Like Arrows (Cedar Tree #6) by Freya Barker Page A

ministrations. And damn if that doesn't get a rise out of me. She probably feels me get hard under her ass, because suddenly she starts scrambling to the passenger side.
    "I'm too heavy."
    "Thinking that's not the problem, babe." She doesn't answer that, but resumes staring out the window at nothing. I reach over and grab her chin, tilting it my way. "Until we get a better grip on who is responsible for last night and what your boss got himself into with those land deals, you have to be very careful." Encouraged by her little nod I press on, "Part of that includes allowing me to look out for you. The company I work for, GFI, is run by a good man, Gus Flemming, and he wouldn't allow anything to happen to you. Not on his watch. Or rather, my watch. We'll keep you safe."
    She opens her mouth as if to protest, but closes it again quickly, simply nodding. Not quite the security of a verbal agreement, but I'll take it.
    -
    B y the time we pull into the diner's parking lot, I can see we're last to arrive. By the looks of it, just about all of the GFI crowd is present. Fuck me.
    Expecting a large congregation to be waiting for us, I'm surprised to see Gus and Emma off to the side in one of the smaller booths for four. Joe and Naomi, Neil, Caleb and Katie, and my little nephew are all gathered around  the big round table Arlene added a few months ago. Mostly to house our crew.
    "Hey!" Naomi calls out when we come in and Kim looks up in surprise.
    "Oh hi," she says a little meekly, eyeing the substantial crowd at the table.
    Not meekly enough to miss the ears of Mattias, whose eyes pop up in our direction. The moment he sees me, a big smile breaks through on his face. With his little arms raised toward me he starts his usual chant. "Unca! Unca!"
    From experience I know that unless I give him his due attention, the chanting will turn into crying. My nephew seems to adore me, which is good 'cause the feeling is mutual. Never thought I'd be interested in kids. I generally could take them or leave them, but with the birth of Mattias that seems to have changed.
    With my hand at the small of Kim's back I guide her to the larger table, shrugging in the direction of Gus and Emma who seem to be observing with amusement. They know the drill.
    "Hey buddy," I smile at Mattias, lifting him from the high chair. His little hands slap on my cheeks and his smile almost splits his face in two. Bad moods never last long when this little guy is around, his sunny disposition puts everyone in a good mood.
    Distracted by my nephew, it takes me a while to notice Kim is looking very uncomfortable. Of course.
    "Kim, this little guy is Mattias, and he belongs to my brother Caleb and his wife Katie."
    Katie, who has notably softened since becoming a mother, stands up immediately and grabs Kim's hand, smiling broadly. The hard edges her job as investigator for GFI required her to have are barely visible anymore. My brother just tilts his chin.
    "Nice to meet you, Kim."
    "Likewise."
    I'm surprised to see Naomi also standing, giving Kim a hug. "Hey girl, so glad to see you here. I didn't realize you knew Mal."
    I'm busy keeping Mattias’ hands out of my hair. He loves to pull it out by hanks. But I do notice Kim's shy glance at me and decide to jump in.
    "We met recently on a case," I tell Naomi with a smile before finishing up introductions. "The blond guy with the ugly mug next to Naomi is her fiancé Joe, a colleague of mine, and Neil over there is the Benjamin of the group. He's our tech specialist."
    Kim lifts her hand in a small wave as I untangle myself from my nephew’s clutches and plop him back in his seat beside his mom.
    "If you guys will excuse us, there's someone else I'd like to introduce Kim to."
    A series of Sure things and Nice to meet yous follow us to the booth where Gus and Emma are now openly smiling.
    "This is my boss, Gus Flemming, and his wife Emma," I tell Kim who seems a little intimidated with all the introductions. I don't blame her,