He didn’t know which of them was more surprised by his words. She went completely still, and then her purple glass earrings jerked in her dark curls. “You want me to move in with you?”

“Why not?”

“You want us to live together?”

He’d never let a woman live with him, but the thought of sharing his space with Blue felt just fine. “Sure. What’s the big deal?”

“Two days ago, you wouldn’t introduce me to your friends. Now you want us to live together?” She didn’t look as tough as usual. Maybe it was the dress or those soft curls framing her sharp little face. Or it could have been the distress he glimpsed in her Bo Peep eyes. He tucked a wisp of hair behind her ear. “Two days ago, I was confused. Now I’m not.”

She pulled back. “I understand. I finally look respectable enough for you to show me off in public.”

He bristled. “How you look doesn’t have anything to do with it.”

“Just a coincidence?” She looked him squarely in the eyes. “That’s a little hard to believe.”

“What kind of jerk do you think I am?” He hurried on before she chose to answer. “I want to show you Chicago, that’s all. And I want a chance to think about where we are without a clock ticking.”

“Hold on. I’m the thinker, remember? You’re the one who stands in department store aisles and hands out perfume samples.”

“Stop it! Stop trying to deflect everything important with a wisecrack.”

“Look who’s talking.”

His current tactics weren’t working, and he could feel himself losing his cool, so he called an audible. “We also have some business to take care of. I paid you for those murals, but I haven’t approved them yet.”

She rubbed her temple. “I knew you’d hate them. I warned you.”

“How could I hate them? I haven’t seen them.”

She blinked. “I took the plastic off the doors two days ago.”

“I haven’t looked. You were supposed to show me, remember? That was part of our deal. For what I have invested in those walls, I deserve to see them for the first time with the artist who painted them.”

“You’re trying to manipulate me.”

“Business is business, Blue. Learn to distinguish.”

“Fine,” she snapped. “I’ll drop by tomorrow.”

“Tonight. I’ve waited long enough.”

“You need to see them in daylight.”

“Why?” he said. “I’ll mainly be eating in there at night.”

She turned away from the monument, from him, and headed for the gate. “I have to get Nita home. I don’t have time for this.”

“I’ll pick you up at eight.”

“I’ll drive myself.” Her ruffled hem whipped her knees as she left the cemetery.