Cass swung her head to him before sighting on the road again. “What?”
“That’s what I said. We have two beautiful children out of diapers. Little evil geniuses who keep us on our toes as it is. I’m thirty. She’s thirty-two. Why do we need to start over again?”
She sat with what he’d said. “You ask me, she’s seeing thirty-five nearing and freaking out. They say women have more potential for health risks with babies once they hit the age of thirty-five. So maybe she’s thinking if she wants more children, now is the time to have them.”
For some wacky reason, Cass had been thinking about children a lot lately as well. Those blasted kittens, the twins, and her mother had texted her earlier in the day about some cousin out east getting pregnant. She figured she’d have her own someday, but right now her career took precedence. But God, she’d be hitting thirty in just two and a half more years. Add five after that and she’d be in health-risk territory herself.
Jed still seemed uneasy, so she changed the subject to the sarge’s terrible haircut and the fistfight over those shoes they’d interrupted earlier in their shift.
When they reached the precinct once more and readied for turnover, she noticed Newcastle grabbing some papers from his desk. He must have been working on a case because he usually had later hours. He saw her and smiled.
“Crap.”
Jed joined her and saw Newcastle’s approach. “What’s up, Josh?”
Newcastle shrugged. “Caught wind of a serial arsonist, maybe. How was patrol?” He looked Cass over, and she did her best to ignore all the attention he gave her breasts. She had a freaking vest under her shirt, for God’s sake.
“Ah, same old,” Jed said before she said something obnoxious.
Newcastle studied her. “So I hear you’re dating some guy. Is that right? ’Cause I was going to ask if—”
“Oh, hell, Cass,” Jed interrupted. “Sorry. I saw Mack yesterday. He told me to tell you dinner is a go next week.” Jed turned to Newcastle. “Cass is dating a friend of mine. Small world, eh?”
Newcastle mumbled a congratulations before turning away.
As they left the station, she elbowed him. “What the hell was that?”
“I got Newcastle off your tail. Guess he didn’t believe me before when I said you were taken. You’re welcome.”
“But he’ll tell everyone I’m dating someone.” Gossip around the department was worse than the gossip at her mother’s hospital. Like an incurable disease that spread like wildfire.
“And that you’re no longer available. You’re welcome.”
“Oh. I guess that’s good.”
“Yeah.” He paused at his car, parked next to hers. “When you see Mack again, tell him we’ll go out next time. Dinner and a movie?”
“Wait. Doyouwant to date him? Or can I come too?” She grinned when he shot her the finger. “I’ll ask. Good luck with Shannon. Just go easy with the kid talk and figure out what she really wants. And talk to her out of bed, in a nonsexual environment.”
“I will. Thanks, Dr. Carmichael.”
“I’ll bill you later.” She got in her car and checked her phone again. Mack had sent her a text earlier asking if she wanted to get breakfast the next morning. She’d told him she’d let him know after her shift.
After arriving home at five Sunday morning, she undressed, washed up, and got into bed before texting him back.Late breakfast at noon?That would give her a solid six hours of sleep and time to shower before meeting him. He didn’t respond, but then, she figured he was either on shift or asleep. She’d know either way when she woke.
At eleven on the dot, her eyes popped open. Then her alarm rang. She turned it off and glanced at her phone to see a thumbs-up and a question.
Should I bring breakfast over?
Sure, she typed, smiling when he immediately responded.
What do you want?
Eggs, meat, something sweet?
He sent a bunch of emojis, and darned if one of them wasn’t a devil followed by an eggplant.Kidding. I’ll bring real food. See you at noon.
She gave him a laughing face and hurried into the shower.
