“And for what it’s worth,” she added. “Knox is here because I had a major meltdown last night, complete with delusions that someone was attacking me. It was so bad I ripped the mirror off the dresser and threw it into the living room, then grabbed my weapons. If it weren’t for him, I’d probably be in a psych ward somewhere right now. He’s even talked me into seeing a therapist and agreed to go with me when I do.”
Diego gave Knox a look that seemed partly grudging appreciation and partly something else. Knox wasn’t sure, but he thought it might be jealousy. Which didn’t make a lot of sense, since Rachel said Diego was nothing more than a pack mate and friend.
“You’re going to go see Dr. Delacroix?” Diego asked Rachel. “I wish it hadn’t taken so long for you to do it, but I guess that as long as you do it, that’s all that matters.”
An uncomfortable silence filled the room until Diego finally cleared his throat. “So, I originally came over to pick you up for our shift. You still want a ride to the Lloyds’ place?”
Rachel shook her head. “I’m at the courthouse today. Jennifer is having a meeting with the judge and defense lawyers, and I’m backing up Khaki there.”
Diego looked back and forth between Knox and Rachel before nodding. “Okay, I’ll see you later at the Lloyds’. Or the compound. Or wherever.”
Rachel muttered a curse as he walked out of the bedroom. “Diego, hold on a second.”
Knox hung back in the bedroom as Rachel hurried into the living room to catch up with her pack mate. He wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but with his werewolf hearing, it was kind of impossible not to. She was asking Diego not to say anything about her and Knox—or the meltdown—to the other members of the Pack. Diego agreed but pointed out she was going to need to tell their pack mates at some point.
“Preferably before this all blows up in your face,” Diego added.
Knox thought the conversation was over, but then he heard Rachel ask if they were good. There was a moment of silence before Diego chuckled, saying they’d always be good. There was a rustling of fabric and Knox guessed they were hugging. It was a short hug, but Knox still didn’t like it. Neither did his inner wolf.
Rachel thanked her pack mate for kicking in her door to come to her rescue, even if she didn’t need it. “Maybe next time, though, knock first?”
A few moments later, she returned to the bedroom. “Sorry about that. Diego crossed about a dozen lines with that crap.”
Knox shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. He’s a friend and he was worried about you. It’s cool you have people who care about you enough to do something like that.”
Rachel didn’t say anything but, instead, eyed him like she was worried he was going to bolt or something.
He ran his hand through his hair and let out a breath. “What time do you need to be at the courthouse?”
She walked over to him, her lips curving into a smile as she reached up to wrap her arms around his neck. “I could hang around for another fifteen or twenty minutes if I skip breakfast. What do you have in mind?”
He placed his hands on her hips. “I was thinking I could clean up that mess in the living room, then maybe try to fix your door while you pack a weekender.”
Rachel eyed him with a baffled expression.
“My extended-stay hotel isn’t much more than a small bedroom and a living room with a kitchenette, but I thought you might want to have a place to stay for a while that isn’t inextricably linked to the nightmares you’ve been having.” When she didn’t say anything, he added, “It was just an offer. If you’d rather not, I understand.”
She continued to regard him silently for a moment before going up on her toes and kissing him. Then she stepped back with a smile that made it feel like a weight had been taken off his chest.
“I’d like to stay at your place,” she said softly. “I’d like it a lot.”
Chapter 11
Rachel made her way up the stairs to the second floor of the Frank Crowley Courts Building, doing her best not to gawk at the arc of glass that made up the roof of the atrium. It reminded her a little of the underwater tunnel at the Chattanooga Aquarium. Without the fish and the water, of course. Regardless, it was dang pretty.
She followed her nose and found Khaki sitting on a wooden bench outside one of the courtrooms, reading something on her cell phone. There weren’t many people around, so it wasn’t like keeping an eye on the doors was too difficult.
“There you are.” Her friend stuck her phone in the cargo pocket of her uniform pants and slid over to make room for her on the bench. “Marshall’s lawyers have been in there arguing with Jennifer for almost an hour and it doesn’t sound like they’re going to finish up anytime soon. I get the feeling Marshall’s side is getting desperate because they’re throwing anything in front of the judge they can think of. Jennifer keeps trashing everything they bring up. I wouldn’t be surprised if this trial wraps up in another few days. Regardless, I already called and told the DAPS guys out front to go get a coffee or something if they want.”
Rachel nodded as she sat down beside Khaki. She’d been wondering why she hadn’t seen any of Knox’s coworkers guarding the front of the building when she’d come in.
Reaching into the brown bag she’d brought with her, she took out a Boston cream donut before handing the bag to Khaki. Her friend’s face lit up like a Christmas tree when she saw the monster-sized pastry left inside.
“What?” Rachel said, putting on a hurt expression. “Did you really think I’d stop for breakfast and forget about my best friend and how much she loves apple fritters?”
Khaki laughed and started to take a bite, but then stopped. Frowning, she took a deliberate sniff of the donut in her hand before leaning over to do the same to Rachel. Her friend’s dark eyes widened.
“I can’t believe you’re sleeping with another werewolf and didn’t tell me.” Khaki looked half-shocked, half-overjoyed. “When did you meet him? Where did you meet him? I want details, so spill!”
