you go as well?â
Could all that sarcasm be masking a twinge of jealousy? She wondered if heâd ever experienced such a thing before?
âI knew youâd understand,â she said, hugging him. âLetâs go eat.â
The man looked positively baffled as he followed her to the table. Once the food was on, though, they quickly put aside Stan and his cheap innuendo.
âYouâre a genius,â he said, dipping his last bite of lobster into the warm, clarified butter.
âI know.â She took a piece of her lobster with her fingers, slathered it in butter, and lifted it to his lips.
He ate, then caught her hand and licked the butter from her fingertips one by one. She shut her eyes, reveling in the slow, lazy sensuousness of his tongue against her fingertips. When he finished with her pinky, she reached for another piece.
âUh, uh,â he murmured, taking her hand and drawing her from her chair to his lap. âYou taste much better than lobster.â He pretended to take a bite out of her chin, her jaw, her neck. His hand slid down her waist to her hips. Where he touched, she sizzled.
âI miss you so much when weâre not together,â she whispered. âThe days seem so empty.â
âAnd the nights,â he murmured, carefully pulling her top free from the waistband of her slacks.
She loved him, but her head spun. She felt confused. A little scared. Never one to keep things inside, she had to tell him how she felt.
She drew back. âI have to talk to you, Paavo,â she said seriously. âI know we agreed that our relationship needed time to grow, to mature, and to see how things might work out between us, butâ¦â
His hands stilled. Eyes wide, he stared at her.
Could he be reading her mind? she wondered. Could he be looking so stricken just because she thought it might be time for them to discuss marriage?
Suddenly, the phone rang. They both nearly jumped out of their skins at the shrill sound.
It rang again. âYouâd better answer it, Angie. It might be important.â
âIâm sure itâs not. Let the answering machineââ
He stood, lifting her out of his lap and helping her stand. âI told Homicide they could reach me here tonight, if anything came up.â
âAll right, all right. Iâll get it.â She kissed him. âYou stay right there.â
He started to follow her to the phone.
âFreeze, Inspector!â
He threw up his hands and, as she picked up the phone, he sat back down.
âYes?â she said curtly.
âHey, there, Angie. How ya doinâ?â
She groaned inwardly. She knew that jubilant voice. Paavoâs homicide partner.
âActually, Iâm kind of busy.â
âSay, is the Big P.S. there?â
She winced. P.S.âan afterthought. Thatâs what sheâd be once Paavo took this phone call. âHeâs here,â she said with a sigh. âHold on.â
She handed Paavo the phone. âItâs your partner.â
He put the phone to his ear. âYosh, whatâs up?â
He listened for a couple of minutes, then frowned. âWhat was her name?â
Angie caught the âwas.â God, no, she thought. Another homicide. She prayed she was wrong.
âCity Hall? Is that why the chiefâs worried?â
Was someone killed at City Hall? she wondered. She rubbed the chill from her arms.
âGot it,â he said, then placed the phone back in its cradle. As he turned, the expression on his face told her Yoshâs call was more than just informational.
âYou donât have to leave, do you?â she asked.
âIâm on call this week.â
âMy God, Paavo, there are other homicide inspectors in this city! We were supposed to have this time together.â
âIâm sorry, Angie. This isnât the way I wanted our evening to end.â
She looked at the unhappy, yet determined look in his