Waves of Change (World Above Water, Book 1) by Nulli Para Ora Page B

called me grumpy.” Chris laughed as he glanced at him in the mirror again.
    “Let’s just go.”
    “Fine, but I’m taking half.” His altered voice was back, and he sucked his teeth for effect.
    Daniel had to laugh at his remark, and he smacked Chris in the back of the head.
    “Now you’re adding domestic violence? You animal. Wasn’t breaking my heart enough?”
    “Just drive.” Daniel spoke the words between his chuckles.

Chapter 8
    Alicia rushed into her house after her run and ran up the stairs to take a shower. After bathing, she changed into a T-shirt and shorts before plopping onto the couch. The instant she was comfortable, she read over her cases from earlier in the day while reciting notes from memory into her digital recorder. She was halfway through the first procedure when the doorbell rang.
    When she opened the door, she was greeted by a visitor whose face was hidden by two large brown paper bags. “Daniel? Are you in there?”
    “Yeah, I stopped to pick up a few things just in case you didn’t have what we needed.”
    “Oh, okay. You know I probably have tons of things in the fridge.”
    “Alicia, your refrigerator is large enough to hold eight dead bodies inside it. By the time I found what I was looking for, we’d starve to death.”
    “Eight dead bodies, you say? That was not the analogy I was expecting. I’ll alert the morgue and let them know I have overflow storage.” She stepped aside and allowed him in, watching him as he walked into the kitchen and started unpacking the groceries. “What’s all this?” She looked on with interest as the various ingredients emerged.
    “It’s your cue to march your firm bottom over to the couch and relax. I’ll be in there in a little while to join you.”
    Alicia rolled her eyes and began to literally march into the living room like a soldier.
    “You’re gonna be in trouble later, miss.”
    “Sir, yes sir.” She saluted before she returned to the couch. When she was settled, she resumed recording her notes. She was midway through the second case when Daniel entered. She paused the recorder and watched him sit down, pulling her feet back to give him more room.
    “Oh, don’t stop, beautiful. I’ll wait.”
    She switched the recorder back on and continued to recite her operative notes. While she spoke, Daniel placed her feet into his lap and began massaging them. Her eyes closed immediately, and she relaxed under his touch. His fingers felt like they rubbed away a year’s worth of tension, and she sank farther into the cushions of the sofa in contentment. Pausing the recorder, she opened her eyes and smiled. “That’s really good.”
    Daniel grinned and continued massaging her feet and calves. When she was able to focus again, she recorded the remainder of her notes. As soon as she was finished, she placed the recorder and files in her briefcase.
    “Does everything have to have fifteen syllables? Can’t you just say I cut this guy and fixed his problem?” Daniel’s voice was playful, and he continued to apply pressure to her muscles.
    Alicia chuckled and offered a quick retort. “Well, can’t you just say ‘I used some acid?’ Do you really need to indicate the molarity of every substance? Or the number of ohms? I know we’re all just sitting on the edge of our seats waiting in desperation for you to regale us on the finer parts of molar mass, or why Avogadro’s number is so important. 6.022 x 1023, riveting.”
    “I love it when you talk dirty.” Daniel separated Alicia’s feet and crawled up her body, stopping when they were face-to-face. Slowly he lowered himself and began to place light kisses on her lips.
    She responded by wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down onto her, inciting a more passionate response. The heat she felt whenever she was with him appeared instantly, and her heart raced. He makes me crazy. Am I really ready for this?
    Daniel pulled back and looked into her eyes, staring at her for