Page 79 of Jackson
An uncomfortable silence stretched between them. Joel’s eyes went from Jackson to the door Paula exited back to Jackson. “Sooo… You and Häagen-Dazs?”
Jackson clenched his jaw.
Carl leaned forward, grabbing a beer from the case. “What’s your secret? No one else in the department had any luck getting into her pants.”
Jackson set his beer down. Hard.
The room went silent, and beside him Will stiffened, a slice of pizza halfway to his mouth. Only his eyes moved.
Carl also froze mid-motion, and his smirk faltered.
Jackson gave him a pointed stare. “You ever talk about her like that again, and we’re going to have a problem.”
Carl had the decency to look uncomfortable.
Joel, however, had the audacity to laugh. “Jesus, Jackson. We’re just messing with you.”
Jackson slid his gaze to his other colleague. “You talk about her like she’s some challenge. She’s a damn detective, and she could outshoot half the department. Maybe if you jackasses respected her, you’d get further than a polite nod in the hallway.”
Will had been quiet up until now. He leaned back and placed his elbows on the back of the couch, watching Jackson with an unreadable expression.
Carl shifted awkwardly and grabbed a slice of pizza. “All right, all right. Point made.”
Joel raised his hands in surrender. “Hey, I’m happy for you. Surprised as hell, but happy.”
Jackson wasn’t convinced, but he let it go.
For now.
Will inclined his head and cleared his throat. “I don’t know if anyone told you, but the houses on both sides of the lab had significant damage. The one garage is a total loss, and the other house is bad, too,” Will said.
“Any other injuries?” Jackson asked.
“Unfortunately, yes. There was a woman in the house who got hit in the face by flying glass. She may lose her left eye. Of course, the cooker got himself killed.”
Jackson’s stomach turned. “Damn, I hate collateral damage. Have they found Mikey’s family?”
“Yeah, his mother’s a tweaker, but the grandparents seem solid, so they have him for the time being.”
They all fell silent for a moment until Joel said what all three of them must be thinking. “So, what gives with you andDetectiveStone? Okay, so you started dating her. I can almost buy that. But engaged? You really managed to keep that quiet.” Joel cocked his head. “Isn’t that a little quick? I didn’t realize you knew her.”
Here we go.
Jackson exhaled. “I’ve known I wanted her since she gave a guest lecture at the academy. That was eight years ago. We’ve worked on a few cases together. So yeah, I know her. She’s strong and beautiful and passionate.”She’s also sweet and submissive.
The room went silent again.
Will was watching him closely, then he nodded.
Joel cleared his throat. “Well, damn.”
Carl just laughed, shaking his head. “All right, Cagney. If you say so.”
Will broke the tension by opening the next pizza box. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m starving, and the game’s about to start.”
And just like that, the subject changed. But Jackson knew—whether they understood it or not—his friends had just gotten the message.
CHAPTER FORTY
