loud enough for everyone to hear, that he wouldn’t mind if Tony wanted to play his dad again sometime.
Erin joined the conversation, but she also seemed to enjoy sitting back and observing the interaction between Tess, Jack and himself. For the second time in as many weeks, Tony realized how much he enjoyed the feeling of being a part of this family and warning signs flashed through his mind. He had to get out of here. He pushed back his plate, patted his stomach and said, “Ms. O’Malley that was delicious.”
“Tess, remember? Thank you, lad.” Tess picked up his empty plate and carried it to the sink.
Erin leaned over and whispered, “The way to her heart is through her cooking. You’ll be gaining twenty pounds before you know it if you’re not careful.”
Tony chuckled. “Thanks for the warning.”
“Are you taking us to Disney World again?” Jack asked.
“Sorry, champ. Not this time.” He lifted a bag from the floor by his chair. “But I did stop by for a reason. Recognize this?”
Jack excitedly snatched the bag and looked inside. “My Mickey Mouse coloring book and my Lego kit. I’ve been looking all over for them.”
Tony answered Erin’s unspoken question. “He left them on the backseat of my car. I’ve been tied up on a case and haven’t had a chance to return them.”
“You didn’t happen to see my green scarf did you?”
“The one that matches your eyes?” He smiled at the instant blush of color that tinged her cheeks. “Don’t tell me you lost it.” He pretended to be horrified.
Before she could reply, Jack interrupted. “Can I open my Legos, Mom? Please?”
Erin laughed. “Don’t give me that sad-eyed puppy dog look of yours. You’re going to turn into a manipulating little scamp if I’m not careful.” Mussing his hair, she said, “Play in the living room and make sure you pick up every piece before you get ready for bed.”
“I’ll supervise the lad.” Tess removed the apron from her ample girth. “You sit and visit with your company.”
“Alone, at last.” Tony grinned and wiggled his eyebrows up and down.
When Erin laughed, he realized just how much he had missed the sweet, tinkling sound. After the field trip, he’d been tied up on the case, and days passed without a word between them. She probably thought he’d been following her request to move on. He should. Part of him wanted to. But one look into her sparkling green eyes and he knew it wasn’t something he was ready to do.
“I’m surprised to see you,” she said.
“Why? Because you kicked my male ego to the curb?” He smiled and leaned toward her. “I know most men would have probably tucked their tail between their legs and headed for higher ground when you gave them the boot.” He captured an auburn strand of her hair and curled it around his finger. “But I’m not most men.”
She lowered her eyes and seemed to struggle to find her voice.
“Besides, I know you didn’t mean to kick me to the curb. Did you, darling?” he teased.
Erin locked her eyes with his and looked at him with such intensity it stole his breath. There was something happening between them. Something neither one of them seemed to want and neither one could leave alone.
He cleared his throat and subtly straightened back in his own chair where he belonged. Trying to keep his voice businesslike, he said, “Seriously, Erin. We need to talk. A woman filed a complaint at the station, today. She’s been receiving upsetting telephone calls.”
Erin blinked hard. “It wasn’t me. I filed my report a week ago.”
“I know,” he assured her. “But I found out today that one of our murder victims also got harassing calls.”
Erin’s eyes widened. “You think…?”
“It’s too soon for me to think anything, right now. But it’d be foolish to ignore the coincidence. I wanted to see if you’re still being harassed.”
“No.”
He sensed she wasn’t being a hundred percent truthful.
She sipped her coffee, holding the cup with both hands, but it didn’t hide her trembling.
“Erin?” His fingers cupped her chin. “You can trust me. You can come to me if you have a problem, any problem.”
Erin shivered and a small groan escaped her lips.
He sat quietly. He could wait. He was an expert in interrogation. He’d sit here and wait all night if that’s what it took.
“The calls kept coming.” Her voice softened to a little more than a whisper. “Even after I let the answering machine screen the numbers I didn’t recognize.