I was hungry so I wasn’t going to bicker. And anyway, Imperial was the best Chinese food in Denver. It would be a crime against nature to bicker when Imperial was on offer.
“Sesame chicken and hot and sour soup,” I told him then added, “oh, and crab cheese wonton.”
He stared at me then he asked, “Anything else?”
“No.”
“You sure?”
“I’m usually too full to try their desserts so I don’t know if they’re good so if you don’t have a roll of cookie dough in your fridge, it wouldn’t be unwelcome if one of the commandos swung by King Soopers and got some. Chocolate chip or sugar cookie.”
“I don’t have cookie dough in my fridge.”
I knew this. The morning before I’d checked in his fridge and he had yogurt, cottage cheese, fresh fruit, slices of smoked salmon and veggies. It was a wasteland in there. He didn’t even have condiments.
He studied my face while I thought this then remarked, “Babe, it isn’t a punishable offense not to have cookie dough.”
“Maybe not but you don’t have condiments.”
“Ketchup and cottage cheese don’t go real good together.”
I felt my lip curl in disgust then I watched his lips twitch in amusement as his hands at my neck gentled entirely and one thumb stroked the skin under my ear.
“You good?” he asked softly.
“About what? You and me? My living room being a disaster? Or war with Tack which, by the way, I should note, is not my fault.”
“Any of that,” he answered.
“No,” I told him truthfully.
His lips twitched again and advised, “You need to quit bein’ such a smartass.”
“Why?”
He went on like I didn’t speak. “At the same time bein’ so cute.”
“That I’ll agree with, cute is becoming a problem.”
The lip twitch turned into a grin. “You gave Lawson sweet and cute and you gave Tack smartass and cute.” His fingers flexed again and pulled up as his head came down while he muttered, “Lucky for me, I’m the only one who’s got it all.”
“Hawk,” I said when his lips were against mine.
“What?” he asked.
“I need you to feed me.”
“Right,” he murmured then brushed his mouth against mine but when he pulled away he didn’t go very far and his eyes locked to mine.
“Don’t try dodgin’ me again, Gwen,” he warned and I tensed at his tone. “Your friend’s man is a cop or not, I’ll come and get you. You almost got dead today. That’s twice in a week. That shit’s gonna stop and it isn’t Tack who’s gonna make it stop for you. Got me?”
“I’ll quit being a smartass if you quit being so bossy.”
“I see you didn’t take me seriously.”
“I’m being perfectly serious.”
“It’s impossible for you not to be a smartass.”