Page 97 of Liar's Point

“Well, did you at least have a description? Do you know who it is?”

“We’re investigating.” He picked up his holster. “We should know more later today.”

Kate frowned at him, suddenly resembling her sister. “That’s concerning, to say the least.”

Emmet buckled his belt and grabbed his wallet off the counter.

“Well.” Kate folded her arms, watching him. “Thank you for staying with her.”

He nodded.

“She doesn’t like asking for help.” She tipped her head to the side. “But you know that already.”

She was baiting him, but he wasn’t biting. He grabbed his leather jacket off the back of the chair and shrugged into it.

“Tell Nicole I’ll check in with her later.”

“Sure. Good luck with the investigation. I really hope you find the guy.”

“We will.”

“And hey, Emmet, if she stonewalls me again, I’m coming to you.”

***

Shooting pain penetrated her dreams about bacon.

Nicole sat up in bed. The space beside her was empty. She blinked at it a moment, wondering if she’d imagined Emmet stretched out there last night in the flicker of the television.

But the nervous flutter in her stomach told her it was real. And the memory of his mouth and his taste and the feel of his stubble under her fingertips was much too vivid to be a dream.

Throbbing pain pulled her attention back to the present. She grabbed the crutches propped by her nightstand and, after two attempts, managed to stand.

“You’re awake!”

She glanced up to see Kate in the doorway smiling.

“I was about to come pinch you to make sure you’re still alive.”

Nicole squinted at her. “Why are you so cheerful?”

“Uh-oh. Sounds like someone needs a pill.”

Nicole glanced at the clock and sighed. “Thirty minutes. I can’t take one until ten.” Nicole hauled herself to the doorway. Every limb ached, even the nonbroken ones.

She stopped at the door and looked Kate over. She was all dressed up, which meant she probably had a closing today. “How are you here right now?”

Kate smiled. “I’m working from home this morning. Your home. But I’ve got a meeting at noon, so you’d better make use of me while you can.” She nodded at Nicole’s boot. “How’s the ankle?”

“All right.”

“Liar.” She stepped back to make room as Nicole crutched past her to the bathroom. “There’s breakfast on the stove.”

“Sounds good. I’ll be right out.”

Nicole tried to avoid her reflection as she went about her morning routine. Then she crutched into the kitchen, where Kate had her laptop open on the bar and Nicole’s favorite Snoopy mug beside her.

“I fixed you some coffee,” Kate said.

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