"It's like this," Frank said before Max could even begin to reply. "He's got a dangerous job lined up that he's afraid to let you take. Oh, and there'll be a male partner involved, too, and he's too jealous to let you work with anyone but him, but he refuses to do it himself because he wants to quit."
"How many times do I have to tell you, Frank?" Max said, exasperated. "I'm not quitting … I'm taking a step back."
"Quitting," Frank said.
"How dare you!" Kimberly interjected. "Whatever that job is, Max, I want it! And I want you to do it with me! Got it?"
Max tossed a glance at Frank. "There's that sassy side I told you about."
"I like it," Frank said.
"So," she said, "are we square on this? We're doing this together?"
Max tilted his head. "You remember what happened the last time we worked together, babe. I didn't handle it well. I let my emotions—"
"Get in the way," she finished for him. "Yes, I know." Then she reached up and kissed him on the cheek. "But you're a good P.I., Tate. You'll learn."
He couldn't help smiling.
"So, do we have a deal? As soon as the honeymoon's over, we go to work together?"
Max sighed, then gazed into her eyes, today a stunning shade of emerald that sparkled when she smiled. "Oh, what the hell," he said. "Who wants to quit anyway?"
* * * * *