Meant to Be Immortal (Argeneau #32) - Lynsay Sands Page 0,60
do it all the time.”
“Yeah, I can see that,” Bricker said solemnly. “I mean, look at James Bond, having to visit casinos, drive fast cars, sleep with gorgeous women, and shoot the bad guys all the time. After the third or fourth movie it’s just like, yeah, so you have to save the world again. Big deal.”
CJ burst out laughing at his sarcasm and shook her head. “Yeah, well, I did visit a casino on one assignment, but I did not drive fast cars or sleep with gorgeous women, and I only shot one bad guy, so . . . yeah, I wasn’t Jane Bond, and I’m pretty sure nothing I did saved the world.” She shrugged. “Sorry to disappoint.”
“I’ll get over it,” Bricker assured her, and then grinned. “Besides, I suspect you’re downplaying what you did. Spies probably have to be secretive and can’t reveal all the exciting details. But,” he added, eyes twinkling with interest again, “you can tell us about being a police detective.”
“Not when we’re about to eat lunch,” she said firmly. She had been a homicide detective, not a subject likely to improve the appetite.
“Speaking of which, lunch is on the way,” Bricker said happily.
CJ turned to look around, her eyes widening slightly at what she saw. Their waitress was indeed on the way to their table, but three more were following her, each carrying a plate. That was some serious overkill. Even a non-waitress could manage to carry two plates. It seemed obvious this was simply a case of the other women wanting an excuse to approach the table. She hadn’t missed the way the waitresses had all kept walking past and smiling at the men since they’d sat down.
Rolling her eyes, CJ sat back in her seat and simply waited for their food to be placed before them.
Conversation after that was light, with Bricker doing most of the talking. CJ was relieved because she was having trouble thinking about anything other than Mac’s nearness. He had shifted closer to her along the booth to avoid the waitress’s space-invading maneuvers earlier and hadn’t moved back. It meant his knee was pressed lightly against her own and his arm occasionally brushed hers. Both of which made her aware of him in ways she wasn’t completely comfortable with.
CJ knew she should ask him to give her some space now that the waitress was gone, but for some reason she didn’t, which was just something she had no desire to question or think about. She also didn’t want to think about the strange combination of relief and disappointment she experienced when they finished their meal and the waitress brought the check. The relief was expected. Soon they would get up and Mac would have no excuse to remain so close to her. The disappointment, however, was because soon they would get up and Mac would have no excuse to remain so close to her. It was a conundrum, CJ acknowledged to herself as she insisted on paying for her own meal and accepted the mobile handheld little gadget to pay using her debit card.
“Cowessess Jane Cummings,” Bricker said suddenly, his gaze on her card.
CJ had to resist the urge to hide the bank card. It was too late anyway. Instead, she calmly finished the transaction and said, “You actually pronounced it correctly.”
“I had a job in Saskatchewan a couple years ago and the Cowessess First Nation is there,” Justin said with a shrug. “I first thought it was pronounced Cow-wessess, but soon learned it was actually Cow-sess.”
CJ nodded as she finished and put her card away. She didn’t ask what kind of job he had out in Saskatchewan, but did wonder.
“Were you named after the First Nation?” Mac asked with curiosity as Decker pulled out a credit card to pay for the other three meals.
“No,” CJ said, and reluctantly admitted, “A social worker named me after the two officers who found me: Officer Cowessess and Officer Cummings. They were partners.”
“Found you?” Mac asked gently.
“Yes.” The word was stiff and she gave him a nudge to get him moving so that she could get out of the booth. “We should head out. I have an appointment with Captain Dupree and Jefferson at 3 p.m. and I have to take you back to Mrs. Vesper’s first to drop off your clothes. After my appointment, we should probably see about renting you boys a car so you don’t have to constantly depend on me.”