Author's Note: Hey! So it only took a bout of strep and two weeks of sick leave from work to get me to add another chapter. Jeez, once I got Rock Band I thought all my other hobbies were just going to fade into nonexistence. I'm glad they didn't! I still have another week stuck at home, so I promise chapter 4 won't be nearly as long of a wait!
Not sure about the ship factor. I've never been much of a "romance" writer. But I guess that would be a new way to challenge myself, right?
Thank you everyone for the reviews! Feedback is sooo cool:-D
Chapter 3
Nicole Wallace leaned back on the leather sofa, bringing a glass of red wine to her lips. She took a sip, and then reached to the window behind the sofa to separate the blinds and look out into the dark street. The unmarked Impala was still sitting across the street. She could just make out the person inside looking back up at her.
A cell phone vibrated from the coffee table. Nicole set the glass down on a coaster and picked up the phone.
"Hello darling," she answered it pleasantly. "What happened last night? Why didn't you finish—"She paused, listening. "No. It's okay. You learn from your mistakes. Now you know for next time." Nicole paused, and her voice changed from lecturing elder to caring equal. "And once we get this taken care of, it will be you and me, and we can leave all of this behind us." She smiled. "I'll talk to you tomorrow. Sleep well."
She closed the phone and set it back on the table, switching it for her wineglass and settling back on the couch. The sound of the front door opening and closing echoed down the hallway, and footsteps approached.
"Hey gorgeous." A tall, handsome young man leaned against the doorframe, staring at Nicole.
She smiled, showing off her pearly whites. "Joshua. What's kept you?"
Joshua smiled back and moved to sit beside Nicole, caressing her thigh and getting comfortable.
"Amadou didn't show for his shift, I couldn't leave." He stole a kiss through his grin. "So you still haven't told me what this whole vendetta against this little cop is about."
"Oh, it's. . . personal," Nicole assured him. "Nothing to get your head in a knot about." She smiled, set the wine down and moved closer to Joshua. "Besides. Once she's out of the way-" she ran her fingers through his hair "-and this is all over with-" she stole a kiss "-it'll be just you and me. And our happily ever after."
Joshua's brow furrowed. "Just you and me? But what about--?"
Nicole put a finger to his lips to quiet him. "She's not up to it." She reached over to the end table and opened the drawer. She returned to Joshua and climbed onto his lap, straddling him. "But you. . ." She slid a small plastic bag with two little pills into his pocket. "I know you're up to it. Right?"
