“I have a date. Dr. Joseph Keyes invited me to a fundraiser in Seattle, and we both share a mutual interest in you, so I figured I’d go. You’re not interested in him, are you?”

“No.”

Heavy footsteps sounded and Huck strode inside with a backpack slung over one shoulder. “Hey. I brought—” He stopped at the sight of Abigail in the room. “Dr. Caine.” Aeneas ran inside, turned in a circle, and then sat by Huck’s ankle.

Abigail chuckled, sliding her hand down his arm. “You did not bring me.” She clipped to the door and pivoted. “Feel well, sister. I’ll check on you tomorrow.” The sound of her heels down the hallway came back clearly and then softened, finally disappearing.

Huck shuddered. “That woman.” Then he turned and his brown eyes warmed. “You look better.”

“Thanks. The warrants for Abigail’s records didn’t lead to anything.” Her frustration was dulled by the pain meds.

Huck sank onto the yellow chair and placed the backpack on the floor. “Let’s start with you for a moment. How are you feeling?”

Oh. Well, she could discuss personal matters before returning to the case. “I’m healing well and I’ve been thinking.” She shifted uneasily.

“That’s not unusual.”

Amusement ticked through her. “True. But getting shot and seeing you hurt made me think that perhaps life is short.” She plucked at a string on the blanket. “I spoke with my boss earlier and put in a request to lead the Violent Crimes Task Force permanently out of Genesis Valley.”

Huck leaned back in his chair. “What did he say?”

She sighed. “That he’d take the matter under consideration and give me an answer within the week. In the meantime, I thought, well, I considered, that perhaps we should have dinner together.” When Huck didn’t answer right away, she hastened to say, “You and me. On a date. Not my boss and I.”

Huck grinned and the bandage near his hairline moved. “It’s nice to be on the same page with you for once.” He opened the bag and whipped out burgers and fries. “I ordered yours loaded except for onions.”

She smiled. They had eaten together at a diner once during their previous case. “You remembered.”

“Yeah.” He set a basket of fries on the bed and then kicked back, the scruff on his hard jaw several days past a five o’clock shadow. A lock of his dark hair fell onto his forehead. In the too-small chair, he looked strong and wide. Very handsome.

“You’re good looking,” she murmured.

He munched on a fry, watching her carefully. “Thanks. So are you.”