A doorbell chimed throughout the house. Sheridan’s brows rose. Ranger started barking.
“Want me to get that?” Ava asked, climbing to her feet. She dropped the blanket onto the stool.
“No, it’s fine. I asked someone to meet us here, but they’re earlier than I expected. Someone who can help us figure this out and possibly help you keep your job. Assuming you want to keep it?” Those battered indigo eyes assessed her searchingly.
“More than anything in the world, SSA Sheridan.”
The grin that tugged his mouth took her by surprise. “Then you may as well start calling me Dominic. Looks like we’re going to be stuck with each other for a while.”
Ava followed him into the hallway, unsettled by the appeal of that statement. Could Dominic Sheridan really help her get her job back or was she gonna crash and burn just like he had last night?
*
Dominic strode to the front door and threw it open, expecting ASAC Lincoln Frazer from the Behavioral Analysis Unit. He blinked at the sight that greeted him.
A neighbor from the opposite side of the road stood on his doorstep carrying a large casserole dish. Her black Mercedes was parked in the driveway. Rain sluiced off her designer raincoat, hair and makeup perfect despite the weather.
“Suzanna. What can I do for you?”
“Oh, Dominic. Hi. I heard what happened yesterday…about the accident. And, oh my gosh—your poor face. Does it hurt?”
He wanted to laugh. Of course it hurt, especially as he was avoiding taking anything stronger than acetaminophen. “Looks worse than it is.”
She raised the dish in case he’d missed its significance. “I know you don’t keep much food in the house so I brought over that beef casserole you like…” She trailed off as Ava strolled into view. “Oh, you have company. Sorry, I assumed you were here alone. I worried you’d be hungry and in need of someone to look after you, but obviously not.”
He looked at Ava who raised both brows as she stuck her hands in her back pockets. Amusement danced in her eyes. “Hey.”
“Suzanna, this is a, er…colleague of mine.” He deliberately paused over the word colleague, giving it an emphasis that suggested much more than a working relationship. Ava smiled politely, not missing a beat.
“Would you like to come in?” Dominic offered.
“Oh, I-I,” Suzanna stammered. “Well, now, no. I can see you are working. I’m so sorry to interrupt.” The pot that had been raised high slumped slightly. “Please take the casserole. I wanted to make sure you had something healthy to eat.”
“This is really kind of you, Suzanna. Thank you.” He took the heavy dish from his neighbor. His injured shoulder screamed in protest, but he didn’t complain.
Ava tilted her head to one side. “Man, I wish I had a neighbor like you. Mine are more likely to hold me at gunpoint than bring me food.”
Suzanna’s brown eyes went wide in shock. “Oh, okay then. Well then, I hope you both enjoy it.”
Dominic started closing the door with his foot.
“I’ll come back tomorrow for the pot.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll drop it back onto your doorstep as soon as we’re done. I don’t want to cause you any inconvenience,” Dominic insisted.
“Okay—” Suzanna’s reply was cut off by the heavy door slamming shut.
Ava stared at him knowingly in the damp cold of the quiet hallway. “That was mighty neighborly indeed.” Her expression was an invitation to share.
He grunted. “Hold you at gunpoint? You live in Fredericksburg.”
She laughed. “A little color doesn’t hurt from a colleague.”
He ignored her smug expression and headed into the kitchen, putting the pot in the oven and leaving it on warm. Suzanna did make great stew.
“Funny how she knew about the state of your fridge.” Ava’s eyebrows did the rest of the talking.
He rubbed his face and gave up. “She stayed over after a party at another neighbor’s house last Christmas.” He had little recollection of what happened between them except for the fact they’d both woken up naked in his bed. He’d been mortified. “I should never have…” He pursed his lips. “Anyway. She, hmm, wanted more.”
“You didn’t. I get it. Trust me, I get it.” She smoothed her hands down the front of her jeans, and he felt like an asshole.
“She deserves a lot more than I have to offer. She has a kid, although I’ve never met him. Lives with his dad apparently.” He cleared his throat feeling sheepish. The guilt he’d felt for the last eight months swirled inside him, amorphous and unpleasant.
Ava breathed out heavily. “Did you ever think that if maybe you talked to her like an adult, she might stop trying so hard?”
Why was he immediately the bad guy? “I did talk to her. I sat her down the morning after we had sex. I sat her down again a week later after she came to my door hoping for a repeat.” And again, a month later. Talking hadn’t worked, and every time he saw the woman, he felt more and more of a reprobate.
Ava’s mouth thinned in disapproval.
“It didn’t make me feel good, Ava. I felt like a jerk, but I’d have been more of a jerk not to have that conversation. I don’t ghost people, I’m upfront and honest.”
She looked at him dubiously.
“And I like sex, okay? Is that a crime between consenting adults?” Christ, why was he even talking about this?
“Of course not.” Her voice squeaked. Her cheeks flamed beet-red. The idea he could make Ava Kanas blush did something to his insides. He didn’t like that either.
She hadn’t seemed bashful yesterday when they’d been discussing blow jobs. But they’d gotten personal rather than talking about work. Ironic, as he was not the sort of person to over share. Something about Ava Kanas made him do things he didn’t normally do. He wanted to know her. Wanted to know what made her tick.