bag.
“Kate?”
“Hmm?”
“Thanks for coming today.”
She settled back on her elbows and looked at him. “You’re pretty good company.”
“Better than good.”
She laughed. “We’ll have to see.”
The sun was warm, Kate was quiet, and it had been a long week. Dave felt himself drifting to sleep and didn’t fight it.
The sun was overhead when he awoke. He stretched; every muscle in his body was relaxed. He turned to look at Kate. She was sprawled on the blanket beside him, soaking in the sun. The book was set aside, about half read. Her beauty hit him again like a blow. He felt shaky inside at the suddenness of the emotion. Why did she have to be an unbeliever? A cop? He would love to have the freedom to lean over and kiss her. He looked away, took a deep breath. Think cousin. Right. He should have a cousin as good-looking as Kate. He glanced at his watch. It was past 2 P.M.
“We probably need to move into the shade.”
“Later.”
He chuckled. She was obviously quite comfortable where she was. “Come on, I’ll spring for the cold sodas.”
She reluctantly opened her eyes and sighed. “You are waking me up again.”
He winced. “Sorry.”
“That’s okay.” She glanced at her watch and groaned. “Let’s find that cold drink; then I probably need to get home. Work is waiting.”
“You’re disappointing me, Kate. I hoped I could at least talk you into lunch.”
His smile was rewarded with an answering grin. “You must be losing your touch.”
“Ouch.”
She laughed. “Seriously, I’ve got an O’Malley family gathering tomorrow. I’ve got no choice but to at least get started on reviewing the negotiation tapes.”
He watched as she got to her feet and stretched. She was moving easier today, the cuts from the bank holdup having finally healed.
“Think you could find an ice-cream cone to go with that cold drink?”
“Probably.” He was surprised at her choice and pleased that she had asked. “You’re sure you wouldn’t like something more exotic?”
“Just an ice-cream cone.”
“How about Justin’s?” The locally owned ice cream shop was a regular at the Taste of Chicago, and it was near Kate’s home.
“Now you’re talking.”
He looked at his beeper, confirmed again there had been no page. How hard was it to locate one man? Where was Bobby Tersh?
Six
Y ou’ve been distracted all afternoon. Is everything okay?”
Lisa’s question made Kate glance up and realize her sister was holding out a glass of lemonade. “Sorry.” She reached to accept it. “Everything’s fine.” Except for the fact Bobby Tersh was still out there somewhere, now in Indianapolis according to the latest sighting; Dave had her flustered with his habit of showing up in her life; and Jennifer had called this gathering without indicating why. Kate shook her head and sipped at the cold drink. Dinner preparations were finished. Jennifer, Marcus, and the rest of the O’Malleys would be here within the hour.
“I tried to call you yesterday, but you weren’t answering at home.”
“You should have paged me.”
“I knew I would see you today.”
Kate settled deeper into the cushions of the sofa, resting the cold drink against her jeans. She had spent well into the evening hours yesterday beginning the review of the negotiation tapes from the bank. The tactical outcome had been necessary, but it still felt like a defeat.
“Kate.” Lisa waved her hand. “See? Distracted.”
Kate groaned. The last thing she wanted was for Lisa to know work was getting to her. The family already worried about her enough. Stephen had been sworn to silence about the black rose. “Sorry.” Searching for a distraction, she offered one she knew would get Lisa’s interest. “Dave Richman came over for pizza the other night. He seems to be there every time I turn around lately.”
Lisa set down the glass she had just picked up. “Really?”
Kate looked over at her sister and half smiled. “Don’t
“Kate?”
“Hmm?”
“Thanks for coming today.”
She settled back on her elbows and looked at him. “You’re pretty good company.”
“Better than good.”
She laughed. “We’ll have to see.”
The sun was warm, Kate was quiet, and it had been a long week. Dave felt himself drifting to sleep and didn’t fight it.
The sun was overhead when he awoke. He stretched; every muscle in his body was relaxed. He turned to look at Kate. She was sprawled on the blanket beside him, soaking in the sun. The book was set aside, about half read. Her beauty hit him again like a blow. He felt shaky inside at the suddenness of the emotion. Why did she have to be an unbeliever? A cop? He would love to have the freedom to lean over and kiss her. He looked away, took a deep breath. Think cousin. Right. He should have a cousin as good-looking as Kate. He glanced at his watch. It was past 2 P.M.
“We probably need to move into the shade.”
“Later.”
He chuckled. She was obviously quite comfortable where she was. “Come on, I’ll spring for the cold sodas.”
She reluctantly opened her eyes and sighed. “You are waking me up again.”
He winced. “Sorry.”
“That’s okay.” She glanced at her watch and groaned. “Let’s find that cold drink; then I probably need to get home. Work is waiting.”
“You’re disappointing me, Kate. I hoped I could at least talk you into lunch.”
His smile was rewarded with an answering grin. “You must be losing your touch.”
“Ouch.”
She laughed. “Seriously, I’ve got an O’Malley family gathering tomorrow. I’ve got no choice but to at least get started on reviewing the negotiation tapes.”
He watched as she got to her feet and stretched. She was moving easier today, the cuts from the bank holdup having finally healed.
“Think you could find an ice-cream cone to go with that cold drink?”
“Probably.” He was surprised at her choice and pleased that she had asked. “You’re sure you wouldn’t like something more exotic?”
“Just an ice-cream cone.”
“How about Justin’s?” The locally owned ice cream shop was a regular at the Taste of Chicago, and it was near Kate’s home.
“Now you’re talking.”
He looked at his beeper, confirmed again there had been no page. How hard was it to locate one man? Where was Bobby Tersh?
Six
Y ou’ve been distracted all afternoon. Is everything okay?”
Lisa’s question made Kate glance up and realize her sister was holding out a glass of lemonade. “Sorry.” She reached to accept it. “Everything’s fine.” Except for the fact Bobby Tersh was still out there somewhere, now in Indianapolis according to the latest sighting; Dave had her flustered with his habit of showing up in her life; and Jennifer had called this gathering without indicating why. Kate shook her head and sipped at the cold drink. Dinner preparations were finished. Jennifer, Marcus, and the rest of the O’Malleys would be here within the hour.
“I tried to call you yesterday, but you weren’t answering at home.”
“You should have paged me.”
“I knew I would see you today.”
Kate settled deeper into the cushions of the sofa, resting the cold drink against her jeans. She had spent well into the evening hours yesterday beginning the review of the negotiation tapes from the bank. The tactical outcome had been necessary, but it still felt like a defeat.
“Kate.” Lisa waved her hand. “See? Distracted.”
Kate groaned. The last thing she wanted was for Lisa to know work was getting to her. The family already worried about her enough. Stephen had been sworn to silence about the black rose. “Sorry.” Searching for a distraction, she offered one she knew would get Lisa’s interest. “Dave Richman came over for pizza the other night. He seems to be there every time I turn around lately.”
Lisa set down the glass she had just picked up. “Really?”
Kate looked over at her sister and half smiled. “Don’t
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