Candy took a deep breath after Jameson left for the car. She had about two minutes to screw up her courage. She was a vibrant modern woman and she could have a purely sexual relationship just like anyone else. Really, she could.

“Bitsy boy.” She nuzzled the teeny dog’s nose. “You are going to be my good luck charm. He couldn’t have given you to me without liking me a little, right? We are too different to have a real relationship but I’m allowed to get him out of my system. Last time was just because it had been so long since I’d... Once more, maybe twice and that will be the end of that. It’s just a little sex. We’re both adults and single so what can the harm be? It isn’t like we’re talking about forever.”

The dog jumped from her hands when it saw Jameson at the door. The little thing put up quite the racket for something so small. When she let Jameson in the little pip-squeak jumped up in his lap and then climbed up to his shoulder like a pirate’s parrot.

“Dog, why do you do that?” Jameson grumbled. She started giggling. Which made Jameson scowl even more, which seemed to set off Bitsy so he started barking. By that point the two of them looked so ridiculous and adorable that she had tears in her eyes from laughing so hard. A purely sexual affair with her boss had to be one of her worst ideas ever but she wanted him. It wasn’t just the obvious things about him she liked but the little things like that he wasn’t happy about the little dog on his shoulder but since the dog was happy and she was happy he’d let it go.

“Can I do anything for dinner? I mean, I can’t really cook but I can chop vegetables.”

“Actually, all the prep is done. I just need to mix up the dumplings and put everything together. If you want to help, you can set the table for me.”

“I can do that.” He put the little dog on his lap and the puppy went right to sleep. It made no sense whatsoever but she was a little jealous of that dog.

“I’ll get the stuff.”

They managed to work in her tiny kitchen together without any disaster. There was a minute of awkward silence when they were waiting for dinner to cook but then they started talking about some of the cases at work and the crazy things some of the guys did. One topic flowed into another and she relaxed enough to breathe. This was a good decision, crazy admittedly, but good. For all his yelling and bluster he was a good man deep down.

“He’s gonna get sick if you keep sneaking him food like that.” Her hand stopped midway to her lap where Bitsy was curled up enjoying being spoiled.

“I wasn’t...” He raised his eyebrows. “Okay fine. But he’s so darn cute, I can’t resist. I have a weakness for anything male who likes my cooking.” Shoot! She shouldn’t have said that. Now Jameson was looking anywhere but at her. She handed him Bitsy and cleared their dishes.

“I’m afraid all I have for dessert is cookies, but they’re toffee chocolate chip. I have some sweet cream ice cream we can have with them.”

“I suppose you made the ice cream too?” She ducked her head, great, he thought she was predictable, and ridiculous. Her cheeks burned and she wanted to run from the room but it was her kitchen. “Oh God you did, didn’t you?”

“It isn’t hard. It’s just whipped cream and sweetened condensed milk. Even you could make it.”

“But I wouldn’t. The extent of my skills end with protein shakes and scrambled eggs. I don’t keep sweets at home because I have no willpower when it comes to devouring them.” Hmm, she’d like to be devoured. “Yes, I’d love some dessert.” His smile turned soft and she couldn’t help staring at his mouth. She licked her own lips but wished she were running her tongue over his instead. He let the silence stretch thin between them. He may have been watching her mouth as much as she was watching his. She could hope.

“I’ll go get everything ready.”

“I’ll help.”

“No! I mean, there isn’t much to get. I can manage it.” She jumped up and ran to the freezer sticking her scalding face inside. Yes, she was hiding from what she wanted but she needed to catch her breath before she made a complete idiot of herself.

She dished up the ice cream sandwiches she had whipped together. Whatever personality flaws the man had, being unappreciative of her or her cooking wasn’t one of them. He was groaning in ways that would put ideas in a nun’s head. And watching him lick the dripping ice cream from between the cookies, it was hard to keep her mind on what she was supposed to be doing.

“Um, you got a little something...” He took her sandwich from her hand and put it on her plate like she was a sleepy child and then proceeded to clean the ice cream that had dripped down her wrist. “So how come you never re-married?”

She had practiced answers to that question with her therapist, but right now with him holding her hand and looking into her eyes she couldn’t remember a single one they’d decided on.

“I… uh… I…” She pulled her hand back and ducked her eyes. A deep breath helped but it didn’t get rid of the warmth from his hand that still clung to hers. “I kind of hit a rough patch. Bill had died and, then my mom got sick so I was taking care of her. Then she passed and well, it all kind of hit me at once.” She rubbed at the scar on her wrist. Then she watched in fascinated horror as he reached across the table to take her hand again.

He turned her hand so it was palm up making the scar stand out against her skin. His thumb brushed feather light over the thin arrow straight scar. “That when you did this?” She’d always counted on people wanting to avoid unpleasantness to get away without directly answering. Here he was seeking the answer out.

She couldn’t get the words to leave her mouth so she nodded at him. “I’m better now!” Her voice had gone loud and screech-y. She sucked in another breath and this time managed to sound at least rational. “I’m getting help. I’m dealing with the depression and with the meds...” She wanted to cry but bursting into tears would only make every cliché he was thinking true. So much for jumping back into life.

The knock at the door startled her and she jumped up to see who it was. She didn’t get visitors very often so two in one night was beyond odd. Bitsy climbed up on Jameson’s shoulder as the man followed her to the door.

Whoever it was wouldn’t stop hitting the doorbell.

“Oh, Mr. Snell! Is something wrong?” The man looked around her at Jameson and grimaced. Bitsy took an instant dislike to him and started growling. “Bitsy! No!”

“You got a dog?”

“Yes, just today. He...”

“There was another incident. A fire this time, beside Mr. Arnold’s garage.”

“Oh no! Did it do much damage?”

“No, luckily I saw it in time. The drizzle kept it manageable.”

Jameson snorted. “Funny how you’re always around when something happens.”

“I suppose I could say the same thing about you. Where were you around 5:30 this evening?” Jameson’s eyes went cold and she could feel the warmth leave the room quick.

“Don’t know, I think that was about the time I got here. I sat in the car for a few minutes and then came in.”

“More than enough time to start a small fire.”

“Mr. Snell, that is enough! Why would he do that? There is no possible gain for him.”

“Maybe he wants to impress you? Or he just has a hero complex.” She looked back at Jameson and almost snorted out loud. He was born with a hero complex but she didn’t think he needed to burn down someone’s garage to take care of it.

“Except that when the two attacks on my place happened he was with me.”

“He could have an accomplice. Candace, what do you really know about him?” The question knocked her back. What did she really know about him other than that she felt safe with him, he snored, liked her cooking, oh, and made her body come to life in a way she didn’t think possible. Come to think of it she didn’t even know his full name.

“I know enough. If Mr. Arnold needs anything just tell me. I’d like to get back to my dinner.” Mr. Snell’s eyes narrowed, a muscle vibrated near his jaw, and he looked like he wanted to say something but stopped.

“Candace, I’m right next door if you need me. I wish you would re-consider my offer.”

“That is very kind, but no, I think things are fine the way they are.” She closed the door and turned to find two male glares staring back at her.

“I don’t like him.” Jameson growled, Bitsy added his own growl to the mix.

“I don’t think he likes you either.”

“Don’t sass me. I’m looking out for your safety.”

“I am a full grown woman and the two of you are acting like toddlers fighting over a toy. I wanted you to stay but now I think maybe you should go.”

“You wanted me to stay? Because you didn’t feel safe?”

“No, I, oh never mind. It doesn’t matter.”

“Candy, what did you mean?”

“I was going to, I was going to ask you to stay the night.”

“On the couch.”

“No.” She held her breath and wanted the floor to swallow her whole. She watched as he worked through the puzzle she’d left sitting between them. She knew the moment he got it. “Oh God.” If he laughed at her or made one wisecrack she was going to split his head open.

“You, want me?”

“I thought...”

“I got it. Babe, I’ve made no bones about wanting you.”

“But you barely let me kiss you.”

“Yeah, it’s killing me. But if we do this, no running out afterwards, especially without telling me what is going on in that pretty head of yours.”

“Jameson, I… this is all so new and I’m on shaky ground here.”

“So let me be your rock. I’d like nothing better than to have you hang on to me when you feel like you’re slipping.”

“I can’t. I can’t do that.”

He rolled to the door. “I’ll be here when you’re ready but not a minute before.” And then he was out the door. She stared at it as if she could make it disappear. What in heck was she doing? She wrenched open the door like she was going to tear it from its hinges.

“Jameson!” Except he hadn’t really gone anywhere and she almost ended up in his lap. Which come to think of it that wasn’t a bad place to be.

“I knew you couldn’t resist me.” She growled at him and Bitsy cocked his head at her. “You’ll get used to her, little dog. She does that, mostly when I’m around.”

She started laughing. Bitsy jumped from her hands and climbed up on Jameson. Now she was hanging on to the door jamb trying to get enough air in her lungs to breathe and her stomach hurt.

“Jesus, it wasn’t that funny. Are you okay?” It took a minute but she finally calmed down enough to answer him.

“Sorry, I was so nervous through dinner and after. I kind of lost it. I should be mad at you.”

“Wait, should be?” One eyebrow flicked up quickly followed by the other. “Which means you’re not!” She glared at him. “Okay, a little. How ‘bout if I promise to make it up to you with something especially kinky.”

Her eyes bugged out. “Wh-what are you going to do?”

“Relax babe. I would never do anything you didn’t like, a lot.”