The knock on my door pulls me from my own head, and I look up to meet Coop’s hesitant eyes.
“I’ve got to run out for about an hour. We’ve got another stalk and snap case. Another rich homemaker who is convinced her husband is sleeping with the secretary.” He laughs and shakes his head. “This is exactly why my ass won’t ever let a chick get her hooks in me. I would end up being a case on your desk to come stalk and snap.”
“You know, the best thing that’s ever happened to me is having Dee return my love, so I won’t ever see where you’re coming from there.” Leave it to Coop to lighten the lead ball in my gut. Where the hell are Dee and Greg?
“I’ll take your word for that one, Brother. You know I respect you assholes and your relationships, but that shit just isn’t for me. I’m not the kind of guy worth some chick’s trouble. Too many mommy issues.”
“We all have our own issues to bear, Coop. You’ll get your happiness one day.” I frown when I see the serious look he’s putting out.
“Don’t hold your breath there. Anyway, you need anything while I’m out?”
I shake my head, but before I can answer, my phone rings. I wave him off and swipe the phone to answer, letting the tension fall from my shoulders when I hear Dee’s voice come over the line.
“Hey! Guess what?”
She sounds happy, so at least I can stop picturing her hiding in the closet in a ball.
“What’s that?”
“I’m finally leaving the house! And before you start telling me a million reasons why I shouldn’t leave, you don’t have to worry. Greg’s with me. We’re going to swing by and grab some take out before we come to you. Will you ask everyone if they want anything?”
I can’t help but smile when her tone hits my ears. There isn’t even a sliver of the sadness that I have been expecting. I know that the talk they had wasn’t easy, but I also know that Dee isn’t the same person she was a few months ago. She’s proven today just how far she’s come. My girl is strong and she did it all on her own.
“Yeah, Baby, give me a second.”
She hums her agreement and I place her on hold long enough to go ask Axel and Emmy what they want.
“You there?”
“Yup!”
My heart expands a little more with every word she speaks. Yeah, she’s got this.
“You’re going to have to call either Maddox or Chelcie. She’s been next door for about a couple of hours now with Maddox standing guard. Coop ran out to meet with a new client, but whatever you get him will be fine.” I finish up telling her what Axel and Emmy want before reminding her to grab her handgun and to keep it in her purse with her at all times. With her assurance and the knowledge that I know Greg will protect her, we hang up and I start my new stream of worries.
I wouldn’t be as calm as I am knowing that she’s left the safety of my house if I didn’t know she has protection. I might not be there, but Greg can handle anything that pops up, and the fact that she’s got her concealed doesn’t hurt.
That was one of the first things we did when we returned home from North Carolina. After she was well enough, I went out and bought her a Glock of her own, and then we went to get her permit to carry concealed. She hasn’t had the chance to fire it yet, but she knows how to use it, and just knowing that she’s got some way of protecting herself makes me breathe a little easier.
The thirty minutes it takes for her to walk into my office seems like forever. I have been close to pacing the room when she comes breezing in. I stand here next to my office window and take a moment to drink her in before I am able to move. She’s wearing a black tank top and a pair of white shorts that cover just enough to make her decent. Her long, bronzed legs seem to go on forever, and of course, she’s got on a pair of white and black, polka dot heels. The things those shoes of hers do to my body should be illegal.
“Snap out of it there, handsome. You’ll have to wait to act out all those dirty thoughts flying around in your head until we get home. Lunch is served.” She walks her sexy ass over to my desk and starts emptying the contents of her bag. I let out a painful groan when she bends over to pick up a pack of soy sauce that fell from the bag. Goddamn, that ass! She laughs and tosses my fork at me before sitting down and starting to eat without me.