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“Then wait,” Gabriel said. “It hasn’t aged enough yet, the answer you’re looking for. Just put it away for now, Evie, and let it be. Focus on solving the next crime you’re handed, the next cold cases your new task force has to deal with. Play with your dogs, make more friends, and just live. You’ll be fine. Like stinky bait, you catch more interesting things if you just let it sit there.”

Evie laughed. “I’m not sure I shouldn’t be highly insulted, Gabe. We’re talking catfish here?”

He grinned, then turned serious again. “You’re after an interesting life. Why not just admit that to yourself? You’re ambitious for your personal life, you want a great relationship, like Ann and Paul have, and you haven’t figured out where to find it yet. So just let that soak for a while and see what happens. You like Rob?”

“I do.”

“Does he make you laugh?”

“On occasion.”

“Then consider his proposal, see if it grows on you. I always figured he would propose around Christmastime-seemed a logical move from what I’ve heard of him. Much like the fact you’re not sure you’re ready to answer him seems like you. There’s nothing at all wrong with that picture, which time isn’t going to resolve.”

“I can’t forget those three near misses-”

“When you say yes,” Gabriel said firmly, “I expect you’ll make it to ‘I do’ this time.” He glanced at her again. “We’re at the Fast Café for a late dinner, whoever in the family is free and available. You have time to stay another hour? Karen’s cooking isn’t to be missed.”

“I’ve got time,” Evie said.

Life was going on, and for now she’d be content with where the days led her. Gabriel was good for her in that respect. He was willing to be a friend, to tell her the truth as he saw it. And she did need time. Her professional life was about to take a significant turn. She could afford to give her personal life the space it still needed. She looked over at Gabriel. “I heard a joke last week.”

She waited to see if he was ready for something that light. He nodded. “Tell me.”

She told him her joke, careful on the timing, and got the full smile she was hoping for. She produced a second roll of sweet-tarts and dropped them into his dashboard change collection.

“Hey, you’re stealing my MO,” he quipped.

“You taught me well,” she said and grinned back. “A good friendship needs the give-and-take, and also something sweet.”

Gabe shot her another smile. “It does. All candy is accepted.”

He parked at the café. She let him come around and open her door, stepped out into the snowy evening.

She’d picked up another friend in the process of working toward the launch of the task force. It was a beginning. A good beginning for whatever came next in her life.

Dee Henderson

Dee Henderson is the author of numerous novels, including Taken, Undetected, Unspoken, Jennifer: An O’Malley Love Story, Full Disclosure, and the acclaimed O’MALLEY series. Her books have won or been nominated for several prestigious industry awards, such as the RITA Award, the Christy Award, and the ECPA Gold Medallion. Dee is a lifelong resident of Illinois. Learn more at DeeHenderson.com or facebook.com/DeeHendersonBooks.

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