They moved together toward the living room, their kisses becoming more urgent and desperate.Kate's hands worked at the buttons of Allen's shirt while he tugged at her blazer, both of them moving with a kind of fevered need—perhaps partly from a slowly building frustration between the two of them concerning her sporadic job commitments.
They fell onto the couch together, Allen's shirt half-unbuttoned and Kate's hair coming loose from the neat style she'd worn to work.Their hands explored each other with keen familiarity.Kate felt herself responding to Allen's touch in a way that made her forget about crime scenes and victims and the weight of responsibility she'd been carrying all day.
The couch cushions caught them as they moved together, their breathing becoming ragged and urgent as kissing became much more.Kate lost herself in the sensation of Allen's hands on her skin, in the way he whispered her name against her ear, in the overwhelming need to connect with him in the most fundamental way possible.The outside world disappeared completely, leaving only the two of them and the heat building between them.
Afterward, they lay together on the couch, Kate's head resting on Allen's chest while he pulled the soft throw blanket from the back of the sofa to cover their naked bodies.She could feel his heartbeat gradually returning to normal beneath her cheek, and she traced lazy circles on his skin with her fingertip.
"I have to admit," Kate said, her voice still slightly breathless, "I felt sure we'd be arguing a bit tonight."
Allen laughed, the sound rumbling through his chest."I thought about it.But this seemed like it would be more fun."
Kate lifted her head to look at him, seeing the satisfied smile playing at the corners of his mouth."More fun than lecturing me about missing family time?"
"Much more fun."Allen brushed a strand of hair away from her face."Besides, sometimes it's nice to remember what else is waiting at home rather than just dinner and mommy duties."
Kate felt a warm glow of contentment spread through her.After the difficult day she'd had, processing another crime scene and seeing the devastation in Samantha Harper's eyes, this intimate connection with Allen felt like exactly what she needed.It reminded her why she was working so hard to balance her career with her personal life, why coming home to this man and their son mattered more than any case.
"Speaking of dinner," Allen said, his tone becoming slightly sheepish, "I was lazy tonight.There's mac and cheese in the fridge.Michael helped me make it, which means more noodles ended up on the floor than in the pot."
Kate smiled and settled back against his chest."Do we have a wine that pairs well with mac and cheese?"
"I'm sure we do.We have wine that pairs well with everything."
They both started laughing, the sound filling the quiet living room with the kind of joy that came from being completely comfortable with each other.Kate felt like a college kid again, lying naked with her boyfriend and giggling about nothing in particular.It was a feeling she'd thought was lost to her forever, something that belonged to a younger version of herself who hadn't seen the darker side of human nature or carried the weight of so much responsibility.
"Should we get up and heat it up?"Kate asked, though she made no move to disentangle herself from Allen's arms.
"We should," Allen agreed, also making no effort to move."Eventually."
Kate closed her eyes and let herself sink deeper into the comfortable weight of the blanket and Allen's embrace.The case that had consumed her thoughts all day felt very far away now, pushed to the back of her mind by the immediate pleasure of being held and loved.Linda Harper's death, the poisoned pills, the pattern of victims, all of it could wait until tomorrow.Right now, there was only this moment of perfect contentment.
She thought about how different this evening had turned out from her expectations.She'd driven home prepared for conflict, ready to defend her choices and navigate Allen's understandable frustration.Instead, she'd found passion and connection and the kind of intimacy that reminded her why their relationship worked despite all the challenges.
The living room was warm and quiet around them, with only the soft glow of the table lamps and the distant sound of the television providing any sensory input.Kate could feel Allen's breathing becoming deeper and more relaxed, and she wondered if he might fall asleep right here on the couch with her in his arms.
The thought didn't bother her at all.In fact, it sounded perfect.
Right now, there was just this.Just them and the simple pleasure of being together, naked and satisfied and completely present with each other.The mac and cheese could wait.The wine could wait.Everything could wait except this moment of pure happiness and connection.
Kate smiled against Allen's chest and let herself drift in the warmth of his embrace, feeling remarkably pleased and content despite everything that had happened during the day.And with his soft heartbeat against the side of her face, the case—the bodies, the pills, the empty-nesters—seemed very far away.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
Margaret Holloway pulled her white cargo van into the circular driveway of the Pemberton residence, checking the dashboard clock as she shifted into park.It was 8:02 AM, which meant she was running exactly on schedule.The house that loomed before her was everything she'd expected from the phone consultation: a pristine two-story colonial that probably cost more than most people made in five years.It was gorgeous, though a bit gaudy.
The Pemberton home sat on at least two acres in one of Richmond's most exclusive neighborhoods, where houses were positioned far enough apart to ensure privacy and close enough to the city center to maintain prestige.The brick exterior was painted a soft cream color that complemented the forest green shutters and the perfectly manicured landscaping.Mature boxwood hedges lined the front walkway, and seasonal flowers had been arranged in decorative planters that probably cost more than most people's monthly mortgage payments.
She was excited to be working on it, but at the same time, it was a bit daunting.She found herself surprisingly nervous as she opened the van's rear doors and surveyed the carefully arranged inventory inside.Fabric samples, paint cards, furniture catalogs, and measuring tools—they were organized in portable cases that allowed her to transform any client's living room into a professional design consultation space.She'd built her business, New Beginnings Home Design, on the ability to help clients reimagine their living spaces during major life transitions.
The irony of the company name wasn't lost on her.
She selected the materials she'd need for today's appointment and loaded them into a wheeled case.The Pembertons were simply redecorating their master bedroom and main living areas, nothing complicated or emotionally charged.Mrs.Pemberton had mentioned during their phone call that their youngest daughter had recently graduated from college and moved to Seattle, but they seemed to be handling the empty nest transition well.They weren't inviting anyone back home, weren't struggling with anxiety about their changing family dynamics, and probably weren't taking prescription medications to cope with the stress.
In other words, they weren't candidates for her more specialized services.This job would be only about… well, herjob.
Margaret had learned to recognize the difference between clients who were simply redecorating and those who were dealing with deeper emotional transitions.The latter group was much more interesting to work with, though for reasons the clients themselves never suspected.
Before gathering her materials and heading to the front door, Margaret pulled out her phone and opened her browser.She'd developed a routine of checking local news websites before each appointment, partly to stay informed about her community and partly to monitor whether any of her recentprojectshad reached their intended conclusion.
