“Thanks, Mama,” I replied in a monotone voice.
She smiled. “That wasn’t a putdown. I always know when you haven’t had enough sleep. My son isn’t the only baby of mine that I indulge.”
My eyes bulged. “I’m sorry,” I said, still feeling guilty.
She waved me off. “Go on and grab your food out of the refrigerator and take your butt home to rest.”
I didn’t ask how she knew I’d show up tonight to set aside food for me.
After pressing a kiss to her cheek, I grabbed the full plastic container from the fridge and waved goodbye to her.
I headed down the hall to Corey’s room and knocked.
“Come in,” he yelled through the door.
“Hey, I’m heading out.” I waited a beat. “I’m sorry for bringing up… you know.”
He gave me a hard look. “Forgiven,” he finally said.
I fully entered the room and threw my arms around his shoulders. I squeezed my eyes shut. “I love you.”
“Love you too, J.”
I stood and gave him one last look before turning and leaving.
After a short drive home, I entered my condo on a sigh. My mother was right. I was tired. In addition to trying to dig into this arson case, I had many of my own clients I needed to satisfy. I’d agreed to take on Randy Carson’s case since the background check I had Hallease run on him came back clean.
Yawning, I tossed my hands in the air as I made it to my bedroom. After a quick shower to wash off the day, I curled up in bed and quickly drifted off with thoughts of Don floating through my mind. The same as every other night since our first kiss.
“Heavens above,”I shouted.
Pounding on my door startled me out of my sleep. On instinct, I grabbed the nine-millimeter I kept in the nightstand next to my bed, double-checked to make sure it was loaded, and headed for my front door.
“Who is it?” I called with an attitude in my voice. Whoever the hell was banging on my door at this time of night either had a death wish or better be bleeding to death.
More pounding sounded, and I peered through the peephole.
Sighing, I stepped back and opened my door. “Don, what the hell?”
“Good, you’re awake,” he said, barging through my door like he belonged.
I slammed my door before spinning on my heels to let him have it, but that was when I saw his eyes planted on the gun in my hand.
“Were you planning on using that?” he asked.
“I still might. Some crazy man just stormed through my door.”
He grinned and moved closer with a glint in his eyes. “I’d let you shoot me.”
“You are one bizarre man.”
He grabbed the gun from my hand and checked the clip. “It’s loaded. Good.” He reinserted the clip, put the safety back on, and handed it to me. “You can put it away for now. But I’m glad to see you’re protected.”
“I told you, I can handle myself.”
“Okay, killer.”
Lowering the gun to my side, I glared at him. “What are you doing here?”
