“Well, I’m back now.” Terra grabbed a menu and stared at it.

Would they share their secrets like they used to, or hide behind menus and Italian food?

“And since I’m back, I’ll say that I hope you both will move back too,” she added. “That would make things so much easier to keep in touch.” They’d been her lifeline for so long, after all.

Well, shoot. She shouldn’t put pressure on them like this.

“I admit that I miss living here,” Erin said. “I would be closer to Mom. But I’m not sure I could find a job with the locals as a criminal psychologist. Nor would I want to, considering Nathan’s a detective here. I don’t think I could work with him.”

Erin gave Terra a look over her menu. Terra knew exactly where Erin’s mind had gone—straight to Terra and Jack’s current joint investigation. “That stinks, Erin. I’m sorry.”

“Instead, I’ve been trying to get Mom to move out to Seattle to live with me.” Erin closed her menu and placed it next to her plate.

Oh? Terra hadn’t known about that. Disappointment crept in.

Alex still perused the offerings.

“What about you, Alex?” Erin asked. “What are you up to? I don’t even know who you’re working for these days.”

Alex set down his menu. “I’ve decided what I want.”

“Oh, I get it,” Erin said. “Your job is classified. Secretive. You always said you—”

He lifted a hand. “I don’t need you psychoanalyzing me, thank you very much.”

“I’m not psychoanalyzing, but I get it. You can’t talk about it.”

He leaned on folded arms. “I’d prefer not to talk about work tonight, all right, ladies? Now, what I’m really wondering is why you two gorgeous women aren’t married yet.”

Great. Terra hadn’t wanted to get into those issues, because that could lead to talking about working with Jack. But leave it to Alex to cut right to the more sensitive topics. And she’d wanted them to share their secrets, hadn’t she?

Terra gave Alex a friendly arm punch. “I beg your pardon. Why is it that we’re supposed to be married already? What about you? You’re a real catch, Alex. Bad attitude and all. You’ve got so much more going for you than that six-pack underneath your button-down shirt.”

He eyed her. “And how would you know about that?”

“It’s just a guess. You’re in great condition, and it’s easy to see you work out. You have to stay in top form for your job. Am I right? Or am I right?”

The waiter brought a basket of bread and seasoned olive oil for dipping, took their orders, then left. Alex cut a slice of bread, dipped, and chewed. Terra figured he had no intention of answering her.