beside her. She began to slice into the apple, never taking her eyes off him.
“You should be careful,” he warned. “You don’t want to cut yourself.”
Humor sparked in her eyes, for only a moment. “I’m good.”
“Okay.” He glanced around. “You seen Chloe?”
“She was showering. She had blood on her when she arrived. Surprised she kept her shit together knowing blood was on her body. Normally, she would have lost her mind about that. It’s her one thing, but I’m sure you already realized that.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s why she likes to have a doctor dodging her steps. Not like you’re the first.” She brought the knife to her lips. There was a slice of apple on the blade. She ate it. Watched him.
And he tried to follow along. “Chloe has worked with other partners who are doctors?”
She winked.
“Chloe didn’t mention any other—”
“What Chloe doesn’t say is often more important than what she does.”
What the hell did that even mean?
“I’m sure you noticed that she doesn’t like it when things get bloody.”
“I might have noticed,” Joel allowed. “But the issue seems to be more for dead bodies. At least, that’s what she told me. The vic today wasn’t dead.”
“Because of the hero, rushing in to save the day.” She brought the knife to her lips once more. Took another bite. “But you still managed to get blood all over Chloe. Managed to make her face one of her own worst nightmares. Guess that doesn’t matter to you, does it? You’re walking around here, all cocky and smug, because you had a fucking good day. La, dee, dah.”
Now tension knotted in his shoulders.
“But did you ever once stop to ask her how she was doing?” Marie asked.
A throat cleared.
Marie swore. “Chloe. You know I hate it when you sneak up on me.”
“No. You only hate it when I catch you sharing secrets.” Chloe stood near the open kitchen door. “Joel was busy putting his hands inside Judith’s chest and stopping her from bleeding out. He didn’t have a chance to sit and hold my hand and make sure I wasn’t going to get all weepy on him.”
Marie laughed. Her legs kicked out. “You never get weepy.”
Joel headed straight for Chloe. Her hair was back in a little bun, still damp, and she’d dressed in jeans and a loose top. Flats covered her feet. “Are you okay?”
“I’m absolutely fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
A snort from Marie. “Liar, liar.”
Chloe didn’t glance at the other woman. “Don’t I look fine?”
She looked fantastic. Good enough to eat. Joel reached for her hand.
“What are you doing?” She frowned at him.
“I’m holding your hand now. What’s your worst nightmare?” But Joel thought he knew. After the digging he’d done on her, the pieces were slipping into place for him.
But she tugged her hand and tried to pull it free of his grip. “This isn’t the time to talk about nightmares.”
“I think it is.”
She shot a hot glance at Marie. “Do you see what you did?”
“I see. And I’m impressed. Props to you, doc, for stepping up.” She jumped off the counter. “Maybe you’ll last longer than I thought.”
“Marie, you are not helping,” Chloe told her.
“I absolutely am.” A soft response. “You’re the one who throws up walls. Self-sabotage, isn’t that the fancy name you threw at me once? Now I’m throwing it back at you. Because we both know we’re too much alike.” She was still holding her knife as she slipped from the kitchen.
“Interesting woman,” Joel noted.
“Yes, Marie is the most lethal lady I’ve ever met. Never go against her when she’s holding a knife.” Chloe sounded completely serious. As if she’d just delivered a warning Joel should never forget.
“You say a whole lot of scary shit to me.”
“Do I? Then prepare yourself. Because something else scary is about to come out of my mouth.”
He waited. Was she about to tell him her worst night—
“You and I are going to find a body.”
“Say again?”
“You and I. Us. We’re getting on your motorcycle and we’re heading for a big park. A quite scenic, lovely park. Once we get there, we’ll take a walk and perhaps find a body. If we get lucky.”
“Sure. Right. Because what else would you do in the afternoon? I mean, especially if you spent your morning covered in blood and at a crime scene. You should then definitely spend the afternoon and evening locating a dead body.”
“Precisely.” She gave him a quick nod. Even a cautious smile. “May I have my hand back?”
“No. Not until you