KNOW by Hollis Shiloh

Author:Hollis Shiloh [Shiloh, Hollis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Spare Words Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

#

I was pretty busy the rest of the day writing up the details of the case, such as they were. Most of it amounted to, "Then I followed Jem's lead." I had started the day feeling damned proud of what we had accomplished together, but by the time I got off work, I was fighting a headache, typing fatigue, and discouragement.

Between Martin and Jem, they'd covered most of it. I might as well have been a useless tagalong — except for the fact that Jem did rely on me to follow procedure, make him feel safe, and actually listen to him. Aside from that, he probably could've worked with anyone and gotten results just as good.

But the thing was, for all his stubborn fierceness, he could be a bit fragile, as I well knew. We communicated because I knew damned well I had to listen to him and not override him about anything important. So, no, he couldn't have actually worked as well with just anyone.

I was telling myself these things to try to cheer up when I headed out of my office and walked towards the elevator to go home. Still worn out from everything, I was unusually tired and didn't think it would be a good thing to try to wine and dine Jem. I'd call him from my place.

As I reached the elevator, who should step out but my new boyfriend, in the flesh. He was carefully balancing a box of artisanal pizza and had a hopeful smile on his face. When he saw me, it died slowly.

"Oh," he said awkwardly. "Of course. It's — it's been a long day. Of course, you should go."

I didn't feel as tired, though, at the sight of him. My discouragement bled away with the smell of pizza, and the look of him, so cute and fresh, even after a long day of answering questions around the department. He was still looking bright and chipper.

"I am pretty hungry." I opened my arms. "C'mere."

He hesitated long enough to look convincing. "I'm carrying pizza," he protested halfheartedly.

"Put it on my desk. That was very thoughtful of you."

He gave a tiny, pleased nod, as if to say, Yes, I'm glad you noticed. "I went halfway downtown to get it," he said conversationally. All by myself."

He eased past me awkwardly, because I didn't leave him much room. His smile revealed dimples. I hadn't seen him smile often enough to be used to that; it still surprised me. Dimples!

I watched with hooded eyes as he put the pizza box on my desk, then moved it so the edges lined up exactly with one corner of the desk. He turned to me and gave me a slightly too bright and innocent smile. "Shall we eat here, then?"

I pulled him to me and caught him in a tight embrace, just holding on to him, feeling the size and strength of him against me — the warmth, the comfort of holding him, of him actually being here. I breathed him in, closing my eyes.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.