Chasing the Shadows (Nikki & Michael 3)

"I doubt he has the psychic strength."

"Can I ask who Farmer is?” A hint of exasperation tinged Jake's voice.

"The fellow behind the shooting last night,” Michael said. “I have a meeting with him tonight."

"Is he the killer?"

She shrugged. “We're not sure. Probably."

Jake glanced at Michael, his expression hard. “He's a dead man?"

"If I can discover for a certainty he's behind the killings, yes."

"Good.” Jake's gaze returned to her. “Are you up to helping Jeff Harris?"

"I have very little choice, really. You've arranged a meeting?" He nodded. “Much to the annoyance of the police and Feds, I think.” He glanced at his watch. “Mary wants us to have breakfast together, then we'll head on over. I said we'd be there by nine-thirty."

"That's not leaving much time for breakfast. Mary won't be amused."

"She never is.” He pushed up from the sofa. “I'll see you in the dining room in ten minutes." He strode from the room and slammed the door closed. “A marriage in trouble,” Michael said softly.

"Yeah, and you'd better take note, buddy boy, because that's us a few years down the road if you don't start listening to me."

His dark gaze met hers, as unreadable as ever. “You and I are far different."

"Bull. Mary's taking no more notice of Jake's desires than you are of mine." He raised an eyebrow. “And is Jake taking any notice of Mary's desires?"

"He's here, isn't he?"

"Only to recover. You and I know he has no intention of taking the security position permanently." She crossed her arms and all but glared at him. “Mary knew what Jake did for a living when she married him. She has no right trying to change him this late in the game."

"Yet you have the right to try to change me?” A slight smile touched his lips. “I have never made any secret of my opposition to you joining me in my work."

"I'm not asking you to stop like Mary's asking Jake. All I'm asking is to be included in that section of your life."

"And in the meantime, deliberately ignoring every opposing argument I give. A marriage works two ways, Nikki. It's give and take."

She raised an eyebrow. “We're not married."

He hesitated. “No. But the principle is the same."

"So you're saying I take and don't give?"

His frustration flitted through the link between them. “No, that's not what I'm saying at all."

"Then what are you saying?"

"That for any relationship to last long-term, there has to be some sort of give and take between the wants and desires of both people."

She crossed her arms and glared at him. “And just what have you given up in this relationship? Your solitude and loneliness? Gee, that's mighty big of you."

"Sarcasm will not get you anywhere."

"But neither is simply trying to talk to you."

He made a cutting gesture with his hand, and the frustration in the link became clouded with anger. “I said I'd think about it. Leave it at that, Nikki."

"God, you're so damn frustrating at times."