Page 14 of Immortal by Morning (Argeneau #37)

Satisfied with her efforts, she picked up both plates, carried them to the island, and set one in front of Delacort. She then

sat down and placed hers on her own place mat.

“There! I think we’re all set,” she said, purely for the sake of saying something and filling the silence. Then she pointed

out, “The salt is right here.” She turned the lazy Susan that was situated on the island so that the seasoning sat before

both of them, and added, “And the pepper is too. If the chili isn’t hot enough for you, I can grab some chili powder. Just

let me know.”

“I am sure it is perfect just the way it is,” Delacort assured her, and then waited until she had picked up her fork, stabbed it through two French fries side by side with chili and cheese on them, and put it into her mouth. Only then did he emulate her and try the food.

Despite herself, Abril was on pins and needles as she waited for his reaction to the chili and chips. She told herself she

wouldn’t be offended if he didn’t like it, but the truth was she would be crushed if he didn’t care for the meal. It had been

a staple in Bob and Barb’s home, a couple who had become parental type figures to her after she’d fled her real parents in

her teens. It had been several things for them, a comfort food, a tasty treat, and even something served on special occasions.

So, she was more than a little relieved when he slid the first forkful of food into his mouth to chew and his eyes widened

at the flavor.

“Is it all right?” she asked. His expression seemed to suggest it was, but she wanted to actually hear the words to be sure.

Much to her relief, he immediately began to nod. Once he’d swallowed that first bite, he assured her, “I think it is the best

thing I have ever tasted. Certainly, the best food I have had in a very, very long time.”

Smiling, Abril relaxed in her seat, then set more seriously to eating. Concentrating on her own food as she was, it wasn’t

until Delacort’s fork clanked on his plate as he set it down that she glanced to him. The look of satisfaction on his face

was almost orgasmic. Blushing at the thought, she quickly dropped her gaze to his plate instead. Her eyes immediately widened

in amazement when she saw that it was empty. Abril wasn’t even halfway through her own much smaller serving, yet his was completely

gone, the plate scraped clean.

The man must have a Hoover for a stomach, she thought and asked, “Would you like more?”

She was getting to her feet and reaching for his plate even as she asked that, but Delacort snatched his plate out of her reach, and waved her back to her seat.

“No. I am good. I am so full I shall make myself sick if I have one more bite. I should have stopped after the first half or even before that, but it was so delicious that I could not help myself,” he admitted.

Standing up then, he added, “You just sit down and finish your own food. I will take care of my plate.”

Abril settled back in her seat and continued to eat as she watched him. She was a little surprised when he not only carried

the plate to the sink, but rinsed it off, and then set it in the dishwasher. She was even more surprised when he then moved

to the pot of chili on the stove and asked, “Should I cover this and put it in the refrigerator for you?”

“Uh... no, we should probably wait to see if Roberts—” The sound of the front door opening made her pause.

She was actually relieved when Delacort excused himself, saying, “That will be Roberts. I shall go see if there is any news.”

Abril knew she would be self-conscious if the two men returned and she had to finish eating in front of them now that Delacort

was done, so she began to shovel the food into her mouth, almost swallowing without chewing. She had just finished the last

bite when Delacort came back into the room with Roberts on his heels.

“Are you ready for chili and chips now?” she asked Roberts as she carried her plate to the sink to rinse it. “I made extra

fries in case you wanted some.”

“Thank you, but no,” Roberts said at once. “It smells delicious and I have been told it is very good, but I have a delicate stomach. I am on a strict diet and so am afraid I have to decline.”

Abril frowned slightly as she put the plate in the dishwasher, and when she straightened, asked, “Then what can I make for

you? Soup? We have several varieties of soup that might be okay for your stomach. Or toast maybe? What can you eat?”

“I am good,” Roberts assured her. “I packed my own meal before coming in to work today and ate it in my car just now before

coming inside.”

“Oh,” Abril said with surprise. “Well, a coffee then?” she suggested, closing the dishwasher and walking around the island

to the coffee pot.

“No,” Roberts said with a light chuckle, as he strode across the room to stand at the sliding glass doors. Peering out the

window, he said, “You are very kind, Abril. And thank you for the offer, but I am neither hungry nor thirsty.”

Abril felt like a terrible host, but finally gave up on giving the man anything and turned to Detective Delacort in question.

“Would you like coffee? I was going to make myself one.”

“I shall have a coffee with you,” the detective acquiesced. “Thank you.”

A relieved smile curving her lips, Abril set to work making them both a cup of the dark brew. Knowing it would only be the

two of them, she chose to use the Keurig single cup coffee maker rather than bother with a full pot of coffee. She set up

the first cup, and was putting the chili in the fridge while she waited for the Keurig to do its magic when Roberts asked,

“Is one of these switches to an outside light?”

Abril glanced over to see that the light that had glowed from the interior of the tent earlier was now off.

It was pitch-black out there and the detective had his hands cupped on either side of his head, his face close to the window as he tried to peer outside.

Thinking he was probably leaving marks on the window and she’d have to clean the door before Gina came home, Abril answered, “The third switch from the left controls the outside light there.”

“Thanks. I shall clean the window later,” Roberts said as if she’d spoken her concern aloud, and then reached over and flicked

the third switch on the panel next to the door.

Light immediately burst to life outside, revealing that Roberts had lifted the flap facing the kitchen as she suggested. They

had a clear view of the inside of the tent just outside the doors, and the hole it covered.

“Perfect,” Detective Delacort said as he crossed the room to join his partner at the window.

“Yes,” Roberts agreed. “This will make guarding the site much easier. We will not have to worry about anyone slipping in the

back of the tent while we are watching the front as we would from the car.”

“Well, then I’ll leave you to it,” Abril said, as she set the newly made coffee she’d prepared for Detective Delacort on the

island.

Smiling at them both, she then slapped her leg to get Lilith to join her as she left.

Abril really wanted to just stay in the kitchen with the two men, but knew she would just embarrass herself.

She’d be unable to prevent herself from stealing glances at Delacort every chance she got.

She’d also probably say something stupid and sound like a brainless twit.

Which she apparently was, Abril decided when she realized she’d forgotten to make herself a coffee.

Abril paused in the entry, briefly debating returning to the kitchen to make herself that coffee, but then decided against

it. She’d grab a soda from the little kitchenette at the back of the house instead. She couldn’t make a fool of herself that

way. Then she’d have to decide what to do next.

“What do you think?” she asked Lilith as she crossed the living room, headed for the hall that led to the kitchenette. “Shall

we cuddle on the couch with a movie? Cuddle on the couch with a book? Or finish some more work?”

Despite mentioning the option of working, that wasn’t really possible. She didn’t have her laptop, and didn’t want to walk

past the men to get to her office and fetch it. She was feeling ridiculously self-conscious now and couldn’t understand why

one little kiss would cause that. She was so super aware of Detective Delacort, and of her own body’s response to him that

it was ridiculous.

The worst part was, she didn’t know what to do about it or how to make herself comfortable with him again.

If that was even possible. Sighing, Abril glanced down toward Lilith as she finished the question, only to pause with a small frown when she realized the Lab was no longer with her.

Turning, she peered back the way she’d come and almost groaned when she saw that Lilith was standing in the foyer, sitting patiently by the front door.

It was time for what Gina referred to as “the after-dinner walkies.” The walk should have been taken after Lilith had eaten, but with her own dinner waiting, Abril had bypassed the walk and simply taken her out into the yard to do her business.

She’d rather hoped to skip the after-dinner walk altogether tonight, but it was looking like Lilith wasn’t down with that plan.

Resignation sliding through her, Abril gave up any hope of pop and the boob tube for now and retraced her steps to the closet

across from the front door. She had only expected to retrieve her coat and shoes from it, but was pleased when she spotted

the two leashes hanging from the peg shelf on the side wall of the closet. That was where the first two leashes had disappeared

to. Delacort had assumed they belonged in the closet. Lucky her. It meant she didn’t have to go back into the kitchen and

face the men presently guarding the skeleton garden.

Abril donned her coat and shoes, snapped the leash to Lilith’s collar, and headed outside with her. It was later than she