I tightened my arm around her waist. “Then just relax, baby. Just know that I love you, and I’m proud of you.”
***
I rubbed my brow bump as I re-read the text I’d received from the head honcho. “I’ve been canned,” I said. “Fired for cause. That means no severance.”
Lindsey stepped behind me and rubbed my shoulders. “You’ll get another job. It’s a big town and memories are short.”
“Yeah.” I deleted the text and tossed my cell onto the kitchen table. “It just sucks, though. I just bought that truck, I have payments, a mortgage –”
Lindsey kissed my neck. “Stop worrying. It’ll work out.”
“Yeah. If that fucking Rivers hadn’t busted into my life, fucking it over, things would be great.”
“Then we might not have met. Fated to be together, remember? I have some money put away. It’ll keep us for a few months.”
“I remember you saying you won’t support me.”
“I changed my mind.”
She left me, crossing the kitchen to tidy up. I watched her stunning body in her tight jeans, her firm waist and belly under her fitted t-shirt. “How did I get so lucky to find you?”
Lindsey smiled, her sky-blue eyes glinting with mischief. “I don’t know. Fate, maybe?”
“Oh, yeah. Throw that in my face.”
At her insistence, I rested on the sofa while she worked in her office, typing away on her laptop. She’d given me ibuprofen, which took the edge off my thumping head. In between watching TV and staring at her shapely back as she worked, I pondered what Austin would do next.
“Too bad we can’t scare Rivers off like you did Bethany.”
Lindsey turned her chair around. “Since I let him live, maybe he’ll let it go,” she said. “A good turn deserves a good turn.”
“Except he won’t think like that,” I said. “He believes I owe him millions. Even if Ihadmillions, I wouldn’t give them to a low life like him.”
“He has his life. He can make more money selling his dope. And leave us in peace.”
“Like that’ll happen.”
***
I healed over the next few days, surfing the Internet for jobs while Lindsey worked. I sent in several applications, most offering more money than what I’d earned before. We both dealt with our respective insurance companies, and I asked for bids on repairs to my house. Lindsey’s sent her a check and demanded she return the red rental.
She folded the check into her purse. “It’s enough for a big down payment or enough to buy a cheaper car. What do you think?”
“Put it in the bank for now,” I answered, kissing her cheek. “We’ll decide down the road. We have my truck to get us around.”
Lindsey led the way to the rental agency, who made her sign forms regarding the bullet holes. “It’s fully insured,” the agent told her with a half-smile. “What happened?”
“An old friend tried to kill me.” Lindsey scribbled her signature on the papers.
His smile faded.
“Sorry about the holes.”
I drove her to her bank where she deposited the check and tucked the receipt away. She climbed into the cab beside me.
“What now?”
“Home.” I put the truck into drive and drove from the bank’s parking lot. “I have a contractor coming to install the carpet. Think of this: move into my house when the work is done. Then you won’t have to pay rent. Right? Our – your – money will last longer.”
