Page 61 of Fierce-Colson

“I remembered. Maybe it’s a test on both of our parts.”

She nodded her head. “I like tests. I excel at them.”

“Again, I remember. The most prepared girl in our class.”

She rolled her eyes playfully, the soft quiet laugh escaping. “Now we remember the boring part of me. But coffee works,” she said. “For now.”

His gaze dropped to her mouth. Lingered there for more than an inappropriate amount of time and she didn’t give one damn. “For now.”

They stood there a beat longer than necessary. Too long. Yet, not long enough.

“Go be responsible,” she said quietly.

He smiled, slow and promising. “You first. Because you’re about to get company.”

She turned, not because she wanted to cave, but because she’d felt someone behind her watching, and didn’t give a shit, but now by the look in Colson’s eyes, she better put that political smile back in place.

“Councilman Gray, what a lovely surprise.”

“I see you’re enjoying a nice break,” Derek Gray said. Older than her parents, but a strong supporter of her mother. Kind of old-fashioned in his thoughts and actions, but she was going to deal with plenty like him.

“We are all entitled to lunch,” she said primly.

“With a member of the Durham PD. I didn’t catch his name. I thought maybe it was work related, but after witnessing that exchange just now, I’m thinking not likely.”

“Are you asking me personal questions, Councilman?”

Derek lifted his chin. “I went to bat for you when many felt you were too young. That you might not have your priorities straight being... single.”

She wanted to launch into a lecture about the inappropriate comment. She wouldn’t, even as much as it killed her.

“My status is of no concern or relevance on how I conduct my job. Now if you have nothing else, I need to get back to my office.”

“Just make sure you keep your priorities straight. We all know that narcotics case is coming soon and we need it handled well.”

She didn’t need a reminder of how bad the overdose rate had climbed in the younger generation recently. Getting the biggest supplier arrested and hopefully convicted would go a long way in helping, but get rid of one, another takes their place.

Couldn’t seem to get that through to some though.

“I know my job. And speaking of which, I need to get to it. You have a lovely afternoon.”

She got in her car, careful not to slam the door with the frustration she was feeling, and pulled away knowing she was still being watched.

15

SOMEONE IN HIS LIFE

“Well, hey there, stranger.”

Marly turned in the courthouse parking lot, her jaw dropping as Colson called out to her.

“Are you following me?” she asked.

Her eyes didn’t hold the same shine to them as they did before he drove away. He could only imagine what was said to the councilman, but she wasn’t giving much away other than that he felt he could read her well.

“Nope. Got a meeting I need to be at.”

“And you failed to tell me that,” she said, moving closer to him. At least she wasn’t keeping her distance so whatever the councilman wanted to talk to her about didn’t ruffle her too much.