my life aside from work and family for too long. Now you’re in the mix as well and let me tell you, you’re more trouble than both of them put together. Which, considering I’ve got five brothers who also happen to run a mob empire, is saying something.”
She cackled. “I’ll keep you on your toes then.”
“I imagine you will, yes.” Shuffling closer, I let my hand fall on her bicep. “How about it? Pizza. Still water. I’ll even spring for some gelato.”
“Pistachio?”
I hummed. “Two scoops. Let’s go wild.”
With a snort, she wriggled closer to me until her front was pressed to mine. Eyes at the same level, she whispered, “I’ll share my ice cream with you.”
“Didn’t think you’d find that hygienic.”
“Hygiene, smygiene. I’ve shared spit with you. I think I can deal with you eating my gelato.”
“I was thinking you’d be eatingmygelato.”
“I’m the guest.”
