his arms around my neck and pulls me in for a hug. “I’m sorry you had a rough night.”
I allow myself to take solace in the heat and comfort of Ian’s body. For so many years, I had to face everything alone—the good and the bad. But now I have Ian, and I have to admit, it’s nice to have someone to lean on for a change.
As we stand eye-to-eye, he leans in and kisses me lightly. “I saved your dinner. Do you want me to heat it up for you?”
Smiling, I return his kiss. “That would be great, thanks. I’m sorry I ruined our plans tonight.”
“It’s okay. You can’t help being a hero. It’s in your nature.”
I frown. “I’m no hero, Ian. Heroes save people. I just figure out who killed them. Big difference.”
He tugs off my suit jacket and hangs it up in the front hall closet. “You give families peace of mind. And for the record, you saved my life. Both figuratively and literally.”
I remove my chest holster, which holds my nine-millimeter Glock, and hang it on a hook inside the closet. Then I follow Ian to the kitchen, where I find him retrieving a covered plate from the fridge. He puts it into the microwave.
“I warn you, it probably won’t be as good the second time around,” he says as he programs the microwave and presses start.
I notice he only took one plate out of the fridge. “You’re not eating?”
Smiling apologetically, he shakes his head. “I already ate. Sorry. I was starving.”
“It’s okay. I don’t blame you.” I head to the fridge and pull out a bottle of beer. “Whatever it is, it smells good. You want a beer?”
“Yes, please. And it’s pot roast. Do you want to eat up on the roof?”
Once the food is heated, I carry my plate and beer up to the private roof-top greenhouse that is Ian’s favorite place on dry land. With its glass walls, it allows him to feel like he’s outdoors all year around, with unimpeded views of Lake Michigan to the east and downtown Chicago to the west. The climate-controlled space is filled with plants, from potted trees and massive ferns to a multitude of tropical flowers. There’s even a three-tiered water fountain.
But the real focal point of the greenhouse is the king-size bed I had installed up here as a gift for Ian. We spend a few nights up here each week sleeping under the stars.
This late at night, the view is impressive. City lights flicker in the distance all around us. Out on the lake, moonlight shimmers on the water’s rippling surface as a parade of late-night cruise ships ferry tourists up and down the shoreline.
As we sit at a small bistro table for two, Ian lights a single taper.
“That’s new,” I say, nodding at the candle.
He grins. “I had planned a candlelit dinner.”
“And I fucked it up.”
“It’s not your fault, babe.” He motions to my plate. “Eat while it’s hot.”
I don’t even realize how hungry I am until the first bite of food hits my tongue. As the tender pot roast practically melts in my mouth, I moan in appreciation. “This is so much better than frozen dinners.”
Ian looks horrified. “Your days of eating frozen dinners are behind you, detective.” He watches me eat for a little while before saying, “Do you want to talk your new case?”
I chew my food slowly and swallow before taking a long, cold swig of my beer. I really don’t want to discuss it, but Ian’s being so supportive I don’t want to shut him out. “The victim reminded me of Beth.”
Ian reaches for my hand. “That must have been hard.”
Ian has a sister, too, just a few years younger than mine. I squeeze his hand. “Forget I said anything.”
I finally notice what he’s wearing—a lavender T-shirt featuring a unicorn shitting out candy hearts. That makes me chuckle. No matter how rough my day might be, Ian makes everything better.
I glance at the big bed behind us. Sheer curtains and strings of fairy lights are draped over the wrought-iron canopy above the bed. “Do you want to sleep up here tonight?” I ask as I look up through the glass ceiling at the sky. “It’s a clear night. We’ll be able to see the stars.”
“I’d love to.”
After I’m done eating, I carry my dirty dishes down to the kitchen and put them in the dishwasher. Then I excuse myself to take a shower and get ready for bed.