Touching Silver by Jamie Craig

clipped the leash on his collar, but as soon as it was secure he started jumping and pawing at the door.
    “Isaac…if I’m not out when you come back, there’s beer and food in the fridge. You can help yourself.”
    There wasn’t a hint of suggestion in her invitation, but the fact she’d issued it at all made him smile. “I think a beer might be good after the night we’ve had. Plus, we’ve still got our ribs from The Barn to finish.”
    Another yank from Tiberius had him at the door, and they were outside before Olivia responded. At least if she did, he didn’t hear it. He was too busy trying to keep the dog from tearing his arm off as he bolted down the front walk. They went so swiftly around the block that Isaac did another circuit, his breath coming in soft plumes by the time they neared the house the second time.
    “How about we go get that beer now?” he suggested to Tiberius. “And if you promise not to tell Olivia, I’ll even let you have a sip of mine.”
    The shower was still running, giving him a few minutes to look around. Off-white walls were plastered with framed photos of people and places he didn’t recognize. An older couple standing outside a lighthouse—they had to be her parents. A younger woman with her coloring and smile standing between three small children at a zoo. Several pictures marking Tiberius’ development. She didn’t have any other art on the walls, but she really didn’t have room for anything else either.
    Tiberius’ nails clicked on the hardwood floor as Isaac roamed around, navigating the toys and bones littering the room. A long leather couch dominated the living area, with two matching recliners and a solid wood coffee-table placed in the center. He pushed the kitchen door open, looking for any signs that she actually used it. The cramped space matched the rest of the small house, but she utilized every inch available. He crossed to the fridge and pulled the door open, not surprised to find it fully stocked.
    “Grab one for me too,” Olivia said from behind him.
    He glanced back out of reflex and nearly did a double take. She’d come straight from the shower, her robe cinched tightly around her slim waist. She’d scrubbed off the make-up and soot, leaving her skin dewy enough to make him want to reach out and touch it, and though her hair was still wet, she’d combed it before coming out of the bathroom. A fragile scent of citrus drifted to his nose. It had him reaching blindly into the refrigerator and grabbing the first two bottles he found, all without taking his eyes off her.
    “Are you hungry?” He watched her pull open a drawer and pass over an opener. “I can run out to the car and get the food if you want.”
    Olivia shook her head. “No, just parched.” She took the open beer bottle with a nod, then tilted her head back and downed several swallows. His gaze slid momentarily to the long, elegant column of her neck and the beads of moisture still dotting the hollow of her throat. He had to jerk his eyes away when she lowered the bottle or risk getting caught staring. At least when she spoke again, her voice sounded much stronger. “Did Tiberius behave himself?”
    He grinned. “I think there’s a tree around the corner that’s never going to speak to us again.”
    She chuckled. “We’re no longer on speaking terms with most of the trees on the block.” She leaned against the counter, absently peeling the label from the bottle. “So did the witness see anything?”
    It took a moment for him to connect with what she was asking. Witness. The arson. Right. “Complete waste of time.” Her presence made the small kitchen even smaller, and he struggled to figure out where to put himself. He finally opted for mirroring her pose on the opposite counter. It wasn’t ideal but it gave him the best viewpoint for watching her. Even if he did lose some of the delicious scent of her shampoo. “What about you? Remember anything more about what happened to