She hummed and nodded. “He’s in a meeting right now. If you take a seat I’ll let him know you’re here to see him when he’s done.” She slid another glance at Judge before she spun on her heels and went back around the desk.
Judge took my hand and led me over to the couches in front of the TV. He sat as close as he could to me and hooked his finger under my chin, turning my face so he could rub what I assumed was a lipstick stain off my cheek with a focused expression.
“This’ll confuse people. You’re mine,” he said seriously.
I snorted, but he ignored me until he was satisfied, then kissed me on the lips. We settled in to wait. Judge grabbed a law magazine off the coffee table and flipped through the pages. His phone buzzed in his pocket and he pulled it out, frowning down at the screen.
“Something wrong?” I asked, but he gave me a smile and shook his head, stuffing his phone back into his pocket. I didn’t push. If he wanted to tell me what it was about, he would.
“You didn’t give me the whole story of how your mom made you start teaching,” he whispered, tucking his hand into mine again.
“I didn’t, did I?” I smiled as I remembered her kind face. “She taught women’s studies part-time at NG State. She was an inspiring teacher, organizing rallies and protests. Everyone loved her. After I burned out, she convinced me to teach at the law school, told me it would be easier on what she called my ‘gentle heart.’ The things she used to say.” I shook my head, and Judge smiled at me. “She went to bat for me. The New Gothenburg State undergrad campus is close to the law school, and she talked to colleagues who taught law and convinced them they needed me, and that’s how I got a position.”
“She sounds incredible.” He leaned into me, pressing his forehead against my temple, and I took comfort in his presence and scent.
“She was and I miss her every day.”
The door next to the reception desk opened, and I startled when a familiar face stepped out. Griff was as rugged as I remembered from the last time I’d seen him. Tall and bulky, my cousin had a thick reddish-brown beard with streaks of gray, which he refused to shave, and a Navy SEAL tattoo inked onto his upper right arm. He always wore shirts with short sleeves so he could show off the body art with pride, and it was something I’d learned to respect. Griff never talked about his assignments because they were highly classified, but I’d seen the change in him from when he first went in to the navy. He was a man who’d seen the worst of humanity. Beside him was a German shepherd, which was his PTSD dog and work companion. Stryker was as beautiful as the last time I’d seen him, standing tall next to Griff as though ready to tackle any job required, whether it be to help Griff’s mental health, sniff out bombs, or attack enemies.
Griff wore his favorite green cap with an American flag stitched on the front and was slipping on a pair of Ray-Ban shades when he noticed me. A wide smile spread across his face as he tugged the door closed behind himself. “Well, lookie what the cat dragged in. Boy, you look like you went headfirst into a can of gray paint.”
I rolled my eyes and laughed, standing, and he continued to grin as I strode over to him. We hugged, and he squeezed me tight, slapping me on the back. “It’s called getting old. You look like you’ve got a rat’s nest on your face.”
“Oh, now you’re hitting below the belt with the insults.” He grabbed my face and bumped his forehead against mine the same way we’d always done, ever since we were kids. “How are you, big cuz? I see you don’t have that dumbass with you. What was his name?”
I stared incredulously at him. “You know his name, don’t pretend otherwise. But no, he’s not with me because we’re not together.”
“Well, that is the best news I’ve heard all year.” He snickered and glanced over my shoulder. “Who’s the brickhouse with you?”
I held my hand out to Judge, and he came over, wrapping a strong arm around my shoulders. “This is Judge, my boyfriend. Judge, this is my younger cousin, Griffin.”
Griff was around the same height as Judge, and they stared each other down.
After a moment, Judge held out his hand. “Pleasure to meet you.”
“I’m not going to shake your hand, boy.” Griff crossed his arms over his hard chest and glared at Judge. “How old are you? Twelve?”
Judge dropped his hand and smirked, obviously not intimidated by the act.
“Griff,” I reprimanded.
He’d always been the rough type, and anyone who wanted his trust had to earn it. Chris never got anywhere near a friendship with Griff, but I had faith in Judge getting on Griff’s good side—it just took a while.
“What are you doing here anyway?” I asked, although I had a feeling I already knew.
He shrugged. “River has me doing something for him, you know how it is. Work.”
“What do you do, Griff?” Judge straightened as though he wanted to impress Griff with his height. It would’ve been amusing if it hadn’t been damned adorable as well.
“I’m a former Navy SEAL who works private jobs these days.” He raised his eyebrows, and it was almost like watching them pull out their dicks to measure them. They were testing each other. “I have a very particular set of skills.” Griff’s voice went deeper. “Skills I have acquired over a very long career.”
I snorted and shoved his shoulder, and he laughed loudly. “You need to stop watchingTaken.”
“I can’t,” he said with a shrug. “It’s so fucking ridiculous I needed to watch it ten times to make sure it wasn’t a comedy.”
“You’re an idiot.” My heart warmed anyway. As far as family went, I didn’t have anyone left but Griff and his parents. “How are your mom and dad?”
“They’re the same ol’. Moved to St. Loren, did I tell you that?”
