another slice before taking a second for himself. Seeing her eyes widen, he added, “No, I did not arrest him, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
She’d actually been thinking how sexy Connor’s hands were but was not about to make that confession. Instead she kept chewing and enjoying. The thin crust was so crisp and there was something both spicy and sweet about the tomato sauce that made it unique and delicious.
“Apparently he was hired to spray-paint a guy’s car.”
Marissa nodded because her mouth was still full.
“So you knew about that?” Connor said, She nodded again.
“You didn’t think to share that info with me?”
She shook her head and kept chewing.
“Why not?”
She pointed to her mouth, indicating she was unable to reply at the moment.
“I’ll wait,” he said.
She swallowed and dabbed her mouth with the napkin.
“So?” he prompted her.
“Angelo’s Pizza is even better than I remember.” Connor’s touch was also better than she remembered. What had they been talking about? Oh yeah. Jose. “I didn’t think you’d be interested in Jose’s job.”
“We’re supposed to be working together on this project.”
“On Jose’s artwork?”
“You know what I mean,” he said.
“That was something he arranged outside of our group.”
Connor moved the pizza box closer to her, inviting her to take another slice. She took it. Her willpower was clearly nonexistent—at least where the pizza was concerned.
“What else has he arranged outside of the group?” Connor asked.
“What’s with the interrogation?” she countered. At this rate, this would be her last slice of pizza.
“I’m a cop. It’s what I do.”
“What made you leave Chicago and come back to Hopeful?”
“Now who’s conducting an interrogation?”
“It’s just a simple question.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Fine. Forget I asked.” Marissa knew her voice sounded huffy and she didn’t care. “Thanks for the pizza.” She moved to stand up but his hand on her arm stopped her. It also stopped her heart for a second. Again with the humming from her head to her toe. What was all that about?
“I didn’t mean to bite your head off,” he said gruffly.
Since she didn’t expect him to apologize she had no response for that.
Finally she said, “If you don’t want to talk about it…”
“I was ready for a change,” he said.
She sensed there was a lot more to it than that but didn’t press him. At least she didn’t mean to press him. But the words tumbled out of her mouth anyway. “Was it a woman?”
He glared at her. “No, it wasn’t a woman.”
“Okay.”
“It was work stuff, okay?”
“Okay. I can tell it’s a touchy subject with you.”
“I am not touchy. Touchy is for wimps.”
“Right. God forbid you should be a wimp or be touchy or actually have some emotions.”
“Hey, I have emotions. Too many damn emotions sometimes.” His voice turned dark and rough.
She saw the pain flash in his eyes and felt guilty for bringing up something that was so difficult for him. “I’m sorry.”
He regained control of his expression “You’re sorry for what?”
She could tell he didn’t want her referring to the reasons for his departure from Chicago again so she tried to lighten the situation a little. “Sorry I gave you a hard time about the pizza. Angelo’s is indeed awesome.”
“We had some good times back then, working there.”
“And eating there,” she said. “I think we tried every possible combination on the menu no matter how outlandish. Pineapple and spinach.”
“Pineapple, spinach and shrimp.”
“That was pretty good actually,” she said. “It’s when we added broccoli to that mix that things went terribly wrong.”
He laughed. “That was bad. Very bad.”
She shared a smile with him. It had been so long since she’d had a fun moment like this. She’d forgotten how wonderful it could feel. Or how addictive it could be.
Her eyes met his and she
She’d actually been thinking how sexy Connor’s hands were but was not about to make that confession. Instead she kept chewing and enjoying. The thin crust was so crisp and there was something both spicy and sweet about the tomato sauce that made it unique and delicious.
“Apparently he was hired to spray-paint a guy’s car.”
Marissa nodded because her mouth was still full.
“So you knew about that?” Connor said, She nodded again.
“You didn’t think to share that info with me?”
She shook her head and kept chewing.
“Why not?”
She pointed to her mouth, indicating she was unable to reply at the moment.
“I’ll wait,” he said.
She swallowed and dabbed her mouth with the napkin.
“So?” he prompted her.
“Angelo’s Pizza is even better than I remember.” Connor’s touch was also better than she remembered. What had they been talking about? Oh yeah. Jose. “I didn’t think you’d be interested in Jose’s job.”
“We’re supposed to be working together on this project.”
“On Jose’s artwork?”
“You know what I mean,” he said.
“That was something he arranged outside of our group.”
Connor moved the pizza box closer to her, inviting her to take another slice. She took it. Her willpower was clearly nonexistent—at least where the pizza was concerned.
“What else has he arranged outside of the group?” Connor asked.
“What’s with the interrogation?” she countered. At this rate, this would be her last slice of pizza.
“I’m a cop. It’s what I do.”
“What made you leave Chicago and come back to Hopeful?”
“Now who’s conducting an interrogation?”
“It’s just a simple question.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Fine. Forget I asked.” Marissa knew her voice sounded huffy and she didn’t care. “Thanks for the pizza.” She moved to stand up but his hand on her arm stopped her. It also stopped her heart for a second. Again with the humming from her head to her toe. What was all that about?
“I didn’t mean to bite your head off,” he said gruffly.
Since she didn’t expect him to apologize she had no response for that.
Finally she said, “If you don’t want to talk about it…”
“I was ready for a change,” he said.
She sensed there was a lot more to it than that but didn’t press him. At least she didn’t mean to press him. But the words tumbled out of her mouth anyway. “Was it a woman?”
He glared at her. “No, it wasn’t a woman.”
“Okay.”
“It was work stuff, okay?”
“Okay. I can tell it’s a touchy subject with you.”
“I am not touchy. Touchy is for wimps.”
“Right. God forbid you should be a wimp or be touchy or actually have some emotions.”
“Hey, I have emotions. Too many damn emotions sometimes.” His voice turned dark and rough.
She saw the pain flash in his eyes and felt guilty for bringing up something that was so difficult for him. “I’m sorry.”
He regained control of his expression “You’re sorry for what?”
She could tell he didn’t want her referring to the reasons for his departure from Chicago again so she tried to lighten the situation a little. “Sorry I gave you a hard time about the pizza. Angelo’s is indeed awesome.”
“We had some good times back then, working there.”
“And eating there,” she said. “I think we tried every possible combination on the menu no matter how outlandish. Pineapple and spinach.”
“Pineapple, spinach and shrimp.”
“That was pretty good actually,” she said. “It’s when we added broccoli to that mix that things went terribly wrong.”
He laughed. “That was bad. Very bad.”
She shared a smile with him. It had been so long since she’d had a fun moment like this. She’d forgotten how wonderful it could feel. Or how addictive it could be.
Her eyes met his and she
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