Page 111 of The Quiet Witness

He closed his eyes in exasperation, groaning. “Oh, for goodness sake, woman.”

If only I could go for it.

“What? I’m just curious.”

“No, you’re suspicious. I’m not about to poison you with weed, dear girl.”

She crossed her arms over each other, waiting for an explanation.

“It’s just that one of us needs to remain level-headed. Take a swig already before I have to help you take it.”

She smirked, a hint of a challenge lighting up in her tired eyes. “How would you go about that?”

“Don’t tempt me, sweetheart.” At her curious tilt, he added, “something with holding one’s nose closed. Now come on.” Seeing the way her cheeks flushed red, he pleasantly surmised that his threat had been received.

They were teasing and threatening, as they always did. But he couldn’t ignore the look in her eyes, that glint of darkness taking hold for a couple of seconds before receding again, like waves lapping against the shore. The moments when she thought about the little kid left to his own devices. When Isabel popped up in her mind, making her clench her hands.

Like now… when that darkness in her pupils deepened before she sighed, making her decision.

This time, when she set it to her lips, she did take a careful inhale only to start coughing right away, face scrunching up. “The taste is pretty good but oh—,” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “—the burn. For. Goodness. Sake.”

Taking a couple of seconds to steady her breathing, she reached for a pack of tissues. But Lucien was faster, grabbing the blue pack off the coffee table before graciously extending it to her. Receiving a grunt in thanks, she wiped her nose, holding the joint up in one hand. Experienced smoker indeed.

After handing her a glass of water which she gulped down like a fish, she took another swig. This time regulating her breathing and taking a surprisingly deep tug before slowly exhaling. Closing her eyes she muttered softly. “This actually feels quite relaxing.”

Time to steal it back. Lucien fished it out of her hands in a swoop. “That’s quite enough.”

“Those two puffs… seriously?”

He smirked. “Damn serious. You’ll see.”

“I’m supposed to believe this will get me off my rocks?”

A feline grin took over. “As a first time smoker? Give it a couple minutes before it kicks in.” Tilting his head slightly, he added. “You might cuss me out after.”

“And you’re telling me this now.” A sigh passed her lips.

Chapter 46

Still Waters Have Deep Depths

Not five minutes later, a slow smile spread out across her flushed face. He couldn’t help asking, “What’s so funny?”

This ought to be good.

“I shouldn’t be laughing about this, but that father’s face.” A laugh burst out of her. “I’m happy I had the front row seat of that view.”

And so it begins. Lucien leaned in closer, noting the way her pupils had dilated. “He deserved it.”

Kate’s head bobbed with enthusiastic conviction. “He did and you, you looked ferocious.” She glanced at him suspiciously. “A tad creepy if you ask me.”

Lucien hummed his agreement. “That was the point.”

Kate let out a “brrr.” Her shoulders dipping as a violent shiver passed through the whole of her body.

“You weren’t bad yourself, hun.” He complimented.

Snickering, he watched as she pushed herself up from the couch and onto her slightly unsteady legs, bending down into a deep, stiff bow. “Thank you, thank you. I ought to work on my tactics I guess, can’t have you scaring everybody away.” She wobbled over to his music installation’s dark screen, her fingers tapped and tapped on the dark screen but it remained lifeless. She snorted in frustration.