“Right, like everyone here eats like that. Don’t be a snob, Cubby, downtown LA has some of the best eating places around.”
Cubby swallowed his smile at Katie’s indignant tone. At least if she was ripping up at him she wasn’t thinking about what her sergeant had just told them. He shouldn’t have kissed her; it was a dumb move because now he knew what her lips felt like beneath his, what she tasted like, and that was a bad thing. He didn’t have room for a woman in his life, and had vowed he never would, especially this one; that would get way too complicated. He needed to keep his distance.
He still felt sick at the prospect of some big-time crime lord putting a price on Katie’s head. He had to get her home and do it soon, before the brother died and the Alessis intensified their search.
“Bet they don’t make the chicken and cheesy crust like Buster does.”
He watched her lashes lower as she made a small humming noise.
“I missed his food, but don’t tell him that, okay?”
“He’s in love now, so not much gets through these days. Willow has dropped the man to his knees. He’s a slave to his emotions; it’s truly pathetic to see.” Cubby found a smile for his old childhood friend.
Katie laughed, not the full-bodied one she used to use, this one was a rusty little sound. “Buster Griffin could never be a slave to emotion, so don’t give me that shit, Sheriff.”
“You have a point, princess, but to be fair, Willow’s a pretty special girl, and for some reason, Jake and I think momentary insanity is to blame, she loves that pig-headed man to distraction.”
“Wow, I would come home just to witness that.” The side of her mouth curled slightly.
“You’re coming home, Katie.” He needed her to understand that.
“I told you and E.J. I would, so back off.”
He studied her. “Back off? When did you start talking all hard-ass like that? The sweet little girl I remember was always smiling and turning herself inside out to make everyone happy.”
Her eyes flitted away from his to the people walking down the sidewalk and the endless row of buildings.
“I’ve been a detective in downtown LA for close on two years, Cubby; you don’t honestly expect me to have remained the person I was. That silly bubble-headed girl is long gone.”
“I liked her.”
“I didn’t.”
“Why?”
Katie ignored him and spoke to the driver instead. “Can you take us to Combustible Café, please?”
“Why?” Cubby said again.
“It’s got good food, the place is clean, and I like it there, is why.”
“You know that’s not what I was asking.”
“What were you asking then?” She shot him an innocent look that he didn’t buy.
“Why didn’t you like her, the girl you were?”
He didn’t think she’d answer, her eyes still focused out the window.
“Because no one took her seriously.”
He thought about that, the girl she’d been. She’d been Jake McBride’s kid sister, or the daughter of Nancy and Patrick, and he guessed they were all hard footprints to walk in.
“I think you have that wrong; in fact, I think you were, and are, highly respected and loved.”
“That’s not the same, and I don’t want to talk about this any longer.”
As the cab was stopping, Cubby didn’t say anything else, but he’d think about her words and come back to them sometime. Stepping out behind her, he pulled out his wallet, but she’d beat him to it.
