Don was the reason I hadn’t made it over to her place in a while.
Thoughts of him sent a warm feeling cruising down the length of my spine. Weeks earlier, I’d noticed myself wanting to be in his presence at every chance I got. I couldn’t remember a time when I’d laughed as hard as I had in recent months or felt as comfortable in my bed.
Even when we argued, it always seemed to end up with my laughing uncontrollably at something dumb he’d say.
But thinking about my happiness caused unease to fill my belly. While Don and I grew closer, the person setting fires was still on the loose. According to Don, there hadn’t been any incidents down at Rescue Four in some time. That didn’t mean that maniac wasn’t out there somewhere.
Maybe the relationship between Don and me was becoming a distraction to the real issue at hand. Those people deserved justice for what happened to them. My brother deserved justice.
“Don!” I exclaimed, surprised to see him standing at my mother’s front door as I got out of the car. I let out a small breath of relief when I didn’t spot my mother’s car.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, still looking around as I mounted the stairs.
“I’m here to talk to Corey.”
My eyes bulged and shook my head, but before I could get out a response, my mother pulled her door open.
“Mama.” My voice came out at least a few octaves higher than normal.
Don and my mom both stared at me for a heartbeat.
“Mrs. Stephens, it’s good to see you again,” Don said.
“What did I tell you about that Mrs. Stephens mess?”
“Ms. Lynne,” he corrected. “Please don’t ask me to drop the Ms. My father would try to break my neck if he heard I was walking around not showing women respect.”
My mother gave Don a pleased smile. “He’s so well-mannered and handsome, isn’t he, Jocey?”
I kept my eyes trained on my mother, but I felt the heat of Don’s gaze.
“He’s one of a kind.”
My mother ushered us both inside. “Come in.”
I peered one last time at the road, again happy to not see Corey’s car anywhere in sight.
“What brings you over for a visit, Don?” my mother asked.
“I was hoping to speak with Corey.”
My mother paused on her way to the kitchen and turned back to us with a frown on her face. “I’m sorry, he’s not here.”
“Where is he?” I asked, trying to keep the anxiousness out of my voice.
“I’m not sure. You know he comes and goes as he pleases, as he has a right to do.” She gave a friendly shrug and smile. “But, Don, you’re more than welcome to stay for dinner. I always make more than enough, so in case Jocey drops by, she can take some home.”
“Thanks, Ms. Lynne. That sounds good. I’ll help set the dining table.”
“No, you won’t. That’s my daughter’s job. You come in the kitchen and help me plate this food.”
A part of me wanted to scream. I wanted to pull Don aside and demand that he tell me what he wanted to speak to Corey about, but I couldn’t do that without looking like a lunatic in front of my mother. That would be a dead giveaway that we were involved in a relationship.
From the laughter coming from the kitchen, I knew Don had worked his magic on my mother.
“He’s so well-mannered.”
What she’d meant was charming, and yes, the man could talk the panties off a nun. Which was the problem.
