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was…someone.” Her voice faded as her thoughts turned inward. “But that was a long time ago. Some things aren’t meant to be.”
     
    ***
    Matt whistled as he parked his car in the police lot and walked the short distance to Kristy’s apartment. The one compensation of working swing shift was that he was not on call during the week. Unless there was a break in the case he was working, his time off duty was his own. He and Kristy could have a few blissfully undisturbed hours together.
    Kristy was waiting for him in the lobby of her building. He slid his arms around her and tilted her face up for a kiss. “I am so happy to see you.”
    She smiled up at him and didn’t pull out of his arms, as she usually did in public places. “I’m happy, too.”
    “So where would you like to go for lunch?”
    “Upstairs. If you’re ready for a little home cooking, I thought I’d show you what this southern girl can do.”
    “That is one of your best ideas, Miss Castle.”
    “Glad you think so, Detective. I’d hate to get on the wrong side of the law.”
    As Kristy bustled in the kitchen, Matt sat at the bar watching. He’d offered to help, but the kitchen was too small for two people to work comfortably. They chatted companionably, Kristy catching Matt up on her dinner with Cheri and the latest gossip from the Greeters. Matt told her he was working on a high-profile case, but she knew not to ask for details.
    She set two plates and two glasses of iced tea on the bar in front of Matt and came around to join him. Matt inhaled the aroma of fried chicken and mashed potatoes with creamed gravy and picked up his fork with a smile. “This is so worth the extra hour I’m gonna have to spend at the gym every day next week.”
    Kristy blushed, but nudged his arm with her shoulder. “Liar,” she said without rancor. They finished their meal and she let Matt wash the dishes while she made coffee. Taking their mugs to the living room, they sat on the sofa. Matt stretched his arms over the back of the sofa and Kristy curled up next to him.
    “Okay, out with it.”
    Red appeared at the base of Kristy’s neck and spread upward, letting Matt know he’d guessed correctly. Jake always told him how hard it was on a man being married to a therapist, but Matt would pit the deductive and observational skills of a police detective against the clinical skills of any therapist, any day.
    Kristy opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She stood up and walked to the window, then asked if he wanted cream or sugar for his coffee. “You already asked me that.”
    “Can I get you anything for dessert? I have cheesecake from last night.”
    “You already asked me that, too.” He patted the sofa next to him. “You can’t fool me. Sit back down and tell me what’s bothering you.”
    She moved back to the living room but chose the chair at a right angle to the sofa. “Matt…” she began, but stopped again. She slapped the arms of the chair forcefully, startling Matt. “Why is this so hard?”
    Matt sat forward, placing his feet squarely on the rug that softened the concrete floor. His pulse raced as though preparing to chase after a suspect. He took her hand, fighting to keep his voice calm and telling himself she wouldn’t have invited him up for a home-cooked meal only to break up with him.
    “Matt, there’s something I want—no, something I need to talk to you about.”
    “What is it?”
    “I need to…” Kristy was interrupted by the sound of Matt’s phone beeping, slicing through the tension between them. “Oh, crimanently!”
    “Crima-whatly?” Matt pulled his phone off a clip on his belt and glanced at it. Frowning, he punched in a number. “This had better be good, Luis…what? Oh my God…yeah, I’ll be right there.”
    He flipped his phone shut and caught the look on Kristy’s face. “I can wait a few minutes.”
    “No, no. You need to go. I understand. We’ll do this another time.”
    “Are you