Page 3 of Ashes and Lilies
“I know what you want.” Norman enunciated each word clearly and slowly, allowing the venom to thicken between us despite his uninterested expression. Anyone seeing us might think that we were comrades patiently waiting together.
He certainly had a lot of practice in discrete hostility.
“Wh-what do I want?” I asked him.
“My job!” Norman’s mask fell, and he clenched his fist against his chest. A fire burned in his eyes as he monologued. “But you cannot have it, you vixen! I’ve busted my ass to get where I am today, and I will not lose to a starry-eyed, brunette munchkin.”
That wasn’t my intention at all. “Um…”
More importantly, I’d never once looked at Damen with starry eyes.
“Besides, I’ve never even heard of you,” Norman said, ignoring my stammering. “Whoever you are, you’ll never be able to measure up to the Peterson name!”
“Um…” I said again, lifting my finger. What did that have to do with anything?
Plus, I had no idea why he’d think that mattered. However, I did know this: the more passionate he became, the more familiarhis dialect. My stomach twisted in longing. We were kindred spirits, but it didn’t seem like this was a good moment to bond over my long-lost hometown.
Yet, I couldn’t help but feel a connection with him now. Were all Officers this passionate about their positions? Or was this role extremely personal to him? He almost seemed obsessive—he was still, at this moment, ranting and raving in hasty words that I could no longer follow.
This was either extreme dedication, which was admirable, or something entirely different, yet somewhat simpler. Might he be in love with Damen?
How terribly sad. Didn’t he realize that Damen was destined to be romantically alone forever?
Perhaps Norman did know—everyone else seemed to—and that was why he was so angry. His only way of being close to Damen as he lived his unfulfilled romance was through employment.
The big question was, did Damen love him in return?
“Okay,” Damen said, returning to us. “Keep a watch out,” he ordered, looking back at the officers. “Norman, I want you to follow Michelle—I have a feeling about her.”
“Yes, sir.” Norman nodded, his expression severe. There was zero indication that he’d been picking a fight only seconds before. Without further argument or even glancing at me, he turned and trudged around the parked cars.
“As for us”—Damen put his arm over my shoulders, my heart skipping at the contact as he turned me toward the patio—“we’ve got a crime scene to investigate.”
I allowed him to guide me, but I glanced back before we passed through the doorway.
Norman had stopped beside a white Buick and was now glaring at me—at Damen’s arm around my shoulders. When hecaught me looking, he sneered and made a ‘watching you’ motion with his hand. Then without further ado, he ducked and disappeared into the vehicle.
Even though he hadn’t been very nice, I felt sorry for him. The man seemed lonely, and I could feel that his history was sad.
Before I could delve any deeper into those thoughts, Damen began to guide me through the yellow tape. “It’s my job to evaluate crime scenes and build character profiles.”
He trailed his palm down my arm, shielding me from the sudden chill in the air, and captured my elbow in his warm grip.
“They say…” he began, lowering his head near me. I couldn’t look away from his full lips as he spoke. “I’m somewhat of an expert in human emotions.”
Why did he have to be so close?
“What?” I asked.
“I thought you might want to look around,” he said, sounding pleased, and something was unsettling about his creepy grin. “But, of course, you’re welcome to stay and watch me instead.”
Now, why would I want to do that?
“No thanks.” My voice tripped into an odd, warbled pitch. He was supposed to act like a professional, not a silly fool. “I’m going to go…” A few people in uniforms milled around the open living space we’d just entered, and I looked past them.
What was the furthest from where Damen might be?
Across the room, away from the crowd, tape, and the chalked body outline, was an empty doorway. I pointed to it. “I’ll look over there. It seems much more interesting than anything here.”
