He let a beat of silence pass before changing the subject. “I’m glad you’re all right.”
I crossed my arms. The move made the muscles in my back scream. Even though Morales had gotten the worst of the injuries, I hadn’t escaped totally unscathed. “I’m just glad we stopped him.”
He nodded. “Have you given any thought to how to deal with Abe?”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
He scooted closer and looked around to make sure we wouldn’t be overheard. “He’ll be in touch. To gloat, if nothing else.”
I shrugged. “I’ll leap off that bridge when I come to it.”
“He’ll want to stir some shit.”
“I’m more than used to dealing with men who want to cause trouble in my life, John.”
The corner of his mouth lifted. He started to reach for me, but just as I pulled away a throat cleared behind him.
We both turned to see Morales standing proudly with his cane and his medal glistening in the light coming through the rotunda skylights. “Am I interrupting?”
“Yes,” Volos said.
“No,” I said at the same time. “Mr. Volos was just leaving.” I shot John a level stare that dared him to argue with me.
He tipped his chin with dignity. “Congratulations again.” He turned to Morales. “To you both.”
He held out a hand to Morales, who accepted the gesture. I might have been imagining things, but I could have sworn I saw both of their arms tense in a way that indicated they were both gripping harder than necessary.
“Yeah,” Morales said. “And good luck with the campaign.”
Volos pulled his hand away. “Luck doesn’t win elections, Agent Morales. It’s all up to the people.”
Morales laughed. “By ‘people’ you mean Ben Franklin, William McKinley, and Grover Cleveland, right?” he shot back, referring to the faces that appeared on high-denomination bills.
Volos didn’t take the bait; he simply shot us a parting politician’s smile and walked away with his shoulders back.
“I can’t believe you dated that asshole,” my partner said.
“No shit.” A laugh escaped with my exhaled breath. “How you doing, Macho?”
“Can’t complain. Chicks dig the limp.” He tapped the cane on the marble floor. “So… Athena?”
I punched him in the arm. “Fuck off. My mom loved Greek mythology.”
“The warrior goddess of wisdom,” he said. “Kinda suits you, Cupcake.”
The warmth in his tone made me look up again. There was something bordering on… tenderness in those brown eyes that made my flight-or-fight instinct flare up. Stupid, maybe, since this brave guy standing in front of me, the one looking so handsome in his suit, the one who knew my darkest secrets, should have been the last person on earth to scare me.
“You want to go grab a drink?” he asked suddenly.
I blinked. “It’s ten in the morning.”
“So we’ll get Bloody Marys and call it brunch.”
His tone was casual, but there was an undercurrent of tension that told me he had plans for us after those Bloody Marys. And damned if I wasn’t suddenly intrigued by the twist of events.
But hot on the heels of my discussion with Volos, a plan had formed in my mind—and as it happened Morales would be the perfect wingman.
“Actually, how about we skip the Bloody Marys and go check out this other place.”
He stepped closer. The spicy scent of his cologne mixed with his natural Morales-ness made him Dangerous—with a capital D.
“Which other place?” he asked, his voice pitched low.
“You’re going to love it. It has several bars.”
His eyes widened. “All right. Am I dressed okay? I can lose the suit.”
I enjoyed the view too much to encourage that plan. “I have a feeling the other guests won’t care much what you’re wearing.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
After a sunny morning, a storm was rolling in over the water. Lake Erie was choppy and the color of the dull side of aluminum foil. I pulled my Jeep into a parking lot next to the dock. “Kate?” Morales said. “I’m pretty sure they don’t serve brunch at Crowley.”
I pushed Sybil into Park and turned toward him. “I need a favor.”
He cocked a brow and crossed his arms.
“Abe hasn’t called. I figure he’s letting me stew. But I’m sick of waiting, so I want you to go with me to talk to him.”
He blew a long breath through his nose. “Worst date ever.”
I froze. “So you really were asking me out on a date?”
He just stared me down until I shifted uncomfortably.
“If you do this for me, I’ll let you take me out to a really expensive dinner.”
He snorted.
“And I’ll let you get to first base.”
He stilled. “Only first?”
I tilted my head at him. “Fine. Second, but I expect dessert.”
He pursed his lips, as if thinking it over. I glanced toward the dock, where the ferry’s captain was busying the craft for departure. Finally, Morales spoke. “All right, I’ll go with you to see Abe. But you can forget about the date.”
My shoulder drooped. “But—”
He leaned forward. I froze, believing for a heart-galloping moment he was about to kiss me. But at the final second, his mouth changed trajectory and veered toward my ear. “I don’t do pity dates, Cupcake. When you’re ready, you can ask me out.”
With that, my partner exited the vehicle. I made a frustrated screech as I gathered my things. I supposed the worst part was I deserved that dose of my own medicine for bullshitting him into coming with me in the first place. “Insufferable ass,” I groused, not because I believed it, but because it made me feel better.
When I joined him at the dock, he shot me a cocky grin. I narrowed my eyes at him. “Just remember, let me do the talking.”
He rocked back on his heels with a self-satisfied grin. I wanted to be mad at him, but I also knew there was no one else I’d rather have with me for what was waiting on the other side of the lake.
Abe leaned back in his chair with a reptilian grin. After we’d disembarked from the ferry and signed in, he’d kept us waiting a good hour for his grand entrance.
“Why’d you bring backup, Katie Girl? Don’t trust yourself to handle me?”
“Nah,” Morales said, deadpan, before I could respond. “I’m here to protect you, old man.”