He'd bridged the couple dozen steps to his apartment in record speed once he saw the red Fairlane parked along Union Street, his bright living room lights up above a welcome greeting after a long day spent chasing shadows.
Janine had indicated earlier in the week that she was planning on stopping by for an impromptu dinner night and she couldn't have chosen a better day.
Sliding the key into the lock, Steve slowly entered the confines of his apartment, relishing the aroma of thyme and garlic in the air as he closed the door and stripped out of his beige overcoat.
It didn't take long to locate Janine judging by the rattling of pots and pans below his kitchen counter.
Stealing a quick glance over at the stove, Steve smiled at the sight of two juicy porterhouse steaks marinating while his cookware was being organized.
"If that doesn't scream welcome home I don't know what does…", he said calmly, careful not to startle Janine while her head was buried somewhere between his pantry and kitchenware cabinet.
"Stephen!", the young woman greeted enthusiastically and rose back to her feet, the front of her shirt covered in dust gathered from many months of not cooking at home, "I didn't expect you quite yet."
Leaning across the kitchen island, he shared a passionate kiss with the dainty young woman, feeling her long black hair tickle his cheek as he reached over to loosen his tie.
"We ran into some roadblocks. Mike and I agreed to call it a day. God knows what awaits us tomorrow."
"That bad, eh? That reporter lady causing issues again?"
Janine hesitated for a moment to run her hand through his wavy hair, a plethora of emotions playing in her dark brown eyes before she smiled sheepishly.
"Pretty much. There's been an ironic twist on that whole thing but…well…it's nothing I care to take home with me tonight. How about you? How was your day?"
Brushing some of the dust off her black tank top, Janine shrugged and put her hands on her hips.
"Nothing as exciting as your day, Inspector.", she joked and reached for a pan from the cabinet below before placing it on the stove, "I woke up, did some yoga, went for a run, bought groceries and then came here."
Circling the kitchen island to be next to her, Steve grinned as he curled up the sleeves of his dress shirt.
"I guess we will find out later how well you stretched this morning…", he answered playfully and treated himself to another kiss, wrapping his arms around his girlfriends' lean body while Janine tried to sort her way through the spice cabinet.
"You're gonna have to be patient until I am done cooking dinner. As you know, this takes a lot of concentration and effort starting with my trip to the farmers market, then stop at the grocery store, then head across town to come over here. When I pulled in I almost gave myself a heart attack thinking you were home already."
"Home?", Steve hesitated in the middle of kissing the side of Janine's neck, "How so?"
"Well, there was a large sedan parked down below, like the type you guys drive. Just not gold. It was dark green."