great, but a piece of her reluctant heart held her back.
“I think it might be okay.” She tilted her head to the side, and then laughed, realizing that she had just given an incredibly vague response.
“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I can give you my Scout’s honor. I was in Boy Scouts a long time ago.” Mateo laughed and then followed her inside. They set their empty glasses on the counter and then walked back out into the living room. Amber knew that she wanted him to stay, and she also knew that she was developing strong feelings for him. Yet she wanted to try her hardest to fight back the emotions, as she did whenever she felt like she was in a vulnerable position.
“I trust you.” Amber looked at him with a curious smile, and then she moved closer to his side. He held her hand in his and then leaned forward, breathing in her jasmine scented hair. He slowly opened his mouth, and then kissed her on the lips. She closed her eyes, savoring the moment, and then slowly pulled away.
“That was nice.” Mateo licked his lips and then looked around her apartment, diverting from the uncomfortable awkwardness that follows a first kiss. “I’m easy. Just give me a blanket and the remote, and I’m good to go.” Mateo smacked his hands together and Amber laughed. Then she guided him back toward the couch, slapped an arm rest, and turned on the television. Ironically, the news report was covering local stories and it happened to be about Jeffrey Holiday.
“Well speak of the devil.” Amber handed Mateo the remote, and they both sat down on the couch. The news reporter stood in front of a large, rustic looking building. “Authorities say that they still don’t know what led up to the murder of Jeffrey Holiday last weekend. Holiday was a photographer who lived outside of Berkeley, and was found dead along Salmon Creek. His wife is now agreeing to speak to investigators.” Amber shook her head and then took a deep breath as the television screen cut to a commercial.
“They must be perplexed. I can only imagine being an investigator, and trying to piece together the details. It must be frustrating to have a case go on for days without any leads.” Mateo leaned forward, his eyes still on the television. “Then again, now that you’re on the case, maybe they can finally sort out some answers.” Mateo winked and squeezed Amber’s knee.
Amber smiled and then got up from the couch. “I hope that I can at least give Ginger some peace of mind.” She nodded. “Ginger is Jeffrey’s wife, and she’s got three little kids.” Amber couldn’t imagine how difficult it must be for her, and she didn’t want to give it more thought. “I’m going to get a bath and then get ready for bed. Are you sure that you don’t mind taking us to the station in the morning?” Amber hoped that it wouldn’t inconvenience him.
“It would be my pleasure. In fact, I’ll even take us to breakfast before we go. What do you like?”
Amber’s eyes widened. She loved going out to breakfast, especially in downtown Berkeley. Her favorite waffle house was only a block from the police station. “How about Wanda’s Waffle house down on sunset?” She smiled, already tasting the sweet Belgian waffles soaked in creamy butter and sweet maple syrup.
Mateo snapped his fingers. “Perfect. As long as they brew coffee, I’m happy.” He smiled and then looked fondly at Amber, who was trying to decide what she should do next. She wanted to just climb on the couch and kiss him, but she told herself that she needed to play it cool. She didn’t want him to think that she was easy. It was bad enough she had caved in to letting him sleep on her couch.
“Well, I’m heading in. If you need anything, let me know.” Amber opened her closet and pulled out a crochet afghan and an extra pillow. She handed them to Mateo and drew the
“I think it might be okay.” She tilted her head to the side, and then laughed, realizing that she had just given an incredibly vague response.
“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I can give you my Scout’s honor. I was in Boy Scouts a long time ago.” Mateo laughed and then followed her inside. They set their empty glasses on the counter and then walked back out into the living room. Amber knew that she wanted him to stay, and she also knew that she was developing strong feelings for him. Yet she wanted to try her hardest to fight back the emotions, as she did whenever she felt like she was in a vulnerable position.
“I trust you.” Amber looked at him with a curious smile, and then she moved closer to his side. He held her hand in his and then leaned forward, breathing in her jasmine scented hair. He slowly opened his mouth, and then kissed her on the lips. She closed her eyes, savoring the moment, and then slowly pulled away.
“That was nice.” Mateo licked his lips and then looked around her apartment, diverting from the uncomfortable awkwardness that follows a first kiss. “I’m easy. Just give me a blanket and the remote, and I’m good to go.” Mateo smacked his hands together and Amber laughed. Then she guided him back toward the couch, slapped an arm rest, and turned on the television. Ironically, the news report was covering local stories and it happened to be about Jeffrey Holiday.
“Well speak of the devil.” Amber handed Mateo the remote, and they both sat down on the couch. The news reporter stood in front of a large, rustic looking building. “Authorities say that they still don’t know what led up to the murder of Jeffrey Holiday last weekend. Holiday was a photographer who lived outside of Berkeley, and was found dead along Salmon Creek. His wife is now agreeing to speak to investigators.” Amber shook her head and then took a deep breath as the television screen cut to a commercial.
“They must be perplexed. I can only imagine being an investigator, and trying to piece together the details. It must be frustrating to have a case go on for days without any leads.” Mateo leaned forward, his eyes still on the television. “Then again, now that you’re on the case, maybe they can finally sort out some answers.” Mateo winked and squeezed Amber’s knee.
Amber smiled and then got up from the couch. “I hope that I can at least give Ginger some peace of mind.” She nodded. “Ginger is Jeffrey’s wife, and she’s got three little kids.” Amber couldn’t imagine how difficult it must be for her, and she didn’t want to give it more thought. “I’m going to get a bath and then get ready for bed. Are you sure that you don’t mind taking us to the station in the morning?” Amber hoped that it wouldn’t inconvenience him.
“It would be my pleasure. In fact, I’ll even take us to breakfast before we go. What do you like?”
Amber’s eyes widened. She loved going out to breakfast, especially in downtown Berkeley. Her favorite waffle house was only a block from the police station. “How about Wanda’s Waffle house down on sunset?” She smiled, already tasting the sweet Belgian waffles soaked in creamy butter and sweet maple syrup.
Mateo snapped his fingers. “Perfect. As long as they brew coffee, I’m happy.” He smiled and then looked fondly at Amber, who was trying to decide what she should do next. She wanted to just climb on the couch and kiss him, but she told herself that she needed to play it cool. She didn’t want him to think that she was easy. It was bad enough she had caved in to letting him sleep on her couch.
“Well, I’m heading in. If you need anything, let me know.” Amber opened her closet and pulled out a crochet afghan and an extra pillow. She handed them to Mateo and drew the
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