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Back We Were Killers Once Save as PDF
Chapters (65)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Notice
  3. Dedication
  4. One
  5. Two
  6. Three
  7. Four
  8. Five
  9. Six
  10. Seven
  11. Eight
  12. Nine
  13. Ten
  14. Eleven
  15. Twelve
  16. Thirteen
  17. Fourteen
  18. Fifteen
  19. Sixteen
  20. Seventeen
  21. Eighteen
  22. Nineteen
  23. Twenty
  24. Twenty–one
  25. Twenty–two
  26. Twenty–three
  27. Twenty–four
  28. Twenty–five
  29. Twenty–six
  30. Twenty–seven
  31. Twenty–eight
  32. Twenty–nine
  33. Thirty
  34. Thirty–one
  35. Thirty–two
  36. Thirty–three
  37. Thirty–four
  38. Thirty–five
  39. Thirty–six
  40. Thirty–seven
  41. Thirty–eight
  42. Thirty–nine
  43. Forty
  44. Forty–one
  45. Forty–two
  46. Forty–three
  47. Forty–four
  48. Forty–five
  49. Forty–six
  50. Forty–seven
  51. Forty–eight
  52. Forty–nine
  53. Fifty
  54. Fifty–one
  55. Fifty–two
  56. Fifty–three
  57. Fifty–four
  58. Fifty–five
  59. Fifty–six
  60. Fifty–seven
  61. Author’s Note
  62. Acknowledgments
  63. Also by Becky Masterman
  64. About the Author
  65. Newsletter Sign-up

Beaufort didn’t quite understand the question or how to answer it, but took her into his arms and kissed the tip of her nose back and that seemed to do the trick. He was happy in a way he’d never been before.

Gloria hip-bumped him and went back to cooking dinner. Beaufort took the bottle of Pinot Grigio out of the fridge and read the label as he poured her a second glass and got one for himself. Ecco Domani, the label said. He was growing to actually like wine, and had noticed that even this had changed, that they didn’t offer Chablis in restaurants anymore.

Gloria had her back to him, sautéeing some cut-up peppers and onions on the stove, when she said, “I told Steph about you today.”

Within a heartbeat he was at her side. Leaning with his back against the counter next to the stove, swishing his wine in the glass the way he had seen people do on television. “Who is Steph?” he asked, trying to keep his tone easy.

It must have worked, because she didn’t look alarmed. “One of the med techs at the office. She was happy for me.” Gloria stopped sautéeing and smiled at Beaufort. “She said a group of them were going out for drinks and a movie this Friday and did I want to bring you. I’d never been invited like that before. I think maybe it’s because I’m happier. That I’ve changed somehow, made people like me more.” Now she looked back at the pan. “I think it’s because of you.”

Beaufort went over the details of himself that he had given to Gloria, true and false. No harm done, really, but, “I have to tell you, I’m kind of a private person, not much for the group thing,” he said. “I’m not ready to go out with other people just now. And I’d appreciate you not talking too much about me either.”

Gloria didn’t look up this time, shyly or in any other way. She just kept stirring and stirring.

“Understood?” he asked.

“Sure, Jerry. I understand.”

So she wouldn’t take it too hard, he took the wooden spoon from her hand and put it down on the counter. She gripped the spoon as if she was afraid he was going to hit her with it, but then she let go. He drew her to him and folded his arms around her with his hands on her ass. “Maybe for a while I want you all to myself.”

That did it. She kissed him and looked happy again.

“And if you keep talking about me, they’ll keep asking, and that might make things uncomfortable between us.”