Baz found it interesting that she always tacked that on, although he hadn’t lied to her once.
“Figured I’d be shitty company if I went out,” he explained. “Since I didn’t want to drag anyone down, thought maybe you’d like some help.”
JJ glanced over at her laptop, back to him. “I’m not workin’ on anything important.”
A lie, no doubt. Everything JJ worked on was important. And he knew she spent the majority of her spare time searching for Juliet Prince.
“Nothing important?” he challenged.
“No.” Her forehead creased with her frown, her hands still on her hips, only her fingers had started to flex and tap. It was a nervous tic, one he wasn’t sure she knew she had.
Tesha must’ve sensed the tension building, because the dog lifted her head, cast a sideways glance their way. Clearly believing it was safe, she curled up tighter and went back to sleep.
When Baz looked back at JJ, he noticed her eyes had glassed over, unshed tears filling them. His heart clenched in his chest.
How they’d managed to make it a full month without having this conversation, he didn’t know. But now that he was here, now that she was paying attention to him, Baz knew they had to clear the air between them.
Before he could begin, JJ blurted, “You might as well just say it.”
“Saywhat?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, Detective.”
And there it was. JJ had gone back to referring to him as Detective rather than by name. He’d learned early on that was her way of keeping him at arm’s length.
“You know exactly what I’m talkin’ about.”
Baz leaned his shoulder against the wall, feigned a casualness he didn’t feel. “Actually, I don’t. Enlighten me, JJ.”
“If this is your way of punishin’ me, you suck.”
Punishing her? What the fuck was she talking about?
He stood tall, frowned. “I’m not punishing you. Why would I?”
JJ held her ground, facing off with him, hands still on her hips. “Because I stood you up on Thanksgiving.”
“That was weeks ago.” And he’d been biding his time, trying to determine the best approach to ensure they got back to the way things were before.
“Yes,” she agreed. “It was. And … and because of…” She waved her hand.
“Because ofwhat?”
“Because I’ve avoided you all this time.”
Baz held her gaze. “Since I’d been expectin’ it, perhaps I wasn’t all that bothered by it.”
Okay, fine. Thatwasa lie. Bazhadbeen bothered by the fact JJ had ghosted him on Thanksgiving after agreeing to go with him to his father’s house for his family’s traditional holiday dinner. He’d been looking forward to spending some time with her, time outside of work, outside of her regular routine. And yes, he’d been looking forward to introducing her to his family.
However, he wasn’t lying when he said he had expected it. JJ was a complicated woman who’d successfully erected many walls around her heart in an effort to keep everyone out. So, yes, the one thing Baz knew she would do when given the opportunity was run. And hide.
Fortunately, he was a patient man. He’d already told her they would take this at her pace, and the last thing he expected was for this to be easy. The important things in life never were.
“So you’re not pissed?” she asked, her eyes sliding over his face as though she was attempting to read his answer by his expression.
He could see the wariness, the concern. And yes, he could see that she had feelings for him even if she would be the first to deny it.
“Pissed, no,” he admitted. “Disappointed, yes.”
