Sydney giggled at something, driving home his point.
It was obvious Victoria hadn’t liked that the teen had witnessed their argument at the pregnancy center. He was pretty sure Sydney had seen much worse. Probably good for her to see how people who actually cared about each other could still disagree but keep the gloves on.
He straightened, watching out the windshield as Victoria turned onto her street. “Since neither of us has to work, we can cover watching him most of the day. And then between me, Robert, and Hank—and maybe Torin—we should be able to cover the nights while still watching your place.”
“No. I won’t allow that.”
He raised his eyebrows at her motherly, don’t-mess-with-me-tone. “You know that won’t really work on me, right?”
She gave him a brief glance, then braked to swing the car into the driveway. “I suppose not.”
“It’s a great idea and the only foolproof way to be sure you don’t get hurt.”
“What about you?” She pressed the garage remote on the visor, and the big garage door lifted.
“It’s the best way to be sure he doesn’t do anything to me, too.” Cillian leaned toward her a little, moving his arm to rest on the console between them. “And I’m loving this concern about me, by the way. Didn’t know you cared.”
Her head jerked toward him at that, her hazel eyes lit with the spunk he loved. And something else that confirmed his teasing was on point with the truth.
His pulse spiked faster. He winked.
She looked away, stopped the car, and shifted into park before killing the engine. A reddish hue colored her cheek in profile.
He grinned.
“For your information,” she shifted toward him, her eyebrows in a stern dip, “I’m concerned for everyone’s safety in this situation.”
“Mind if I go in now?” Sydney leaned forward, her head by the gap between the front seats.
Victoria twisted to see the teen. “That’s fine. But leave Max in my room. I’ll get him out.”
“Right.” Sydney scooted out the back and headed for the door that connected to the house.
Victoria let out a sigh as her hand went to the door handle. “I need to let Max out of his crate.”
“Sure.” Cillian got out on his side of the car, scanning the garage as he should’ve before they’d driven in. Just in case someone had paid her house a visit while they’d been gone. “Wow. This has to be the cleanest garage I’ve ever seen.” Most of the neatly organized yard tools hanging on the walls didn’t look like they’d ever been used.
He rounded the hood to meet Victoria at the door to the house as she pulled it open. He gripped the edge, holding the door for her. “Allow me.”
Her hazel eyes met his briefly. A hint of pleasure lit the confusion there before she looked away and walked inside. “Thank you.”
“Besides keeping us all safe, the other advantage to sticking to this guy is he might do something incriminating, and we’d be in the perfect position to get more evidence against him.” Cillian closed and locked the door behind him before facing Victoria.
A very stern Victoria who stood with her arms folded over her coat as she stared at him. “That’s exactly what I said we can’t do anymore. This interference in the investigation has caused too much trouble already. We’re putting ourselves, and possibly others, in danger.”
He lifted his hands up, palms out toward her. “I’m not saying we investigate. I’m saying we follow the guy around so he can’t try anything again. It’s a surefire way to keep him from hurting you or anyone else until the police investigate what I gave them and pick him up.”
“But if he sees you following him, he’s apt to feel cornered. He could attack you even more aggressively.”
Cillian grinned. “You really are worried about me, aren’t you?” He stepped toward her.
She held up her finger between them. “Cillian, this is serious. He could also tell the police we’re stalking him. That I’m stalking him. McCully wouldn’t hesitate to say that’s violating the terms of my bail and arrest me again.”
“That’s not going to happen. Glenn wouldn’t take the risk of talking to the cops when he’s a killer.”
She rolled her eyes and turned away, walking through the short hallway that led to her kitchen. She set her purse on the counter just inside and spun to face Cillian.
He stopped short of bumping into her. Not that he’d mind getting that close, but it probably wouldn’t help him win the argument.
