A Billy Jo McCabe Mystery Box Set Books 7 - 9

Chapter 4

Chapter Four

“Mark, coffee,” Billy Jo said.

He stood under the spray of the shower, and Billy Jo poked her head in past the clear shower curtain. He was almost tempted to pull her into the shower with him, but she was holding out a mug of coffee, so he reached for it and stepped out of the spray to take a swallow, then leaned down and kissed her. He took another swallow before handing the mug back to her.

“You know, you could step out of those clothes and join me for some shower s*x to start the day,” he said.

She let her gaze linger on his chest and then lower, taking in all of him, and then back up as if she didn’t have a shy bone in her body. “I had a shower, and now I’m dressed. That shower is a tiny box that’s barely big enough for one.”

She pulled the clear shower curtain back in place, and he could see her through it at the sink as she set his mug down and began brushing her teeth. Mark turned off the shower, pulled back the curtain, and reached for a faded gray towel on a hook to run over his chest and head.

“So let’s get a bigger place,” he said.

Billy Jo spit out the toothpaste, rinsed her mouth and toothbrush, tucked it in the holder, and reached for a hand towel to wipe her face before slowly turning to him. “You want to get a bigger place? I thought you liked this secluded hidden-away cabin of yours.”

What was he supposed to say? It was a temporary place he’d found, but he’d been thinking of a lot more permanence as of late. “Would be kind of nice to have our own place. I’m now the chief. This is a small place, great for a single guy, but I’m not that anymore. Was thinking of a house on the island here, with three bedrooms, a big yard for Lucky, some bright windows for Harley to look out of…”

She didn’t smile. She was pulling back into herself, and he wondered if she’d just walk out of the bathroom. He dried his legs and back, then looped the towel around his waist as she stood there, her arms now crossed. Then she did walk out.

He shut his eyes, hung his head. “Way to push there, Romeo,” he muttered under his breath. He heard her in the kitchen as he reached for his toothbrush and turned on the tap.

“You know, Mark, I’m not scared, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

He squeezed a good amount of toothpaste onto his toothbrush. “You’re terrified, and I’m tiptoeing around you. See? A second ago, you ran out.”

She was leaning in the doorway now, and he let his gaze linger on her while he shoved the toothbrush in his mouth and started brushing. “I didn’t run out. I stepped out because I needed to give myself a second to figure out what you’re saying. You want a bigger place…”

He spit the toothpaste out and leaned down to the tap, where the water was running. He swished the water in his mouth and spit it out, then pulled his hand over his face to wipe it as he turned off the tap. “I want us to buy our own place, you know, a house, the kind that comes with setting down roots and eventually having a family.”

She frowned. He could see her freaking out, and he hadn’t even said the one thing he wanted to but knew he couldn’t. “With me…?” He thought her voice squeaked.

“No, with Gail! For the love of God, Billy Jo, who else?” He brushed past her into the bedroom and tossed the towel onto the made bed, something else she had done. She was always up first, showered and dressed before he was even out of bed. Lazing around and waking up slowly together was something she didn’t do.

He pulled open the top drawer of the dresser, seeing her underwear and socks next to his. He pulled out his black boxer briefs and stepped into them, and he knew she was still there behind him, watching and saying nothing. There were times, like now, that he wanted to shake her, and he would if he thought it would do any good. He pulled open the bottom drawer and reached for a clean pair of jeans, seeing how neatly everything was folded in the drawers now.

“Okay.”

He still had his back to her, stepping into his jeans and zipping them up. He turned to her. For a second, he didn’t think he’d heard her right. “You said yes?”

Her arms were crossed, and he could see she really was struggling, scared, but she wasn’t letting herself run. She nodded. “Harley would like a big picture window with a lot of morning sun, Lucky deserves a big yard, and I’d like to have a kitchen with a dishwasher and counter space.”

He didn’t know what to say. “I’ll call a realtor, get the ball rolling. Any other requests?”

She uncrossed her arms. Her navy T-shirt was flattering and simple, and her black capris were so her. She took a step over to him and then another, then ran her hand over his arm, the discoloration of where the tattoo had once been. He was glad it was gone, but he was thinking of another tattoo now, on his other arm—something that wasn’t the face of a girl.

“I was thinking about this morning,” she said. “While you talk to Pam about the accounting and the checks, I’m going to do some digging on each of these kids, find out where they are and a little bit about their situations, you know, put it together. You’re going to the station first?”

So that was it. All talk of the house was gone. But then, when something made Billy Jo uncomfortable, like their evolving relationship, she shut down. At least she was still there.

“I’ll call Lacy,” he said. “I think after last night, I’ll follow you in and catch Pam early to make sure she looks into what I asked her to.”

Billy Jo let her hand linger on his bare arm. Then her fingers traced down and over to his chest. She stepped in closer and rose up on her tiptoes, where he met her halfway and kissed her, letting it linger a second before she pulled back and started walking, gesturing to the bathroom.

“Don’t forget your coffee,” she said. “It’s probably already cold. You want me to top it up?” She glanced back to him.

“Sure, thanks.” Mark opened the middle drawer and reached for a navy T-shirt to pull over his head.

“You know, Mark, I would also like a double wall oven, a gas cooktop, and an island in the kitchen. I don’t need an ocean view, but a quiet property would be best, where we can’t see or hear the neighbors.”

He looked over to her where she was holding his mug. He hadn’t expected that from her, and he couldn’t help the easy smile that touched his lips. “You got it.”

She walked out of the bedroom, into the kitchen of his small cabin, and he watched as she poured him a coffee. His dog brushed up to her, and she smiled brightly to him and bent over, making a big fuss. He wondered if this was how his brothers had felt before deciding to ask their wives to marry them.

“Okay, slow down, Mark,” he said to himself.

“Did you say something?” Billy Jo called out.

He shook his head, taking in his image in the mirror. “Just pour the coffee in two go-mugs,” he said. “I’ll have some cereal, and then let’s get going.” He pulled out a pair of socks and couldn’t help thinking of a ring on her finger, something simple and small.

She lifted her cat and carried him, and whatever she was saying to him, he wondered whether she had any idea of what he was thinking of doing.

“Baby steps there, Mark,” he said in a lower voice now, watching his girl, who was starting to come around.

But he could move only so fast, because there was one thing he knew about Billy Jo: He needed to give her enough time to get used to an idea. He thought of that ring again, wondering when he could finally ask her and when she’d finally be ready to say yes.