“Makes sense, right?” Cypress grinned. “He can’t be in two places at once, so I guarantee he’s got someone helping him.”
“Yeah, but there’s a problem with your genius plan. He didn’t meet with the majority of those families, so how would he know which ones to break into?”
“Well, he would have access to their paperwork, right? Look up their houses on Google?” Cypress shrugged. “I’m just saying the simplest answer is usually the right one. We think Junior did it, but he couldn’t have done it on his own. So, logically, he had a partner.”
“Who could be anyone,” Tom said glumly.
“Fox is a great detective.” Cypress kissed Tom’s brow reassuringly. “I know he’s doing everything he can to find out who’s doing this, okay?”
“And I’m supposed to what, lay low until he catches him or whoever?” Tom bowed his head down. “What am I supposed to tell Gerald? Sorry, I think your son might try to kill me so I can’t come in today?”
“Tell them whatever you need to. You’re more than welcome to hang out here for a little while.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it. I guess I’ll think of something.” Tom held up his head stubbornly. “But I’m still going in to finish Mr. Lundy.”
“Tom—”
“Look, I have to finish him,” Tom insisted. “No one else can do it. Let me go in this afternoon, fix Mr. Lundy up, and I’ll tell Gerald and Mr. Crosby I need to take some time off.”
“Let me give you a ride at least,” Cypress offered. “I’ve gotta make a delivery at the funeral home anyway, and I can wait for you outside. Then we can go by your place to pick up some more clothes. Whatever you need to crash here.”
“Thank you,” Tom said sincerely. “Look, if it gets to be too much trouble, I can go to a hotel.”
“I think we’ll be fine,” Cypress said with a smile. “You wanna go ahead and get going?”
Tom tugged at the collar of his scrubs. “Yeah. I’m ready.”
Mister Doodles got one more walk before they left, and Tom helped Cypress load the arrangements he had to deliver in the back of the flower van. Cypress held his hand the whole drive over to the funeral home, parking right beside the garage doors.
“Thank you,” Tom said suddenly, hesitating to leave. “Really. For all of this.”
“What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn’t help keep you safe from a potential crazed murderer?” Cypress teased.
“But seriously, thank you—wait.” Tom turned to face Cypress, laughing. He couldn’t quite believe he’d heard him correctly. “Boyfriend?”
“If you’re still interested in dating.”
“Yes,” Tom said without hesitation.
“Well, we’d better figure out how to keep your fine ass out of jail because I was serious about not dating criminals.” Cypress winked, beckoning Tom over for a kiss.
Tom sighed happily as their lips met, but he was also very aware someone from work might see them. He started to pull away and caught a glimpse of Cypress’s dazzling smile.
Fuck it.
Unbuckling his seatbelt, he surged forward to kiss Cypress again, his desire cranked from zero to a hundred in mere seconds. This was it. They were dating. He had no idea what changed Cypress’s mind, and he didn’t care.
He could keep this.
“Mm, better stop,” Cypress purred, “or you’re never gonna go.”
“Sorry,” Tom chuckled. “Just… mmm. Happy.”
“Text me when you’re done,” Cypress said, smooching his cheek. “After I drop off the flowers, I’ll park around back.”
“Okay. See you soon.”
Tom practically floated into the funeral home, and he could not stop smiling. He knew he should probably try looking like a very sick man because he’d called in so late, but there was no way he could shake this joy.
