And as he and his brother-in-arms headed for the ropes to help secure the boat to the docks, Gavin figured that was something well worth leaning into.
“Club soda for you,” Kerrigan said as she deposited drinks on the high-top table at Case Closed.
The bar was old, dating back a good two decades, started by a retired detective. One who knew cops liked a place to call their own. Although anyone was welcome, tables were reserved for parties of cops, and in kind, the 86th generously rewarded the owner with their business.
“News travels fast,” Sera said, surprised she didn’t feel more anxiety about the fact that Kerrigan knew she was pregnant.
“Good news certainly does.” Kerrigan clinked the top of her beer bottle to Sera’s glass. “So. You and my pal Gavin.”
“So.”
She’d originally thought to hide the news of her pregnancy, but Kerrigan had surprised her by leaning in and whispering that she figured it out as they all walked into Case Closed. Sera had been too shocked to deny it and too happy to have been invited out to complain.
Which now left her with the very real question of just how obvious she was. As a pregnant woman, yes, but also as a pregnant woman who couldn’t stop looking at Gavin in a way people noticed.
“He’s a good man,” Kerrigan continued, ignoring the lack of a response. “His outer shell is way too tough but not in the grizzly bear sort of way.”
Although he’d been prickly when they’d first gotten reacquainted, it was interesting to hear Kerrigan’s perspective. More than interesting, Sera admitted to herself. She was hungry for the information.
“He’s definitely not grumpy or unpleasant.”
“That’s how you miss it!” Kerrigan snapped her fingers. “You think he’s all salt-of-the-earth, Mister Easygoing, and then you hit a point where you open your eyes and realize just how crafty he really is.”
“How so?”
“That man’s fathoms deep, and he never lets anyone deeper than a foot.”
It wasn’t quite how she’d have characterized him, yet as she turned over Kerrigan’s comments, Sera had to admit they fit. Hadn’t she sensed his reluctance to discuss his family? And even with their conversations the past two evenings, there was a definite sense she’d been held at arm’s length. It wasn’t cold or even distant, it was just...well...to adopt Kerrigan’s term, it was well crafted. As if he’d figured out how to orchestrate the world around him to stay just outside an invisible fence.
Like someone else you know, Forte?
Maybe that was their real connection—that ability to fit in without giving much away. Giving people a foot, as Kerrigan put it, where most gave a fathom.
It was also humbling to realize how much deeper she wanted to go.
“I didn’t mean to upset you, by the way, mentioning your pregnancy. I come from a big family, and I can smell baby hormones at fifty paces. I’m not a gossip, and I promise to keep it to myself.”
“No, it’s fine. Really. I mean, well, I haven’t told work yet, but I’m three months along, so it’s only a matter of weeks before I can’t hide it any longer.”
“No, I get it. There’s already an assumption we’re delicate. Add on the worry that it’ll affect how you’re seen at your job, and I don’t blame you for holding on to the information.”
“The baby is Gavin’s.”
“I figured as much.”
“Was it because I was wearing his coat?”
“Not a bit. Like I said, he’s a good guy. If anyone was cold, he’d have given them his coat.” The young woman with the sharp gaze took a sip of her beer. “It’s the way he looks at you.”
“Oh...oh. Well.” Sera caught herself before curiosity got the better of her. “How does he look at me?”
“Like you’re precious.”
She’d never felt precious before. Competent, yes. Effective, that, too. But precious?
It humbled her to know that someone saw that sort of attention for her in another person. Like she mattered.
“Well, if it isn’t the princess of Hell Gate.” A large man with tawny blond hair and vivid blue eyes made the pronouncement just before pulling Kerrigan into his arms for a big smacking kiss.
The sassy friend Sera had made that afternoon turned into a pile of mush, staring up at the big man once the kiss ended.
He recognized they had an audience, and he naturally shifted gears, extending a hand. “I’m Arlo Prescott.”
Sera introduced herself, with Kerrigan quickly adding in color commentary about their day and the fact that Sera was part of the same task force as Gavin.
Arlo was kind and attentive throughout, but as the conversation shifted around the table, Sera didn’t miss how his voice lowered, all hints of earlier humor vanishing as his attention narrowed in once more on Kerrigan.
“Heard it was a hard day. How are you?”
“I’m good.”
Sera looked away to give them their privacy, quickly introducing herself to the other newcomer to the table. A gorgeous Black man, still dressed head-to-toe like he was ready to take on Wall Street—or had just finished conquering it—extended a hand. “I’m Darius St. Germaine.” He pressed a quick kiss to Jayden’s head. “This one’s husband.”
“Sera Forte.”
“How’d you fall in with this motley crew?”
“Luck?”
