Page 129 of Random in Death
“We’ve been together for a while now.”
“A nice while.”
“We’re careful what we say to each other, sophisticated urbanites that we are.”
It made him smile. “Urbanites hits it. I think sophisticated misses me.”
“Nope. Here we are, a pair of sophisticated—and I’ll add experienced—urbanites. So we’ve been careful in this nice while. I’m going to toss that away right now and tell you I love you. I love who you are. I’m completely and deeply in love with you. And don’t care that that gives you an advantage.”
He stared at her for what seemed like forever. “Okay. Well, it’s a weird sort of time and place for this.”
“And yet, here we are.”
“Here we are. But I don’t see my advantage, since I love you. I’m completely and deeply in love with you. I think it’s a draw. There’s just one thing.”
“What would that be?”
“I don’t want to kiss you the way I really need to in here. It feels disrespectful. So let’s go outside.”
“Outside, it is. But you’d better make it good.”
Outside, as Peabody strapped into the passenger seat, she watched Jake pull Nadine into a kiss.
“Aw, look at that. Sweet. And there’s Mac still leaking some, but they’re all applauding. And… ooooh! Look, look! He’s doing the ‘lift you right off your feet, turn you around’ lip-lock. I love those! Don’t you love those? It makes me all gooey.”
“Jesus, Peabody, give them some privacy.”
“If they want privacy, they should get a room.”
“Yeah, you’ve got a point.”
As Eve merged with traffic, Peabody craned her head to watch.
“That’s a damn good kiss.”
Eve flicked a glance in the rearview.
She couldn’t argue.
“Get your head back in the job, Peabody, before it snaps off your neck. Let the Rosenburgs know we’re on our way.”
Chapter Eighteen
The Rosenburgs’ townhouse murmured dignity with its softly faded brick. It added cheerful with window boxes housing a rainbow of flowers spilling and spiking. They flanked a door painted I Dare You Red.
Solid security, Eve noted.
Presley answered the door. From the shadows under his eyes, he hadn’t slept much or well, but the fear that had lived in them the night before had faded.
He said, “Um, hi. We’re all in the back. I guess you didn’t catch him yet.”
“We’re working on it.”
They passed what Eve decided they used as a formal living space. Soft, warm colors, more flowers, furniture carefully arranged to encourage conversation. Across the hall a home office held a desk, a small, sleek data and communication unit, and floating shelves crammed with memorabilia and framed photos.
Eve heard the mix of voices, a quick giggle, and smelled what could only be pizza.
“We came straight from the hospital, then Kiki took one of her forever showers. Now everybody’s starving.”