Page 177 of Triggered By Love
If Jason was going to act like an ass, she’d just as soon not share any of it with him. Carrying the gold-leafed box under her arm, she marched toward the door.
“Avery, wait!” Jason caught up with her and put his arm around her as the doorman held the door. “It’s probably a coincidence that she has a memory card.”
“They use those for cell phones too,” Avery said. “Just about everything these days has a memory card. I can’t be snooping in her purse.”
“I’m sorry I suggested you should.” He stood with her at the elevator.
“You know something?” She rolled her eyes and huffed. “I liked you better when you were an ass and not sorry for anything.”
She wasn’t sure why she was so peeved. She felt like kicking the elevator panels and throwing a fit. How childish. All because Jason faked the second greatest moment of her life. On second thought, since it was fake, it paled in comparison to Brando’s anticipated proposal—the one that was ruined by gunshots.
As soon as they got into the elevator, Jason pushed the stop button and looped his arm around her, holding her against his chest. He stroked her hair and caressed her back, running his hand up and down her spine.
“I’m not sorry we made Joan happy,” he said. “But I’m worried what will happen when she finds out we played her only to get that box of chocolates from her.”
“We improvised. Did the best we could.” Her arms naturally wound around his waist, and she rested her head on his chest, right over his heart, steadily beating, both strong and vulnerable at the same time.
She wished she could say or do something, anything, to tide them over this awkwardness, but they had a job to do, and they were partners. Hadn’t he deputized her? And now that Blade had betrayed him, he needed her more than ever.
“I’m the one who should be sorry,” she finally conceded. “I wanted it to be more than it was, but at the same time, I didn’t want to give you the assurance I wasn’t ready for.”
“Whatever it is, we’ll get through it together.” He kissed the top of her head. “Let’s not put any pressure on each other for now, except to find the killer.”
“I agree.” She lifted her face and imprinted the way he looked today when he proposed. “You made me very happy. Thank you. It meant a lot.”
“Hope you’ll be just as happy with a smaller ring.” A crooked smile cracked his face, and he nudged her.
“Happier.”
* * *
After he’d thoroughly kissedAvery good, Jason let the elevator continue to her floor. He couldn’t help it. He loved her, and he would have to wait for her as long as she needed.
He told himself it was okay, that he was a patient man, but Blade’s warning about Avery agreeing to marry someone in exchange for her father winning the election dug under his skin.
Kerry and Finn were not in Avery’s apartment. They’d gone ahead with the jet-skiing trip around the Statue of Liberty and followed that up with a trip to Atlantic City.
Jason was happy for the privacy. Whatever was in this box could point to the killer.
“You ready to pick these truffles to pieces?” Jason asked as Avery set the box on her drafting table.
“Yes, we need to catalog everything we find.” She took the diamond ring from her purse. “What do we know so far?”
Jason took out his notebook and checked off the facts.
“It appeared the day you wrecked my Dodge Hellcat Challenger.
“Ivanna has a receipt for this box of chocolates but denies knowing who left it here. She said it was a chauffeur who wore gloves.”
“I think she’s lying,” Avery cut in. “The question is why?”
“We’ll have to ask her. I can pressure her now that I’m back on the force. Continuing on, you said Richie called you to ask how you liked the chocolates.”
“Right, except Richie always signs and takes credit for his gifts.”
Jason noted this factoid. “We also know Mrs. Bonet ate one chocolate and got sick. Let’s count them. There’s supposed to be twelve.”
Avery opened the box. “There’s only nine. It’s quite expensive, twenty dollars apiece.”
