Page 201 of A Matter of Time

“Stop.” I moved so I was leaning against him. “Why would you be on constant lookout for your partner doing something wrong? How could that ever foster trust?”

He put his arm around me and tucked me close.

“The fact that you didn’t is a good thing.”

“Well, the way it’s shaken out, I’m basically on the outside and I can’t talk to Dom. He’s under investigation and they pulled him in, so he knows, and Jesus, what a day.”

“Did everyone look at you like you were a narc?”

“No. I was his partner, everybody’s lookin’ at me like I knew he was dirty but I was loyal to him. They figure it finally got to be too much, so I requested the change, nothing else. From the way I got looked at today, by everyone, they think I was good for keeping his secret, just wanting out, ya know? I’m getting hero treatment.”

“Why do you not sound pleased?”

“Because it shouldn’t be like that. We should all be about rooting out corruption, no matter who’s responsible. Like I said before, they should be disgusted with me because I’m oblivious or stupid.”

“You’re neither of those things,” I assured him. “Again, Dom was your partner.”

He nodded.

“But where does all of this leave you?”

“It leaves me in a pretty good place. Anything Dominic did isn’t on me, and tomorrow I get my new partner, Teo de Silva. He’s moving over from homicide.”

“You know him?”

“I know of him and he’s a good cop. We talked today and he said he’s excited to work with me. I’ll bring him by here tomorrow to meet you.”

“Why?”

“Because if he’s got a problem with me and you, I need to know right off. You have to be a hundred percent honest with your partner. I made the mistake of not telling Dom what was going on with me, and that was wrong. I regret that, and I won’t ever do it again.”

I wanted to comfort him. “I’m sorry you⁠—”

“And I got to have lunch with Dane.”

Time stopped.

He grinned at me. “Didja hear me?”

Obviously not. “I’m sorry, what?”

He chuckled dryly. “You heard me. I had lunch with the big man.”

“You did?” I croaked out as he moved me sideways, into his lap, my legs folded on either side of his thighs, straddling him.

He patted my ass before he settled his hands on my hips. “Yes, I did, love, and it was grueling, lemme tell you. Only for you would I sit through that shit.”

“Why? What?”

“He’s good, ya know? I give him credit. I might ask him to sit in next time I question a witness.”

“Oh.” I sympathized, so I cupped his face in my hands, lifting his chin up so I could bend and kiss him.

He parted his lips for me and I slipped my tongue inside his mouth, tasting him.

“God, yes,” he groaned. “I so deserve this after the fuckin’ day I’ve had.” I smiled against his mouth as he pulled back to look up at me. “We get to have dinner with him tomorrow.”

“With Dane?”