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“What?” Quinn frowned.

Smiling, Lia threw an arm around her shoulders and kissed her soundly on the cheek. “You make her sound like the British Queen.”

“Well, you know what I mean. It begins friendly, then she turns questioning, and finally, bitter and vindictive when you fail to reply.”

“Yes, I noticed that too.” Lia nodded as she exhaled. ”Guess I’m just trying to lighten the mood up a little.”

“I’m sorry this is happening, Lia.” Quinn placed her fingers at the back of her neck, expertly zooming on a painful knot and digging gently to dissolve it. Lia tilted her neck the opposite way to help with the process. “I know from things you said that you really cared about Brooke. Probably still do.”

“Probably,” Lia admitted. “We were engaged.”

“Of course.”

“Even if we didn’t see each other or rarely spoke anymore, I still considered her a friend. Or worst case scenario, at least not an enemy!”

“Don’t worry, okay? We’ll sort this out.”

Lia turned to look at her.Mine,she thought as Quinn held her gaze. Her wife, lover, best friend. All sparkling blue eyes and surfer-blond hair, with the sort of body that would sell fitness magazines like hot cakes. Though, of course, Quinn would never consider being on the cover of one...

“What?” she prompted softly. “I say something wrong?”

“No.” Lia shook her head. “Just… I love you, Quinn.”

Even though she knew it, this kind of open statement still had the power to make Lieutenant Wesley, tough as nails former army captain and equally resilient cop, blush like a young girl in pleasure.

“Ah. I’ll go for that,” she nodded with a grin.

Smiling in return, Lia hooked her arm back around her neck to deliver a deep kiss. She loved to feel the instant softening of this hard body pressed against hers, the way Quinn always yielded for her, no matter what.

“I love you, Lia,” she murmured.

“I think I should go see her. Apparently, she’s still based in Boston. I want to confront her face to face, find out what the hell is going on.”

“Hmm-mm. Yeah.” Quinn bit lightly on her lip. “I thought you might say that.”

“I think I should go alone,” Lia added.

“Thought you might say that too.”

“Yes, I’ll be better able to—”

“No,” Quinn said softly.

“Darling. Listen—”

“You listen.” Quinn wrapped her up in a tight embrace and flashed a blazing smile at the same time. “Don’t call me darling and argue about this, Lia,” she ordered. “Weare going to find out what’s going on. Together.”

“Okay, but… No, please, listen to me!” Lia laughed when Quinn rolled her eyes, amusement and impatience both obvious in her gaze. “We can go to Boston together, but I should talk to her on my own.”

“You are such a reporter.”

“Does that mean stubborn and obstinate?”

“You know it does, as I’ve told you plenty of times before.”

“With all due respect, babe; you ever heard of the pot and kettle situation?”

“Lia, are you asking me to stand aside and let you enter your crazy girlfriend’s lair on your own? Sorry to say, but it sounds as if she’s turned psycho on us.”