There was heat, one quick flash, and warmth beneath it, a spreading, settled warmth that reached down to the marrow.
Home, he thought as the taste of her coated over the grief and fatigue of the last days. Home at last.
“You failed to inform me of your schedule,” she said in a reasonably accurate mimic of Summerset. “Now I guess I have to cancel the hot date I lined up with the lap-dancing twins.”
“Ah, Lars and Sven. I’ve heard they’re very inventive.” He rested his cheek against hers as he set her on her feet again. “What are you doing up here?”
“I don’t know exactly. Couldn’t settle, wanted air.” She eased back to study his face. “You okay?”
“Yes.”
But she angled her head, took his face in her hands. “Are you okay?” she repeated.
“It was difficult. More than I expected it to be. I thought I’d put it away.”
“He was your friend. Whatever else, he was your friend.”
“One who died so I didn’t. I’ve resolved that.” He laid his brow on hers. “Or thought I had. This wake Brian wanted, the gathering of so many from my past, then seeing where Mick had been put in the ground . . . it was difficult.”
“I should have gone with you.”
He smiled a little. “Some of the mourners might have been a little uneasy with a cop in the midst. Even my cop. Still, I’ve a message from Brian for you. As he stood behind his bar at the Penny Pig he asked that I tell you when you’ve come to your senses and shed yourself of the likes of me, he’ll be waiting for you.”
“It’s always good to have backup. You have dinner?”
“Not yet, no.”
“Why don’t we try a little role reversal? I’ll make you eat, sneak a soother in your food, then tuck you into bed.”
“You’ve shadows under your eyes, so it seems to me you’re the one in need of food and bed. Summerset said you were out all night.”
“Summerset is a big, fat tattletale. I caught a case last night.”
He feathered his long fingers through her hair, letting all those shades of brown and blonde spill through. “Want to tell me about it?”
She could have said no, and he’d have wheedled it out of her. “Later.” She eased back into his arms, held on.
“I missed you, Eve. Missed holding you like this. Missed the smell of you, the taste.”
“You could make up for it.” She turned her head so that her lips skimmed over his jaw.
“I intend to.”
“Intentions are easy.” Now she used her teeth. “I prefer action. Right here, right now.”
He let her back him toward a long, padded chaise. “What about Lars and Sven?”
“I’ll take care of them later.”
He grinned, spun her around so she hit the chaise first. “I think you’re going to be much too tired for a lap dance.”
“I don’t know. I’m feeling pretty energetic.” She shifted to cradle him between her thighs. And her eyebrows winged up. “Hey, you, too.”
“I seem to have caught my second wind.” He opened the first button on her shirt, paused. “Isn’t this my shirt?”
She winced before she could stop herself. “So?”
“So.” Touched, amused, he dispatched the rest of the buttons. “I’m afraid I’ll have to have it back.”