Page 18 of Taken from Her (Phoenix Ridge Police Department #4)

But underneath the productive work, Lavender felt the constant pull of Diana's presence.

She caught herself staring when Diana rolled up her sleeves to write on the flip chart.

She stumbled over words when Diana's attention focused directly on her.

She fought the urge to touch Diana's shoulder when moving around the room, hyperaware of every moment their bodies occupied the same space.

By eight o'clock, the flip chart papers covering the walls displayed impressive results: safety strategies, communication protocols, resource networks, and emergency procedures that integrated community knowledge with official support. The workshop had achieved everything Lavender had hoped for.

"This is exactly what we needed," Corinne said, studying the safety maps they'd created. "Concrete steps that actually fit how we live."

"And real partnership," Sam added, glancing between Lavender and Diana. "Not just police telling us what to do, but working together to figure out what works for everyone."

Diana gathered her notes. "Your community networks provide security that formal systems can't match. My job is to support that, not replace it."

The comment drew approving nods around the circle. Even Georgia looked satisfied.

As participants began gathering their things, Lavender felt both relief and disappointment.

Relief that she'd managed to facilitate a productive workshop despite her distraction; disappointment that their public time together was ending, that Diana would return to her world while Lavender remained in her space.

"Same time next week?" Elle asked, shouldering her bag.

"Absolutely," Lavender said. "We'll follow up on tonight's action items and address any new concerns."

Diana stood, straightening her uniform. "I'll have updates on the investigation by then, including the resource information we discussed tonight."

People drifted toward the door in small groups, conversations continuing. Corinne paused to thank both women for productive collaboration. Sam expressed gratitude for feeling more secure with the community and police working together.

Within fifteen minutes, the café had mostly emptied except for the usual lingerers: Georgia finishing her tea and a few regulars reluctant to leave the warmth and safety of community space.

And Diana, who hadn't moved toward the door despite gathering her materials.

Lavender began stacking chairs, acutely aware that they were moving into different territory now—not quite private, but closer to personal than anything they'd shared all evening.

"That went well," Diana said quietly, moving to help without being asked.

"Better than I expected," Lavender admitted, accepting the chair Diana handed her. "Thank you for adapting. Being present instead of just official."

Their hands brushed during the exchange, and this time neither pulled away immediately.

"Your community is remarkable," Diana said. "And you, the way you hold space for all of this and help people feel safe while processing real fear. It's impressive."

The compliment sent warmth through Lavender's chest, complicated by everything they couldn't say in semi-public space.

"We work well together," Lavender said carefully.

Diana's smile was small but genuine. "We do."

Lavender began collecting coffee cups and workshop materials, grateful for tasks that kept her hands busy. The evening had been successful—better than successful—but she felt wrung out from managing her dual focus for two hours.

Diana moved to help without being asked, gathering flip chart papers with the same careful attention she brought to everything else. They worked around each other naturally, movements synchronizing in ways that reminded Lavender of this morning's easy domesticity.

"Leave those," Lavender said when Diana reached for the heavy chairs. "I can handle them tomorrow."

"It's fine." Diana lifted two chairs at once, muscles working under her uniform. "Besides, I helped make the mess."

Their eyes met across the space, and a look passed between them. The workshop's professional distance was dissolving, leaving behind the awareness that had hummed under every interaction all evening.

"You did well tonight," Lavender said quietly, stacking papers on the counter. "The community responded to you differently."

"They responded to partnership instead of authority." Diana set the chairs down carefully. "That's your influence, not mine."

" Our influence," Lavender corrected. "You adapted and listened instead of just collecting information."

Diana paused in her cleanup, something vulnerable flickering across her features. "I've never worked a case like this before, where caring about the people involved makes me more effective instead of less."

The admission hung between them, loaded with meaning Lavender wasn't sure she should unpack right now. Sam and Racquel were still talking by the door, and Georgia's sharp ears missed nothing.

"Coffee tomorrow?" Diana asked, voice carefully casual. "To follow up on tonight's action items."

Lavender's pulse quickened at the subtext underneath the professional request. "Of course. What time works for you?"

"Early. Before the morning rush. Seven-thirty?"

"Perfect."

Sam and Racquel finally headed toward the door, calling out their thanks for the productive workshop. Georgia finished her tea with deliberate slowness, clearly waiting to see what would happen once they were truly alone.

"Georgia," Lavender said with fond exasperation, "don't you have somewhere to be?"

"I'm exactly where I need to be," Georgia replied serenely. "Making sure you two don't overthink what's working perfectly well."

Diana looked confused by the cryptic comment, but Lavender felt heat rise in her cheeks. Georgia's approval was clear, even if her methods were less than subtle.

"Good night, Georgia," Lavender said firmly.

Georgia gathered her purse with theatrical slowness. "Good night, dear. Chief Marten, thank you for tonight. The community feels safer knowing we have someone genuinely on our side."

She paused at the door, looking back with that knowing smile. "Some partnerships are worth nurturing, Lavender. Don't let caution get in the way of something good."

The door closed behind her with a soft chime, leaving Diana and Lavender alone for the first time all evening.

"She's..." Diana began.

"Perceptive," Lavender finished. "And not particularly subtle about her observations."

Diana moved closer, close enough that Lavender could see the exhaustion around her eyes, the way her careful composure had softened over the course of the evening. "About what we're doing here. Balancing the investigation with..."

"With this," Lavender said simply.

Diana nodded, reaching out to touch Lavender's hand where it rested on the counter. The contact was brief but deliberate, acknowledgment of everything they couldn't say while maintaining professional boundaries all evening.

"I kept losing focus," Lavender admitted. "Every time you spoke or moved or looked at me, I forgot what I was supposed to be doing."

"I noticed." Diana's smile was soft. "I also noticed that even when distracted, you facilitated better than most people do at full attention."

The compliment made Lavender's chest warm. "We work well together."

"We do. Even when it's complicated."

Diana's thumb brushed across Lavender's knuckles, and Lavender felt the evening's tension finally beginning to ease.

They'd navigated their first public interaction after intimacy, managed to maintain professional boundaries while acknowledging personal connection, and created genuine progress for community safety.

"Tomorrow morning," Diana said, stepping back reluctantly. "Seven-thirty."

"I'll have coffee ready."

Diana's laugh was genuine, transforming her features in ways that made Lavender's pulse quicken. "Looking forward to it."

She straightened her uniform, but when she reached the door, she paused, looking back with something that wasn't entirely professional.

"Lavender? Tonight was good. All of it."

The words carried weight that had nothing to do with the workshop’s success and everything to do with their growing ability to integrate their personal and professional connection.

"Yes," Lavender agreed. "It was."

After Diana left, Lavender stood alone in the café, surrounded by evidence of productive collaboration and successful community building. The evening had tested her ability to balance personal feelings with public responsibility, and while it hadn't been easy, it had been possible.

More than possible. It had been good.

She turned off the lights and locked the purple door, already anticipating tomorrow morning's coffee and the continuation of whatever they were building together. Tonight had proven that their personal connection could strengthen instead of undermine their service to the community.

Now they just had to figure out how to sustain it.