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I smile. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed myself like this. “Both?”

Her hand comes up in agive megesture. “Come on, Detective. Hand it over.”

“Hand over what?”

“Your badge. You just lost it. I’m demoting you for being clueless.”

I laugh—a real, head-tilted-back laugh. “Maybe I’m not being clueless. Maybe I’m ignoring her”—I make air quotes—“coming on to me.”

“And why would you do that? You’re single and she’s pretty. Is she not your type?”

“I’m not sure I have a type.”

“No?”

“No, but I’m looking forward to finding out.” What the hell? Am I flirting? Iamflirting. I can’t even remember the last time I flirted with a woman. “What about you? What’s your type?”

She takes a sip of her drink. “I’m not sure I have a type, either. Not a defined physical type, at least. I can appreciate a handsome face and fit body, but the things I find really attractive in a man are not tangible.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m attracted to intelligence, a sense of humor, confidence without arrogance, and kindness. A pretty face and hard body can be fun for a while, but if that’s all there is, it will get boring fast.”

I’m about to respond when the waitress comes back with our food. She places the dishes on the table. Her body turns in such a way that her back is to Ava. And this time, her hand goes to my bicep. “Can I get you anything else, Jake?”

I look at Ava and she mouths, “Watch me.”‘Then she flickers a spoon off the table. It falls behind Renee with a loud clatter.

“Oops. I’m such a klutz.” That smile with a bite is back.

Renee picks up the spoon, her eyes narrowed. “I’ll be right back with a clean one.”

Ava waves a hand at her. “Oh, no need to come back. I don’t need the spoon. Thanks, though.”

I disguise a laugh into a cough.

Renee walks away, and Ava grins like someone who just had her cake and ate it, too.

I grab the beer bottle and take a sip. “Okay. You’re right. She’s coming on a little strong.”

“Told you.”

“Let me make it up for you. In a place without interruption by an overeager waitresses. Have dinner with me Sunday night. At my place. I’ll cook.” Wait. Where did that come from? Did I just ask her out?

Her lips part and I want nothing more than to slide my tongue between them and taste her. But not here. Not with so many eyes on us. The gossip brigade will have lots to talk about this weekend as it is.

She’s at a loss for words for a few seconds, then a shy smile. “Yes, I would like that.”

Chapter21

Avalon

My phone rings,and I smile when Grandma’s face shows on the screen.

I accept the FaceTime call and plop on my bed, phone in one hand and a comb in the other, as I try to tame the mess of wet curls rioting on my head. “Hi, Grandma—”

“So, you met a boy. Tell me everything about him.”

I pull the phone back and stare at Grandma. Her silver-white hair just touches the top of her shoulders. Her trademark power red lipstick is perfectly applied. Her all-knowing gaze is on me. Lynn steps behind me and waves at the phone.