Dane

He was amazed. She shook off the heaviest conversation they'd ever had like it was an extra coat she didn't need. She bundled him up on the couch, then went into his kitchen and made popcorn. The real stuff, not the microwave bag. She poured them drinks and apparently discovered his chocolate almonds in the pantry.

​​

Half an hour after Dane had been seriously considering murdering his own father, he found himself curled up in the corner of the couch, Lila's legs over his lap, eating snacks and watching a show where amateur bakers competed and were judged by professional Chefs.

He'd rolled his eyes when she turned it on, but three episodes in, he couldn't stop watching to find out if the young guy from Berlin was going to make it through the Showstopper round.

"He shouldn't have used that egg-wash," Dane muttered through a mouthful of popcorn as the guy on the screen sat in front of his oven, sweating out his nerves. "It's going to make it look like it's overcooked when it's not."

It took a minute to realize Lila was gaping at him. He turned to find her mouth open. "What?"

"How do you know things like that?" she asked. "How have you even had time to learn these things, let alone do them when you do what you do? I can't even seem to have a conversation with you without someone phoning you or some crisis pulling you away. How did you become a chef as well?"

He shrugged. "Actually, a lot like this," he indicated the screen. "I've always had trouble sleeping. I used to watch the Food Network all the time. Then I took a few courses over the last few years. Now…now I just do it because I like it."

He turned back to the screen, grimacing when the young guy almost cried as his bread came out of the oven a dark, glossy brown.

"Don't stress," Lila said, though she couldn't take her eyes off the screen either. "Whats-her-name forgot the baking soda."

"Baking powder."

"Whatever," Lila flapped a hand. "She'll probably be way worse."

Without thought, Dane stroked Lila's knee under the blanket, then left his hand resting on her thigh. He was trying to catch sight of the neighboring baker's tray when he felt her eyes on him and realized her legs had tensed.

He turned to see what was wrong, and found her, gripping her cup with both hands and looking at him through her lashes.

Electricity zapped between them.

Something happened on the screen, but they both ignored it. Dane found himself gently kneading her thigh as his breath came a touch faster. She still didn't move. Didn't break the gaze.

"Is this how normal people relax?" he asked finally, his voice deeper than it had been a moment before.

One side of her mouth slid up into a smile. "It's one of the ways." She shifted her weight so her leg brushed against his crotch ever so slightly and he cleared his throat.

"But we haven't finished the episode," he said, one eyebrow raised.

She tipped her head. "I'm sure I could arrange for someone to phone you, if that's the motivation you need."

He growled, "I'm plenty motivated," and leapt on her. Lila cackled with laughter.

*****

Lila

Dane had barely got his arms around her, hadn't even kissed her yet when the trill of his phone sounded. Their eyes met and completely straight-faced, Lila said, "I was joking, but if it's what you need…?"

She groaned as Dane shook his head and pulled his phone out of his back pocket.

"It's Chris," he said, in a dead voice. Shit. "I told him not to call me unless…" With a muttered curse he tapped the screen to accept the call. "Hello?"

Holding her breath, Lila waited. Dane's face registered nothing. "What is it?" he asked in a clipped tone. "How long?" His eyes found hers and his face lined as he said, "Give me twenty minutes."

She could hear Chris yelling on the other end of the line as Dane tapped the phone screen to cut it off, then slid the phone back into his pocket. He sat back and stared at the wall for a second until she asked.

"Is it bad?"

Dane grunted. "We have to go. You'll have to go home. I have to go back to the Penthouse. A team will be there in about fifteen minutes."

"What? Why?"

"Becky Hanson's body was found this morning."

Lila let herself drop back on the couch, her hands on her face. "That poor woman."

Dane didn't say anything. "I should have known this wouldn't work," he said, his voice hollow. Knowing they had so little time, Lila didn't second guess. She scrambled up and into his lap, holding his gorgeous jaw and forcing him to look at her. "We had twenty-four amazing hours. And we'll have more. This isn't over. We aren't done."

Rather than answering, he plunged his fingers into her hair and pulled her forward for a long kiss. Then he whispered against her lips, "Damn straight."

They sit that way for a moment, breathing each other's air. Lila clings to him and bites her lip.

"What is it?" he asks, though his tone suggests he knows what she's going to say.

She lets her thumb trace the line of his amazing cheekbone and sighs. "Please don't get in your own head and decide we won't work. Please don't leave me." She wanted to slap herself for how pathetic she sounded. But the words came without her permission.

Dane stroked her hair. "I won't. I can't, Lila. That's why this is so terrifying."

She swallowed and he frowned. "What?"

"Please don't go cold on me again. I know we can't be obvious in front of other people. I'll keep it professional, I promise. But going back to the way things were… I'm not sure I could do that now."

Dane sighed heavily. "I'll try."

She opened her mouth and he darted in to kiss the words away. Then pulled back, stroking her hair back. "I'll try, Lila. I really will. I don't want to hurt you."

"I know."

"And now we have to get off this couch and get you out of the Penthouse before they arrive."

"I know."

They continued to stare at each other. Danes fingers tightened in her hair. "You are a truly beautiful human being, do you know that?" he breathed.

She kissed him one last time. "It takes one to know one," she whispered back.

*****

Ten minutes later they were rushing across the bridge and up the stairs to the Penthouse. He carried her bag and his own, and kept looking at his watch.

"They can't get in without you opening the door, right?"

"Yes, but they think I'm alone. Chris will already think it's suspicious that I asked for time." He grimaced.

Hurrying through the beautiful Penthouse, Lila only let herself grieve a little bit. They'd had a full day. It was more than she'd expected, to be honest. And they'd found more connection in that time than she would have ever hoped. But the truth was, she was afraid to leave. Afraid he'd forget how it felt when they were together and let the fear overcome him.

But what could she do? She followed him through the Penthouse, to the closet in his room where he hurriedly opened the pillar frame to usher her through, then handed her the bag.

"Thank you," she said and started for the stairs, but he grabbed her arm and held her back. With a happy sigh she turned back to him, and the kiss he pulled her into that lasted far longer than it should have.

Then he pulled away only slightly. "I'll find a reason to call you when I know more. I'll fill you in. Keep your phone on."

"I will. And Dane?"

"Yes?"

"Don't try to do it all on your own. Let them help. Let me help. You aren't the one who did this."

"I know." But the smile he forced didn't reach his eyes.

She sighed and patted his cheek. "Don't work too hard."

He snorted. "You either."

She grinned. "Well, the boss sucks, but I had a heads up a few days early. So I'll be off working on that report that I actually finished Wednesday," she chuckled.

"See that you do," he said, mock-sternly.

Then they both stood there. Neither of them wanted to leave. She tried to keep her face open and happy, let him see how glad she was that they'd had this time. But she worried her fear was creeping in.

Then he pulled her into a hug. "Rest if you can."

"I will if you will."

He snorted again, they squeezed hands, and Lila started down the stairs. She didn't look back because she was afraid if she did, those shadows would be back in his eyes. And she didn't think she had the strength to see them and be left wondering.

*****

When she got back to her apartment, Rupert was at her feet the second she came in the door, meowing and purring, his tail twisted around her leg.

"I know, I know," she said, picking him up. He rumbled his best car-engine impression and rubbed on her face. "I'm sorry. But it was a necessary absence. I'll make it up to you tonight with some catnip, I promise."

But she'd only put her bag in the bedroom and checked Rupert's feeder when her phone buzzed. Adrenalin coursed through her when she saw Dane's name on the notification.

"Hello?"

"Get your ass over here. Now," he barked. "I don't care—the report will have to wait. We have an emergency. Becky Hanson committed suicide."

"I'll be up there in five," she said, and they both hung up.

.

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