Acquainted With the Night Read Free

you been doing with yourself, CJ? Aside from getting out the U-Haul. Are you still a police officer?” She shot a glance at Alex, not a friendly one.
    CJ responded, “Yes, I left the sheriff’s office and I’m with Colfax PD now. I’m in Internal Affairs, actually. Alex is a Captain in the Department, in charge of Investigations.”
    Stephanie’s lips curled a little and she said, “Oh, nepotism, huh?”
    Alex had just about had enough, but again CJ stepped in and said coolly, “Not at all. I’m in a different chain of command.” She turned to Alex. “Would you mind getting us a drink, darlin’? I think I could use something refreshing.”
    “Of course,” Alex said, letting CJ handle whatever was going on. “Back in a minute.”
    CJ watched her walk across the room then managed a few more minutes listening to Patty, who liked to chat about everyone, and fending off intrusive questions from Steph. Finally Patty said, “Steph, honey, I could use a drink too.”
    Steph said, “There’s the bar.”
    Patty glared at her and huffed off in the same direction Alex had taken. CJ thought Steph would be looking for a new girlfriend pretty quickly at this rate.
    “You femmes keep us busy taking care of your every need, don’t you?”
    CJ replied coolly, “I wouldn’t say that at all. Actually, I find taking care of someone I love and being taken care of equally satisfying.” She turned to go, hoping to leave the conversation behind, but Stephanie wasn’t through.
    “You’ve really got her under control, do you?”
    CJ suppressed a flare of anger. She turned very deliberately and said, “I’m not going to take relationship advice from you, Steph. You don’t know Alex. And you didn’t really know me at all apparently, or you wouldn’t have suggested a ménage à trois.”
    A dark red flush crept up Stephanie’s neck. “You’d be surprised how well I understand you,” she said acidly. “Do you still like to be fucked in the shower? You were a pain in the ass to live with, but you did like fucking.”
    CJ stared at her for a long moment, proud of herself for not slapping the leer from Steph’s face. Then, her voice very low, CJ said, “You always were an offensive bitch, weren’t you? I can’t figure out why it took me so long to see that.”
    The angry flush reached Stephanie’s cheeks. At that moment, Alex returned to hand CJ her chardonnay. CJ watched Alex read the situation and then Alex said, “Nice meeting you, Steph. I think Patty needs you. Now.”
    Steph gave her a glare, then she stalked away. Alex murmured, “Do I need to ruin Vivien’s party by going over to slap the bitch?”
    CJ looked at her in amused shock. “Why would you do that?”
    “I don’t know what she said to you, but I can see your canine teeth and not in your usual pretty smile.”
    CJ shook her head. “You always know how to make me feel better.” Then she looked into Alex’s stormy blue-gray eyes and murmured, “I’m sorry for bringing her into our lives, even for just a minute.”
    Now Alex gave her the full smile that always transformed her serious face. “Please, Red. If we have to apologize for everybody we were with before you and I met, I’d have to do seven years of penance for bringing Tony into the equation.”
    CJ grinned, suddenly feeling much better. “You are so right,” she said with a laugh. “Dealing with your crazy ex-husband the district attorney on a weekly basis is much worse than my occasional bitchy ex-girlfriend.”
    Alex squeezed lime into her tonic water. “I agree.” She glanced around and added, “Is Laurel here, by chance? I’m on a roll and I’d love to tell off your other cheating ex while I’m at it.”
    CJ laughed again. “Sorry. She’s still in Georgia, last I heard. And I’m not keeping track of her. Keeping track of you occupies all my time.”
    Alex decided to take advantage of the opportunity to be affectionate in public and leaned over to kiss her, very lightly.