Sidebars Book 2

Chapter 4

Chapter 4Theo was in the kitchen, putting together some kind of breakfast for me, and I was in the bathroom, taking a quick shower. I didn’t like the idea of putting on the clothes I’d worn the day before, but I didn’t know Theo well enough to ask him to loan me a shirt.

Oh well, I didn’t have time to worry about it. I’d just use an extra dollop of his body wash and suck it up.

I needed to leave soon—I had that autopsy at the District morgue to view. I’d seen some dead bodies, but I’d never seen one cut up, not professionally at least.

I’d made my first kill a few months after that car accident I’d supposedly been in—car accident my ass. It had been a training exercise, Mr. Adams’ idea. I’d ducked; I just hadn’t ducked in time.

I dried off and went into the kitchen. I didn’t want to think of that now, not when Theo was standing there in sleep pants that hugged his hips and ass, not after having spent the most awesome night with him. He’d only f****d me once, because he’d said I’d be too sore in the morning. I’d always been the one who looked after my partner, and to have someone looking after me…

And he didn’t care a f**k how loud I was, even seemed to encourage me.

The only thing that would have made it better was if he’d let me blow him.

He handed me a cup of coffee, distracting me.

“Thanks.”

“And take these saltines with you. They should settle your stomach if it gets queasy.”

“And you’d know this how?” I hadn’t expected anything like that. I thought it was…sweet that he’d be concerned. “Theo?”

He’d been smiling, but for a second his expression froze. I took a step toward him, and he shook his head, his smile relaxed once more.

“I just don’t want you getting docked. I’m easy, but I’m not cheap!”

That brought me down to earth, with a thud, and I lost my appetite. “Speaking of which, how much do I owe you?” I finished the coffee, crossed to the sink and put the cup on the drain.

“Well, now, you see, I don’t rightly see how I can charge you, when I was the one who f****d you.”

I felt myself turn red. “Just out of curiosity, what do you usually get?”

“Five hundred a night. I don’t do hourly rates any more.”

“Five—” I felt as if a ton of bricks had been dropped on me. “Jesus!” I made a decent salary, but how was I going to afford that?

“Don’t worry about it. Last night was on me.”

“Well, thanks. But what about other nights?”

“Excuse me?”

“I’d like to see you again—”

“Oh, yes?” His eyes were wide, and he looked more like a seventeen-year old than an experienced man of the world. “I mean…” He cleared his throat. “Uh…sure. That would be nice. Here.”

“What’s this?” I stared at the paper he shoved at me.

“Directions to the morgue from here.”

“Thanks.” I didn’t tell him the Dodge came with GPS. I pretended to scan the paper, then something caught my eye. At the bottom was a string of numbers. His phone number? I could have found it for myself with very little trouble, but how cool was that? He really did want to see me again.

I memorized it and set the paper down on the table.

“Look. I’ve got to go.” I shrugged into my overcoat, put the saltines in my pocket, and fished for my car keys. “We’ll set something up. Dinner, maybe.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay?” He rubbed the back of my neck, hummed against my lips, and I groaned. If it was anyone but Mr. Vincent…

“I’ll call you!” A glance at my watch showed me that if I didn’t get a move on like now, I’d need the god who looked after agents making sure I hit every single green light from here to the morgue.

I kissed Theo once more, then wanted to kiss him again, but I knew if I did I’d never make it to the morgue on time. I ran down the stairs and out to my car.