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Authors: Mackenzie Crowne
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she nodded instead. “That might be best.”
“Then I’ll look forward to your call tomorrow.” He stepped back, his intent blue gaze roaming her face before he turned on his heel and left.
She called Pippin back when he tried to follow.
Chapter Seven
The restaurant, upscale and crowded despite the traditional noon rush having passed more than two hours earlier, charmed Rylee with its welcoming atmosphere. She swiveled her head, absorbing every aspect of the converted carriage house as she followed the maitre d’ to a secluded table near the back. Coop rose at their approach, a slow smile spreading across his face, and nerves tap-danced over Rylee’s spine. She smiled and thanked the maitre d’ when he held out her chair.
“Sorry, I’m late,” she said once they were alone. “My appointments ran a little long this morning.”
And the last one had been worth the delay. As long as the multiple inspections of the Cain warehouse came back clean, Adam’s House would have its next building, at a price they could afford.
“I just got here myself,” Coop replied. “Thanks for meeting me.”
“You promised me a meal.” She curved her lips in a subtle challenge. “Several, if I recall.
“And I always keep my promises.” He grinned and held out the bottle of wine for her inspection. She nodded and he filled her glass.
The light in his eyes spoke of promises other than food and she suppressed a shiver of anticipation. Having an affair with an assistant district attorney may not be the wisest thing she would ever do, but considering the zing of pleasure careening through her system simply from sitting at a table with him, the risk would be worth the potential fallout.
“This is my first time here.” She picked up her wine, glancing around. Fresh flowers adorned the linen-covered tables. Candlelight created a cozy ambiance, as did the soothing notes of the baby grand piano in the center of the room, tinkling beneath the quiet murmur of conversation. She met his gaze. “It’s lovely.”
“Like you.”
The compliment made her grin. “Nice line, councilor.”
Humor sparkled in his eyes over the rim of his wineglass. “No line.” He set the glass aside and picked up his menu. “Simple truth. Shall we order?”
He asked after her day while they waited for the arrival of their lunches, and she reciprocated, intrigued to learn he’d spent the morning dealing with the suspected Queen’s arsonist. A string of fires had troubled the burrow over the summer. The pre-dawn blazes were the result of Molotov cocktails tossed from a passing car into vacant buildings. Dismissed at first as random pranks by kids, the charge elevated to murder when one of the targeted buildings wasn’t empty after all. Two homeless men perished in the fire.
“I’m glad they finally got him,” she said, suppressing a shudder. “So many fires in such a short time have left people jumpy.”
Coop nodded, waiting until the waiter delivered their plates and left. “What made you decide on dog training?”
“It was more a natural progression than a decision.” The savory aroma of pasta with red peppers and basil teased her nose, making her mouth water. She forked up a bite. “Heavenly,” she moaned and licked her lips. “When I was twelve years-old, I found a stray dog living in the woods behind our house. One of his legs was broken. A car hit him, I think. I knew nothing about dogs, but I couldn’t leave him to suffer.”
“You kept him?”
She nodded. “For three days I worked to gain his trust. Once I had, I snuck him into the house and cleaned him up. When Sil found out she pitched a fit, but I just couldn’t let the poor thing struggle on his own. He’d already been through enough. Long story short, Adam and I convinced Sil we needed a dog and Tri became a member of the family.”
“Tri?”
“The leg needed to be amputated, but that didn’t slow him down. He was the fastest thing on three legs, and the first
“Then I’ll look forward to your call tomorrow.” He stepped back, his intent blue gaze roaming her face before he turned on his heel and left.
She called Pippin back when he tried to follow.
Chapter Seven
The restaurant, upscale and crowded despite the traditional noon rush having passed more than two hours earlier, charmed Rylee with its welcoming atmosphere. She swiveled her head, absorbing every aspect of the converted carriage house as she followed the maitre d’ to a secluded table near the back. Coop rose at their approach, a slow smile spreading across his face, and nerves tap-danced over Rylee’s spine. She smiled and thanked the maitre d’ when he held out her chair.
“Sorry, I’m late,” she said once they were alone. “My appointments ran a little long this morning.”
And the last one had been worth the delay. As long as the multiple inspections of the Cain warehouse came back clean, Adam’s House would have its next building, at a price they could afford.
“I just got here myself,” Coop replied. “Thanks for meeting me.”
“You promised me a meal.” She curved her lips in a subtle challenge. “Several, if I recall.
“And I always keep my promises.” He grinned and held out the bottle of wine for her inspection. She nodded and he filled her glass.
The light in his eyes spoke of promises other than food and she suppressed a shiver of anticipation. Having an affair with an assistant district attorney may not be the wisest thing she would ever do, but considering the zing of pleasure careening through her system simply from sitting at a table with him, the risk would be worth the potential fallout.
“This is my first time here.” She picked up her wine, glancing around. Fresh flowers adorned the linen-covered tables. Candlelight created a cozy ambiance, as did the soothing notes of the baby grand piano in the center of the room, tinkling beneath the quiet murmur of conversation. She met his gaze. “It’s lovely.”
“Like you.”
The compliment made her grin. “Nice line, councilor.”
Humor sparkled in his eyes over the rim of his wineglass. “No line.” He set the glass aside and picked up his menu. “Simple truth. Shall we order?”
He asked after her day while they waited for the arrival of their lunches, and she reciprocated, intrigued to learn he’d spent the morning dealing with the suspected Queen’s arsonist. A string of fires had troubled the burrow over the summer. The pre-dawn blazes were the result of Molotov cocktails tossed from a passing car into vacant buildings. Dismissed at first as random pranks by kids, the charge elevated to murder when one of the targeted buildings wasn’t empty after all. Two homeless men perished in the fire.
“I’m glad they finally got him,” she said, suppressing a shudder. “So many fires in such a short time have left people jumpy.”
Coop nodded, waiting until the waiter delivered their plates and left. “What made you decide on dog training?”
“It was more a natural progression than a decision.” The savory aroma of pasta with red peppers and basil teased her nose, making her mouth water. She forked up a bite. “Heavenly,” she moaned and licked her lips. “When I was twelve years-old, I found a stray dog living in the woods behind our house. One of his legs was broken. A car hit him, I think. I knew nothing about dogs, but I couldn’t leave him to suffer.”
“You kept him?”
She nodded. “For three days I worked to gain his trust. Once I had, I snuck him into the house and cleaned him up. When Sil found out she pitched a fit, but I just couldn’t let the poor thing struggle on his own. He’d already been through enough. Long story short, Adam and I convinced Sil we needed a dog and Tri became a member of the family.”
“Tri?”
“The leg needed to be amputated, but that didn’t slow him down. He was the fastest thing on three legs, and the first
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