“Makes sense.” It did. She didn’t go out into the field often, but every so often, she accompanied Dr. Hanson to a homicide or suspicious death to take notes. The M.E.’s office provided protective field gear for those calls.
“There’s a little diner in town,” he said, zipping up his fly. “Nothing fancy, but the food’s good. You want to go?”
Tess tugged the sheet tighter across her chest and sat up, the cotton cool against her skin. The idea of being out in public together should have made her nervous that they were getting too involved, but instead, she found herself nodding. “Yeah. I’d like that.”
A smile tugged at his mouth—somewhere between boyish and roguish—as he pulled on his shirt.
Tess lingered in the warmth of the bed a moment longer, wondering when she’d last felt this kind of lightness. It was amazing and a little bit terrifying. She stretched, then pushed away her sudden shyness about being naked and tossed the bed linens aside. A secret thrill surged through her when Brian’s mouth dropped open as he stared, watching her sashay to the bathroom. Feeling emboldened, she pivoted a half step and gave him a sassy wink before shutting the door behind her.
Twenty minutes later, the bell over the diner door jingled as they stepped inside, and the familiar scent of coffee and frying bacon wrapped aroundTess like a blanket. A sign told them to seat themselves. The place wasn’t fancy—red vinyl booths, chrome trim dulled by years of use, and a long counter where patrons sat hunched over their mugs—but there was comfort in its simplicity and cleanliness. She’d passed the place a dozen times, always meaning to stop in. Now she was walking beside Brian, her hand brushing against his as they moved through the narrow aisle.
They stopped at an empty booth, and Tess slid onto one side, the vinyl cool against her bare legs beneath her sundress. Brian took the seat across from her, settling in with the easy comfort of a man on familiar ground.
She picked up the laminated menu more to occupy her hands than out of necessity. The truth was, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d had breakfast out, and the thought of ordering pancakes and coffee with the man she’d had sex with last night felt oddly intimate.
A middle-aged waitress with a pencil stuck behind her ear appeared at their table, pad in hand. “Morning. Good to see you, Brian.”
“Hey, Meg. How’s Pete doing?”
“Oh, you know him. Damn man had a heart attack and was itching to get back to work the next day. If the doctor doesn’t give him the okay soon, I’ll kill Pete myself—you didn’t hear that, Agent Malone,” she added with a friendly wink before turning toTess. “Coffee?”
“Yes, please.” The words came out quickly, as if the simple act of ordering might ground her.
Brian nodded. “Make it two.”
“You got it. I’ll grab those while you decide what to order.”
“Thanks, Meg.”
When the waitress left, Tess glanced up and caught Brian watching her. His expression wasn’t unreadable—if anything, it was the opposite. Open. Steady. Like he was cataloging her every little reaction.
“What?” she asked, half smiling, half self-conscious.
“Nothing.” Despite his claim, the corners of his mouth curved upward. “You just look... I don’t know... lighter today.”
Her cheeks warmed. “That’s probably because I don’t have anything on my schedule today.”
“Hmm.” He didn’t sound convinced, but he let it slide. The look in his eyes said otherwise—he knew exactly why she seemed lighter. The glow in her chest had nothing to do with a free calendar and everything to do with him... and the way he’d made her body sing last night.
The waitress returned with two steaming mugs, and Tess wrapped her hands around hers, grateful for the heat. Maybe it would stop the goose bumps skittering across her skin. She took a sip, wincing at the strength before adding two packets of sugar and a splash of cream from the little pitcher on the table.
After they placed their orders, Brian leaned back in his seat, his gaze drifting briefly to the window where sunlight spilled over Main Street. “What do you want to do today? After breakfast, I mean.”
Tess traced a fingertip along the rim of her mug. “Anything that doesn’t involve laundry or errands.”
He chuckled, the sound low and warm. “I was thinking we could go to an outdoor market about a mile up Beach Road. There are always lots of vendors with crafts, food, and all sorts of stuff. I haven’t been to it in a while, but I figured it would be fun.”
Her heart skipped. The thought of spending the day with him, no expectations, just the two of them, was more than she’d let herself hope for. “That sounds perfect.”
It wasn’t long before their plates arrived—pancakes dusted with powdered sugar for her, eggs, bacon, hash browns, and toast for him—and for a few minutes, the conversation paused as they dug in. The food was simple but delicious, and Tess realized how long it had been since she’d shared a meal with someone other than her brother, who made her laugh between bites.
Brian picked up a piece of bacon, then looked at her across the table. “You know, I wasn’t sure this morning would be... easy.”
Her fork stilled. “And?”
“And it is,” he said candidly, as though that was explanation enough.
The words settled deep in her chest. He was right.It was exactly what their morning-after interaction resembled—unexpectedly, impossibly easy.
