Meant to Be Immortal (Argeneau #32) - Lynsay Sands Page 0,105

watched him go, and then glanced at the clock on the restaurant wall. It was only 12:45. She had two hours to wait until she could leave the diner, she realized, and frowned at the knowledge. Two hours was a long time. Squeezing Mac’s hand, she smiled when he shifted his attention from the retreating captain to her.

“You don’t have to wait here with me. Why don’t you and the guys take my car and go check out any houses they have for rent or sale in the area. You’ll need a new home base now.”

“Actually,” he said slowly, squeezing her hand and raising it to his lips to kiss, “I was thinking I might like to set up shop somewhere else . . . like Mississauga.”

CJ’s eyes widened with surprise. “You were?”

Mac nodded and then asked with concern, “Would you mind?”

“Heck, no, I’d love that,” she admitted, and then realized that maybe she was being a little too honest, and glanced away with embarrassment.

But Mac caught her chin and turned her back to face him. Expression solemn, he said, “I’d love it too.”

CJ smiled crookedly, and then leaned forward to press a light kiss to the corner of his mouth. At least that was her intention. However, he turned his head at the last minute, catching her lips with his, and she ended up giving him a proper kiss, that was just starting to deepen when Bricker said, “Oh, man, you two. Get a room.”

CJ and Mac broke apart guiltily and turned to see that Bricker and Decker were sliding into the booth with them.

“So?” Bricker raised his eyebrows. “What’s the news? It sounded like they got the guy who started the fire?”

“Yes. It was an insurance job, not a murder attempt,” CJ told them.

“Which means you guys don’t have to stick around anymore,” Mac added.

Bricker feigned an injured expression and asked Decker, “Is it just me? Or does he sound kind of happy about that to you?”

“It’s not just you. He sounds happy,” Decker said with a sad moue that just looked ridiculous on the man.

“That’s gratitude for you, eh?” Bricker asked.

“Oh, stuff it,” Mac said with amusement. “No one’s buying your poor wounded act. Besides, I’m just relieved to know no one wants me dead.”

“Good, because if it was that Officer Jefferson in the red pickup, then he was probably aiming for CJ and that means we should stay until he’s been arrested and no longer a threat to her,” Decker said quietly.

CJ’s mouth slipped open with surprise and she shook her head. “You don’t have to stay for me. I mean, you guys work for Argentis and they have no responsibility to see to my safety.” Even as she said the words, her mind was turning the information over in her head. Jefferson owned a red pickup. He might have been behind the wheel of the truck that had tried to run her down. He might have been trying to bring an end to her investigation. Jeez, he might have been trying to kill her, and he might try again. The idea shocked her. She’d never had anyone try to kill her before. It was hard to absorb and accept.

“The people we work for look after the well-being of not only our people but their partners,” Decker told her solemnly. “And I gather you two are involved now.”

CJ glanced quickly at Mac and away. She could actually feel her cheeks heating with a blush. Dang, she was reacting like a teenager with her first boyfriend, and he wasn’t even her boyfriend. At least, they hadn’t discussed anything having to do with whatever it was they were doing. Although he had just said he was moving to the Mississauga area in a way that made it seem like it was to be near her, so she supposed they were doing something, she thought, and then turned with relief to Laurie when the waitress appeared at the end of the booth.

“I’m sorry to bother you, but there are a small group of young folks here who want to talk to Ms. Cummings, but they aren’t comfortable approaching with the rest of you here,” she said apologetically.

“There are other tables open now. We’ll move to one of them,” Mac said at once, and leaned to the side to kiss her cheek before sliding out of the booth. “Just shout if you need us.”

CJ stared after him, a little sigh slipping from her lips. That peck on the cheek had