AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Matt nodded, his own grin appearing. “I’m still weighing my options.”
“Shut up.” Finley laughed. “You are saying yes and you know it.”
His lips pressed together, and he held her gaze for a long moment, his sober. “What do you think, Fin? Is it the right move at the right time?”
She reached across the table and squeezed his hand. “It is exactly the right move and definitely the right time.”
He nodded slowly. “You’re right. I do think I’ll go for it.”
Finley motioned for the waiter. “We need another round.”
When Finley had sufficiently teased him about becoming a politician, she offered, “I’m really happy for you, Matt. I’m sure your parents are so proud.”
“They’re on that cruise they’ve been talking about for years, but I’ll call them tomorrow.”
She’d forgotten his parents were celebrating their fortieth anniversary with an extended cruise to the Caribbean. Good for them. Finleywondered if her parents had any plans for the anniversary they had coming up. Likely not. Her mother, the Judge, wouldn’t want to take the time away from the bench.
“Jack will call you a traitor,” she teased, pushing away thoughts of her mother. Jack was the most antipolitical guy on the planet.
Matt laughed. “Maybe I’ll change his mind about politicians.”
“Don’t waste your time.” Another grin slid across her lips. “The trinity will go to war without you to run interference.”
He shrugged. “I’m sure they’ll have no trouble finding someone to replace me.”
“Maybe so, but no one as good as you.” She chuckled softly. “I’d love to see the surprise on their faces when they learn you’re moving on up.” The moment would be priceless.
“Speaking of surprises, your dad mentioned he’d accepted a position on Belle Meade’s planning commission.” Matt’s eyebrows pulled together. “What’s up with that? I thought he was taking retirement seriously?”
“I think he’s bored.” Finley nabbed another crisp.
Her father had retired earlier than he’d anticipated after what had happened in July of last year.Derrick’s murder.Finley had been in the hospital and rehab for weeks. Even after she’d gone home, the rehab had continued. Still did—at least the mental part of it. Her shrink, Dr.Mengesha, believed she had needed counseling even before that horrific event. Possibly so. In her opinion, Finley had more reason than most. Growing up with Ruth O’Sullivan as her mother hadn’t exactly been a walk in the park. Ruth had never really been a mother, more a boss or drill sergeant. Case in point: Finley’s father had been the one to give up his career to help her through all the rehab. The Judge, of course, couldn’t be bothered.
“A man should have a hobby,” Matt pointed out. “Sometimes fishing or golfing just aren’t enough.”
Finley laughed. “And what are your hobbies, Mr.Quinn?” She knew for a fact that his were the same as hers: none. They were both completely and utterly absorbed in work. She dismissed the idea that they both shared this often-inconvenient characteristic with the Judge. Or that Finley actually had a secret obsession with watching the bastards who had wrecked her life. No one knew about that littlehobby. Her hope was to keep that secret until she was finished.
Finished how?
Finley dismissed the accusatory little voice. She had no plans to kill anyone, only to be around when it happened.
“I have a hobby,” Matt admonished.
“Name this so-called hobby,” she dared.
“You,” he confessed. “What better hobby could I have than spending time with my best friend?”
See, I told you the guy’s in love with you.
Finley pushed her husband’s voice out of her head. Derrick had sworn on more than one occasion that Matt was secretly in love with her. She was fairly certain she would know if he were. Besides—she smiled back at her friend—Finley suspected her husband simply had never had a friend like Matt.
“I don’t count,” she argued.
“I’ve been thinking,” he began and then didn’t go on.
Well, that couldn’t be good. Anytime Matt felt compelled to beat around the bush, it was no doubt going to be a touchy subject.
Then she got it. “If the DA or anyone at Metro PD has a complaint about me or something I’ve done,” she warned, then shook her head. Did they have someone monitoring her every move? Jesus Christ. It wasn’t like she’d set out to piss off the whole world. “I swear, they can’t prove anything. Jeez, for law enforcement these people are seriously oversensitive.”
