The In Death Collection Books 16-20 - J. D. Robb [2]
She leaned down until they were nose to nose. “Well, there won’t be any of that for three beautiful, wonderful, mag-ass weeks. And do you know why? Do you know why?”
Overcome with joy, she caved and gave the cat a bite of pancake. “Because the skinny, tight-assed son of a bitch is going on vacation! Far, far away.” She almost sang it, riding on the bliss of knowing Roarke’s majordomo, her personal nemesis, wouldn’t be there to irritate her that night, or for many nights to come.
“I have twenty-one Summerset-free days ahead of me, and I rejoice.”
“I’m not sure the cat shares your jubilation.” Roarke spoke from the doorway where he was currently leaning on the jamb watching his wife.
“Sure he does.” She scooped up more of the pancakes before Galahad could nose his way onto the plate. “He’s just playing it cool. I thought you had some interstellar honcho transmission to take care of this morning.”
“Done.”
He strolled in, and Eve added to her considerable pleasure by watching him move. Smooth, long-legged, graceful in a way that was pure and dangerous male.
He could give the cat lessons, she mused. Grinning at him, she decided there wasn’t a woman alive who wouldn’t be thrilled to have that face next to hers over breakfast.
As faces went, it was a masterpiece, carved on one of God’s more generous days. Lean, with edgy cheekbones, with a firm, full mouth that could make her own water. All this was framed by a sweep of glossy black hair, and highlighted by Celtic blue eyes.
The rest of him wasn’t bad either, she thought. All long and rangy and tough.
“Come here, pretty boy.” She fisted a hand in his shirt, gave him a yank. Then sank her teeth, with some enthusiasm, in his bottom lip. She gave it a lazy flick of her tongue before settling back again. “You’re better than pancakes any day.”
“You’re certainly chipper this morning.”
“Damn straight. Chipper’s my middle name. I’m going out to spread joy and laughter to all of mankind.”
“What a nice change of pace.” There was amusement riding along with the Irish in his voice. “Perhaps you’ll start now by going down with me to see Summerset off.”
She grimaced. “That might spoil my appetite.” Testing, she polished off the pancakes. “No, no, it doesn’t. I can do that. I can go down and wave bye-bye.”
Brow lifted, he gave her hair a quick tug. “Nicely.”
“I won’t do the happy dance until he’s out of sight. Three weeks.” After a joyful shudder, she rose and foiled the cat by putting the plate out of reach. “I won’t see his ugly face or hear the squeaky sound of his voice for three orgasmic weeks.”
“Why do I think he’s probably thinking something very similar about you?” Sighing, Roarke pushed to his feet. “I’m as sure about that as I am that both of you will miss sniping at each other.”
“Will not.” She picked up her harness, strapped on her weapon. “Tonight, to celebrate—and make no mistake, I’m going to celebrate—I’m going to lounge around the living room and eat pizza. Naked.”
Roarke’s eyebrows winged up. “I’ll certainly enjoy that.”
“Get your own pizza.” She shrugged into her jacket. “I have to wave bye-bye now. I’m due at Central.”
“Practice this first.” He laid his hands on her shoulders. “Have a good trip. Enjoy your vacation.”
“You didn’t say I had to speak to him.” She blew out a breath at Roarke’s calm stare. “All right, all right, it’s worth it. Have a good trip.” She stretched her lips into a smile. “Enjoy your vacation. Asshole. I’ll leave off the asshole, I just wanted to say it now.”
“Understood.” He ran his hands down her arms, then took her hand. The cat darted out of the room ahead of them. “He’s looking forward to this. He hasn’t taken much time for himself in the last couple of years.”
“Didn’t want to take his beady eyes off me long enough. But that’s okay, that’s all right,” she said in a cheerful voice. “Because he’s going, and that’s what’s important.”
She heard the cat screech, the curse that followed, then a series of thuds. Eve was fast on her feet,