Page 31 of Artifacts

Aldric twisted to see him. “It’s a prank, a cruel joke, like we said, right?”

Darrell brushed a soft kiss across his cheek. “Did it sound like a prank?”

Aldric shook his head. “N-no. It was…it was scary.”

“Do you know which box they meant? Which was his favorite?” Darrell continued in his soothing voice, and Aldric could just see him interviewing people like that, dealing with them in that reassuring way. A far cry from how he’d interacted with Aldric at their first meeting. The difference almost made Aldric snort.

“I do now. The caller described it. Hexagonal with white inlays. There are a couple of hexagonal ones, and a few have pale inlays or applique bits on, but only one box fits the description. Huh. Like those diagrams you learn in math.” He drew circles with both forefingers.

“Venn diagram.” Darrell said it as though he understood what Aldric was talking about, what he was seeing in his mind’s eye. “And take it where and when?”

“The Spanish Mission in two hours’ time.” Aldric waved a hand in the direction he thought the missions lay, in San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. “The San Jose Mission,” he added before Darrell could ask which one in that calm voice that didn’t make questions seem like an interrogation.

It occurred to him that this was probably a police matter. Well, Officer Williams was here. And,damn, Darrell looked good in his uniform. When Aldric thought about him, which was a lot, he pictured him in that, not in jeans or slacks. Aldric’s mind also dwelt on Darrell’s nightstick, and his handcuffs. He raised his eyes to Darrell’s face, seeing the tightness there and the clench to his jaw.

“You’re angry with me?” The question slipped out before Aldric could put a brake on it.

“What? No, notwithyou—because of what’s happened to you!” burst from Darrell. “I’m furious that call scared you, babe. And I’m angry with whoever made it. When I catch them—” He grimaced and shook his head.

Aldric passed him the glass of water, and Darrel’s well-shaped lips kicked up a little on one side before he drank. Aldric was scared, yeah, and despite his efforts, he hadn’t done a good job of hiding it. That Darrell was angry for him and concerned about him thrilled him. He took the glass back from Darrell just so he could touch his hand. When, after he’d set the glass down, Darrell caught his hand and held it, it felt as though he’d won a prize.Run a marathon. Run a race then won a medal.

“Elliot told me to close up and not be here alone,” he said, thinking of his boss’ concern.

“Oh?” Darrell’s voice sharpened, his eyes narrowing.

It must be his cop antennae twitching.

“Is he jumpy? Nervous?” Darrell prodded. “Or acting different?”

Aldric frowned, thinking. “I don’t know. No. he’s just caring. Protective, I suppose you’d call it. He’s—”

The bells tinkled, signaling that the door was opening. Darrell shoved himself in front of Aldric and placed one hand on his holstered weapon.

“Aldric?” Meredith’s voice was higher than usual and she sounded confused.

“It’s Meredith, from the restaurant over the road,” he hissed at Darrell, bobbing his head around Darrell’s body so their neighbor could see him—as difficult as that was when he’d gone rigid with nerves. He pushed to his feet then brushed against Darrell and felt the taut thrum of tension in him too.

“Is everything okay? Not more vandalism, or, God, not another attack?” she questioned, her gaze on Darrell.

“No. Officer Williams is just checking in,” Aldric answered. “Did you want something, Meredith?”

“Erm, yeah. Elliot usually gets a dinner today and the boss wanted to check on him since he hasn’t called his order in.”

“He thought he might be delayed, but he mentioned he’d be back here later, so he’ll want dinner,” Aldric guessed. Elliot ordered from Cabot’s Brasserie at least twice a week and insisted Aldric and Jonas join him as his guests if they happened to be around.

“Well, let’s hope he’s back before we close!” Meredith knocked on the wood of a cabinet near her then left.

Darrell took a few steps around the store, and Aldric studied his back view. Darrell was not an over-muscled jock, and wasn’t even particularly tall, although he was strong, his body buff. Aldric liked him the way he was. He followed him and stroked a hand down Darrell’s back. It was as toned as he remembered.Fantasized about.

“Careful.” Darrell jerked away, his gaze on the store’s glass windows.

Aldric hoped Darrell wasn’t doing what he thought he was and decided to test his suspicions. “Are we going back to the drive-in for our next date? If we wanted to go for a meal out, the restaurant across there is really good. Oh, you probably know it, as you live near here, right?”

“Aldric.” Darrell twisted over his shoulder to glance at him. “Not now.” He turned back to the door when the bells sounded, and it opened again. “Sean. Officer O’Hara.”

“Thought you were only gonna be a minute?” Darrell’s partner said. He came in, studying Darrell. “What?”

“Shut the door and turn the key.” Darrell raised his chin at it, then crossed to the window to pull the blinds down.

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