The Awakening

Her sadness. Gaby frowned. Luther saw too much, and made her care far too easily.

Recognizing her expression, he said, 'Here we go,' with a lot of resignation.

'I'm not afraid, smart-ass, just curious and a little confused.'

He widened his stance and looked down his nose at her. 'About what?'

'All this sucking business. I mean…' She nudged her belly against his erection. 'I might be unschooled on sexual things, but I understand anatomy, so I see how it'd work on you. But for a woman…'

The sound he made was half laugh, half groan. 'You'll have to trust me on this. Women have other places that are equally… receptive to a tongue, or a soft suck.'

'Where?'

He groaned again. 'I can't talk about this anymore.' Leaning back to look at her, he whispered, 'But one of these days, I'd like to show you.'

'Yeah, well, don't hold your breath. What either of us wants won't matter in the long run. Sex for me isn't likely.'

She couldn't see it anywhere in her immediate future, for sure.

Though she'd like to.

Especially now, after this little demonstration from Luther. 'That's why I shouldn't have asked you about this, I guess. But Mort wouldn't tell me—'

'I'd have punched him if he had.'

Gaby shoved Luther back the length of her arms. 'Mort is my friend now. Don't hurt him.'

'I was kidding. He's my friend, too.' He put his forehead to hers. 'But I'd rather you come to me with those types of questions. Okay?'

'I don't know. I don't like feeling this way. I meant it when I told you it was cruel to get all this started. There's so much that we still have to do. Those cancerous things are still loose and someone hit you in the head, and Dr. Marton—'

Yet again, his hand covered her mouth. 'I'm sorry if I've frustrated you, Gaby, if I've made you more aware of things you wanted to pretend didn't exist. But I don't want you involved with any of my police work.'

She fried him with her gaze.

Disgruntled, Luther sighed. 'I can handle it, I swear.'

She shook her head. He couldn't, and that was the plain simple truth.

Just that easily, Luther turned back into a cop instead of a lover. He released her and took a step away. 'Damn it, Gaby, promise me you won't get involved.'

'I can promise you I will.' She sidled out from between the wall and his bricklike body. 'And before you start threatening to arrest me again, remember that you gave me your word, too.'

'Only to keep our conversation last night between the two of us.'

Anger sent the lust away. 'Fine. So I could trust you last night, but not today? I should have realized that. I won't make the mistake again.'

She turned to walk away, and Luther caught her arm.

Bad temper had her swinging before she thought better of it. Luckily, given his concussion, he twisted enough that her fist landed on his shoulder and not his already injured head.

'Enough.'

His blustering didn't faze her. She lowered her fists and curled her lip. 'Let me guess. Horniness makes you meaner than usual.'

Left eye twitching, Luther stared at her. His eyes narrowed more. Then he nodded. 'I suppose it does.'

That reply so took her by surprise, Gaby almost grinned. The lighthearted feeling was so alien to her that it left her disconcerted. 'And you call me dangerous.'

'Gaby, wait.'

'For what? You want to tease me more?'

'No, actually…' He straightened to his full height. 'I want to ask you out on a date.'

'Are you out of your fucking mind?'

Well, Luther thought, he should have expected just such a reaction. On some topics, Gaby could be very predictable.

Especially when she made cavalier confessions about stabbing rapists in the dead of the night.

It wasn't easy, but Luther tamped down his temper again. The best way to protect Gaby and to learn all her secrets—secrets he felt certain would help unravel his current mystery'—was to get closer to her.

He liked that idea on several levels, only one of them being personal interest.

If it turned out she really was just a confused, mixed-up product of her upbringing, great. But if she was somehow involved with the murder of that man, and his attack, he'd prosecute her just as he would any other criminal.

Regardless of how it'd hurt him to do so.

He'd thought about it, and he knew how to counter the many arguments she'd have against a growing relationship. 'No, I'm sane enough. I think.'

He eyed her head to toe. The mysterious shifting of her features had faded away. She once again looked like regular Gaby Cody, tall, thin, mean-tempered, too sensitive and too guarded, and far too alone.

'Forget it.' She started out of the alley.

'No.'

Going rigid with disbelief, she jerked around to face him. 'What do you mean, no?'

'No, I won't forget about it. Don't be a coward. Gaby. Give me a chance.'

Her chin tucked in and her eyes narrowed to furious slits. 'Coward?'

'It's not a big deal. I'm not proposing we go to a fancy dinner or anything. In fact, what I have planned is totally casual. You won't even have to change clothes.'

'I couldn't if I wanted to, you ass. I don't own anything different!'

That stymied him. So Gaby always dressed in that hideous getup? 'You don't own—'

As if regretting that confession, she pressed her mouth together.

'Why?'

Giving nothing away, she said, 'I don't have much to spend, and I'm no more interested in fashion than I am in television or music or playing.'

'So you literally wear the same clothes, day in and day out.'

Her chin went up. 'Yes.'

'Do you at least have colorful pajamas?'

'I sleep naked.'

He did not need to know that. Best to get things back on track before he totally lost sight of his purpose. 'What you're wearing is perfect for what I have in mind.'

'Slumming?'

She could be so defensive. 'No, actually, but it is casual. I'll be in jeans, too. So… Thursday at six? I'd say tomorrow or the next day, but I have some things to tend to first—'

'Like checking out the treatment center for the indigent?'

Glad that he could accommodate her on that, Luther nodded. 'Yes.'

'And making sure that Ms. Davies gets a proper burial?'

Because it mattered to her, he said, 'Yes, I'll check into that.'

'Axe you screwing that female cop?'

The rapid-fire change in subject threw Luther. 'Who? Ann?'

'I think that was her name. The pretty one who came to play basketball with you.'

'No, I'm not.'

'How many female cops do you know?'

'Several.' He studied Gaby, wondering where her thoughts were taking her. 'Women have all the same positions in the police force as men, though I'd say men still outnumber them.'

'So which ones are you screwing?'