“Rain check?”
“Sure thing. I’m just gonna drop the keys off inside and go home.”
Win ignored the shit-eating grin on his partner’s face. “See you tomorrow.” He opened the door and stepped out.
“Have a good one,” Forrest said. “Enjoy your night.”
Mentally rolling his eyes but refusing to give Forrest the pleasure of a sarcastic answer, Win slammed the car door shut and went to his own vehicle. A quick scan of his phone messages showed nothing other than updates from the city about traffic and train problems. Instead of wasting his time on texting, Win decided to pick another item off Elliot’s list and surprise him. Maybe he wasn’t going to cook it, but if he brought home a nice dinner and something sweet for dessert, that would count.
Whistling to himself, he placed an order at this favorite Chinese restaurant and started the engine, heading toward home. The food was ready when he showed up, and with a wave to the owner, Win picked up his bags and hopped back in the Jeep.
Lights still shone through the windows of Elliot’s house when he drove by, and Win smiled, thinking of dinner and then the afterward. He didn’t need to be up as early in the morning, so if things went as planned…
Bags in hand, he walked across the grassy lawn between their houses and up the steps of Elliot’s porch. It took a couple of minutes for Elliot to answer the door. Where was he?
The door rattled open, and Elliot’s eyes widened in surprise. “Hi. I didn’t expect you.” But the welcoming smile left no doubt he was happy to see him.
“Surprise. Am I too late for dinner? I just got off work and picked up some stuff.”
Elliot’s brows flew up. “Dinner? Oh, wow. I did eat, but you can come in and have yours if you want. I’m sorry, I wouldn’t have if I knew…”
Win leaned in for a kiss. “Don’t stress about it. I took a chance. But I also brought enough for two if you feel like a bite.”
“That sounds good. Come on in. You can meet another one of my friends.”
Win stopped at the threshold. “I don’t want to impose. If you’d rather I didn’t…” Win wasn’t sure why he was so disappointed.
“I was on my way out, so don’t let me stop you,” a deep voice resonated as a tall, imposing figure walked out from the living room. His hawklike stare raked over Win, and he wondered why the man seemed so familiar. Win was certain they’d never met.
“Wolf, this is Detective Winston Rogers.”
“Always a pleasure to meet one of New York’s finest, unless I’m questioning one of them on the stand.”
Now it made sense. “Oh, you’re the Wolfman. I’ve heard about you.”
Wolf’s eyes lit up, and a charming smile softened his hard features. “My reputation precedes me.”
“Only when you’re trying to trip up one of my fellow officers.” Win had little patience for lawyers who liked to twist people around on the stand so they became unraveled.
“The truth is the truth, Detective. I’m merely a seeker of it.”
“Noble words, but it’s people like you who let criminals go free.” Seeing Elliot’s eyes grow wide as he followed their conversation, Win held back so the evening didn’t end before it had a chance to begin. “But I’m not here to debate the criminal justice system. You do your job to the best of your ability, and I do mine as well. Let’s just hope we never have to meet.”
“We shall see,” Wolf murmured. “And I’m glad to know Elliot has someone close by to keep a watch out.”
“I’m not a child. I don’t need a protector.” Elliot glared at Wolf. “Win and I are friends.”
Wolf cocked his head, never taking his eyes off Win, and he could see now what made him such a good attorney. He saw everything. “That’s good too. One can never have too many friends. I’m off. Elliot, I’ll talk to you.”
Win watched as he gave Elliot a hug, and then he approached Win with an outstretched hand. “Nice to meet you, Detective.”
“Please, call me Win. And excuse the bags.” He shifted them all to his left hand to free up his right. “It was nice to meet you as well.”
Wolf’s amber eyes pierced right through him, and a ripple of unease sent goose bumps prickling on his skin. His hand was cool as marble, but his grip was strong.
Once Wolf had walked down the steps and left in his car, Elliot closed the door with a sigh. “Sorry about that. He can be standoffish at first, but he’s one of my closest friends.” He tugged on Win’s free hand. “Let’s go into the kitchen.”
“I never expected to meet Garrett Wolf. Plenty of my buddies on the force have cursed him high and low.” He followed Elliot through his house and set the bags on the countertop.
