He shut my door after I got inside.“Yeah, on that note, I’m going to go hide in a corner until this party’s over.See ya.”
“Tell Hope I’m sorry for running out without a proper goodbye.I hope she doesn’t get offended.”
He stuffed his hands in his jeans pockets.“She’ll understand.You’re a busy lady who has people to incarcerate.”
Though I wanted to argue that arresting criminals wasn’t our sole job, I needed to go home.“Good night, Mr.Cross.Until we meet again.”
He inclined his head.
As I sped down their extended driveway, I stole a backward glance at the mysterious Chitah, who watched me until I was out of sight.
“It’s just a baby shower,” I said aloud.“What harm could it do?Oh, I don’t know.Let’s start by the fact I was all but stroking his hand and flirting.Real smooth.He doesn’t even like being touched, but there I go talking about the power of touch.What if he complains about it to his Packmaster?”
The last thing I needed was a report filed on me.This job was the only thing I had.
Well, almost the only thing.
Chapter4
As soon as I pulled into my garage, I unlocked the side door and entered the hallway that led to the kitchen.I set my purse down and entered the elevator across from the laundry room.The elevator whooshed downward until it arrived in my newly renovated basement.
I rushed to the bed on the left wall and switched on the lamp.“Dad?”
Though his eyes remained closed, he had a pulse and his chest moved with each breath.
When I checked his oxygen tank, it was at zero.With haste, I grabbed a new one.After replacing the tank, I turned it on and sat on the edge of the bed.
I could remember a time when he wasn’t frail, when his back was straight, his shoulders broad, and light glinted in his eyes.Now his hollow cheeks and fragile form were reminders that youth and strength weren’t forever.I had never known him as a young man, but he had always been strong and capable.He wasn’t exactly sprinting around the house these days, but he still managed to get by with a walker.Despite his balking, he followed rules that defined his dwindling independence, like no showering unless I was home and no lifting heavy objects.
I ran my fingers across his bristly jaw and muttered, “You need another shave.”
His eyes popped open, and he clutched my wrist.“And you need to stop fussing over your old man.”
I blew out a breath.“You scared me half to death.”
“I still haven’t lost my touch.Quick on the draw.”
“When did the oxygen run out?You should’ve hooked up a new tank.I showed you how to do it.”
“What did I just say about fussing?”
“I’m your daughter, so it’s my job to fuss all I want.Sorry I’m late.I lost track of the time.”
A smile touched his lips as he pushed himself up and leaned against the headboard.“How did your date go?”
I propped another pillow behind his back.“That was last night.Remember?”I crossed the room and searched inside the refrigerator.“How was your dinner?”
“Dee-licious.I could eat your pork chops and coleslaw every day.”
“Well, that’s not a well-balanced diet.Didn’t you see the greens?”
“Saving those for tomorrow.”
After raking the scraps into the trash, I washed the plate and utensils in the kitchenette opposite his bed.I’d tried to make this room as homey as possible with its own bathroom, kitchenette, and a large television at the foot of his bed.
“Are you gonna tell me what kept you out so late?”he asked.“I worry about you being out at night.Bad things happen in the dark.”
I set the plate on a drying rack and worked on cleaning his glass.“It was a baby shower.”
