But even as the fleeting thought went through his mind, he rejected it. He didn’t want anyone else here watching over them.
He trusted only himself and his K-9 partner, Abernathy, to keep them safe from harm.
Once again, he lifted his heart in prayer that God would help watch over them, too.
* * *
Leaving Finn’s embrace was the hardest thing she’d ever had to do. As she went into the playroom to check on Mikey, she put her hands over her warm cheeks, willing the crazy attraction away.
How was it possible to feel so attached to the man in such a short period of time? She hadn’t felt this emotionally connected to a man before, not even Rafe Del Rosa. It was easy to look back and acknowledge that they’d had some fun, shared a love of art—and that was about it. No wonder he’d broken things off when learning about her retinitis pigmentosa.
She needed to tell Finn about her condition, sooner rather than later. But after the emotional turmoil of the day, she didn’t want to open up that subject. Especially since once he knew the truth, those hugs and chaste kisses would likely end.
Be honest, she told herself sternly. The main reason you kissed Finn on the cheek was because you were hoping he’d kiss you in return.
Yeah, okay, so what? Kissing wasn’t a crime. And it had been so long since she’d met a man she truly liked. Respected. Admired.
“Can I play outside in my sandbox?” Mikey asked.
“Not today. Looks like rain.” She went over to the small television in the corner of the room. “How about if I put on some cartoons for you?”
“Okay.”
Once Mikey was settled on the floor, lying next to Abernathy to watch television, she returned to the kitchen to think about dinner. Malina had been the cook; Eva was more of a carryout kind of woman. But for Mikey’s sake, she should at least try to provide a homemade meal. Especially since they were going to be housebound for the foreseeable future.
She opened the fridge and peered inside, hoping for inspiration.
“Hey, what if we head over to Griffin’s for dinner?” Finn offered.
She closed the fridge and turned to face him, wrinkling her nose. “I don’t know—it looks like rain. Besides, I can’t bear the idea of being followed by the raspy guy or stinky guy or anyone else who might be looking for that stupid package.”
Finn nodded. “I hear you, but Griffin’s diner is a cop hangout, I don’t think anyone would be dumb enough to try anything there. And you and Mikey won’t be alone—Abernathy and I will be with you the whole time. Along with plenty of other cops.”
She’d never been to Griffin’s but had heard it was a cop hangout. Cooking wasn’t her forte, and going someplace to eat rather than going for takeout once again held a certain appeal. Yet she didn’t want to do anything that might put Mikey in harm’s way, either.
“It’s located just a couple of blocks from the K-9 headquarters,” Finn added. “I’ll park there, and we can walk over.”
“Okay, let’s do it,” she agreed. “I can’t lie, my cooking is atrocious.”
Finn laughed, and despite her earlier assault, she found herself smiling in return. “I’m actually not a bad cook,” he said modestly, “But it would take too long to get groceries and to start a meal from scratch. I know Mikey’s safety is most important and a cop hangout near our K-9 headquarters is the only place that fits the bill.”
“All right. I’ll get Mikey’s raincoat.”
Ten minutes later, they were tucked in Finn’s K-9 SUV and heading back toward the K-9 headquarters. Eva remembered seeing Griffin’s, when she’d been at the K-9 Command Center.
A light rain was falling, the air thick with humidity. Welcome to summer in Queens. After parking at headquarters, Finn and Abernathy escorted them down the few blocks until they reached the diner, an old redbrick building that had aged to a deep rusty brown over the years.
The interior of the café was a typical diner decor, royal blue vinyl seats in the booths, and wooden tables and chairs in the open area. Beyond that, it wasn’t typical at all. There were two sides to the place. One side appeared to be a dog-friendly patio, shielded from the weather by an aluminum rooftop and walls that were little more than screens that were open in the nice weather. It was homey, and she could understand why the K-9 cops liked it here. A pretty woman greeted them at the hostess stand, a large diamond ring flashing on the fourth finger of her left hand. Eva told herself that it was petty to be jealous of this woman’s happiness.