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was a few kisses and some empty words, what was I getting so upset about?  “You’re right, I’m sorry for freaking out.” I peeled off my coat and unwound the scarf from my throat.  “Thanks for helping me out, and I’m sorry if she came down hard on you.  What sort of things did she ask you?”
    “What didn’t she ask me.  I thought she was going to haul me downtown by the balls, what did you do to her?”
    “Me?  I didn’t do anything, she was like that when I met her.  Do you think she bought it, or did she still sound suspicious?”
    “Who knows?” he shrugged, sitting on the edge of his desk.  “I think she’s a nosy bitch.  She won’t rest until she pins this thing on someone, and right now we look like the best bet.  But don’t worry about it, we’ll get Ben back and then she’ll back off.”
    “Only if we can get Azazael out of him.  To be honest I have no idea what we’re going to do with Ben if we can’t figure out a way to do that.  Keeping him here all tied up is going to end badly, I can tell,” I sighed, leaning against the desk beside him.  He didn’t have anything to say to that, and we sat there side by side for long minutes, lost in thought.  “Well, I’d better get out there,” I patted him on the hand and grabbed an apron to tie around my waist, but Parker caught hold of the string and pulled me back towards him. 
    “Hold on, you can’t go out there yet.”
    “Why not?”
    “I don’t want them thinking it’s over yet, I’ve got a rep to protect.”
    “Huh?”
    “I’m the kind of guy who likes to take his time.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “You and me, the make up sex…”
    “Ugh.  You’re disgusting, you know that?”
    “What?  They saw you were ticked off at me and now we’ve gotta be all lovey dovey again.  I had to have done something right to make it up to you.”
    “You know, I think maybe this ‘relationship’ has run its course,” I scowled.  He was enjoying it way too much.
    “What will the detective think?”
    “That I finally came to my senses?”
    Parker laughed at that, obviously not bothered by my insults in the least.  “Okay, okay, I’ll behave,” his hands came up in a supplicating gesture. 
    “Don’t kiss me like that without my permission again,” I pushed at his chest with two fingers.  Hard.
    “Ow… Alright, the next time I kiss you, I’ll make sure you’re expecting it,” he promised, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
    “No, you’re missing the point.  You can’t kiss me at all.  I’m not yours.”
    “That’s not what you said before,” Parker grinned, undeterred.  “You said to pretend we’re an item, that’s what I’m doing.  You’re the one bringing real life into it.  Maybe you were a little more affected by that kiss than you want to be.”
    “What?  You’re crazy.”
    “Am I?”
    “Trust me, if that’s what you call a kiss, I can definitely say I was not affected by it.”  I turned to go, but he caught my arm.
    “Alright then, give me a chance to show you what I can do.”
    “No,” I frowned, not sure I liked where things were headed. 
    “Why not?”
    “What would be the point?  Detective Santiago left, there’s no one to put a show on for anymore.”
    “But if she was here right now you couldn’t sell it that I’m your boyfriend if you cringe every time I touch you.  You have to act like you want me to touch you.” He let go of his loose hold on my wrist, his fingers trailing along my arm.
    “Parker…”  Definitely not heading in the right direction…
    “No, I’m serious.  Here…” His hand skimmed up my bare arm, and he was right, I flinched.  “Relax, I’m not going to bite you.  I’m touching your arm, not groping you.” 
    “I’m relaxed, I’m just sensitive, that’s all,” I protested.  For some reason I didn’t pull away, even though my instincts still screamed inside that it was a bad idea to go down that path with