“I had us covered.”
“You reacted with emotion and put yourself back into the same position as five years ago. I didn’t show the video to shove anything in your face. I did it because when you see the assignments, you know why I’m going to be with her and not you.”
I cross my arms. “Come again?”
“Fitz is going to continue gathering intel today. Tomorrow morning, you, Park, Lan, and Shep will head to Annapolis to canvass and get a lock on suspects. I’ll stay with Annie.”
My initial reaction washell no. But then I wouldn’t be able to meet Vito face-to-face…and I’m looking forward to that.
“I can live with that.”
I spent all afternoon of doing more research into Vito and Poe. Annie was sitting right next to me on the couch, just like old times. The sun has set and I hear her stomach rumble. “Hungry?” I tease.
“Shut up.”
“I’ll make dinner.”
She gets to her feet, still slightly sore on her ankle. “No, let me. You bought lunch, the least I can do is make you a meal as a thank you.”
“You don’t have to do anything to thank me. Besides, you need to stay off your foot.”
“Fine. I’m going to take a shower then, if that’s okay.”
“Of course it’s okay.”
I go to the fridge and get out what I need, then start making dinner.
The pipes rumble when she turns on the shower, and a vision of Annie’s naked, wet body comes out of nowhere. Water cascading over her shoulders, down her back, over the curve of her round ass.
Trembling hands cause the knife to slip through my fingers, nearly taking off my toe. “Jesus.” I shake my head, and sadly, the image is gone.What the hell is wrong with you? This is Annie.
My nervous system is in disarray, with different signals fighting each other. I blow out a breath and roll my shoulders back in a lame attempt at releasing some tension.
I pour some sauce into the pan with the onions, bacon, and ground beef to let it simmer, then grab a mixing bowl and more ingredients from my cupboards to make cookies.
About ten minutes later, Annie comes out wearing a pair of dark purple pajama shorts and a matching long-sleeved shirt that hugs her breasts and shows a teasing hint of skin on her stomach. Joan Wick launches herself off the back of the couch at Annie, who easily catches her.
“Smells good. What are you making?”
I dump the dried pasta into the pot of boiling, salted water. “Grilled chicken and steamed veggies.”
Disappointment flashes as she comes toward me, but when she reaches the stove, her face lights up. “Spaghetti.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t have a plethora of cheese.”
Her voice gets soft. “I can’t believe you remember that.”
“I remembereverything. Which is why I’m also baking a batch of double-chunk chocolate chip cookies.”
I thought that would make her smile even bigger, but it seems to have the opposite effect. “What can I help with?”
“Hey. What just happened?”
“What do you mean?”
“You just closed down.”
She presses Joan Wick closer and avoids my eyes. “Nothing. I’m just tired.”
