“I know he’s pissed at us, but I’m not sure what else we can do at this point other than what we’re doing.”
“He’s not pissed, “Colin told her, then smiled. “My husband is a creature of habit. That’s his safety. That’s his security. And his safe, secure routine just got tossed into a meat grinder. Add to that the fact that I’m being threatened, and he’s reacting allover the place. Give him a few days. Josh is an introvert. He has to sit with things until he’s had time to process them internally. Then he rights himself. It took me a long time to figure that out. He loves you, Esther.”
“Well, I love him too. And I thought I told you to stay home today?”
“I had to be here for the Blaire child abuse case. That kid is in danger. I won’t ask for a continuance.”
“How did it go?” Esther asked, rising from her chair.
Colin shrugged. “Well, I think.”
“Good. Now, get the hell out of here and go home.”
“I wish Icouldgo home,” Colin muttered.
“All in good time, Colin. Now stop whining and get back to the Omni.” She waved him and Clayton out of her office.
Colin nodded. “OK, Boss. See you on Monday.” He turned to go, then spun to face Esther again. “But Esther? Please get in touch with me if there are any breakthroughs in either of these investigations.”
“I will, Colin.”
At the Omni,Colin left his security detail at their duty station and unlocked the door to the suite. “Josh!” he called. “Where are you?” He tossed his briefcase to a nearby chair and paused in the living room, listening.
“I’m in here,” Joshua replied. “In the kitchen.”
Colin wandered into the kitchenette area and found his husband hovering over the counter, rearranging several items. “What the hell, Josh?” Colin asked as he moved to Joshua’s side. “What happenedhere?”
When Colin left that morning, the small counter had held only a tiny two-cup coffeemaker and a mini microwave. Those items had disappeared. In their place stood a full-sized coffeemaker, a full-size microwave, a toaster, and a sizable three-burner hot plate.
“Ihappened here!” Joshua told him with a grin. “I called downstairs this morning and informed them that their kitchenette was totally inadequate. I told them if they couldn’t get us some actual adult-size appliances, I’d book a suite somewhere else. Guess who caved?”
Colin tilted his head back and laughed. “You are absolutelybadass!”
“More likely that they don’t want to piss away all that nice city hall money.” He gestured to the small refrigerator. “There’s no room for a bigger fridge, so I can’t store much food, but I called Instacart, who are more than happy to deliver. So, tonight, I’ll be cooking your dinner.” He cupped Colin’s face between his palms and kissed him. “I can only do so much with this stuff, but at least I can cook yousomething.”
“Plus, we can have more than one mug of coffee in the morning,” Colin replied, rocking Joshua in his arms. “Baby, you are a miracle worker.”
Joshua huffed out a sarcastic laugh. “If I were, we’d be eating athometonight.” He kissed Colin several times. “God, I’m glad you’re here! How did it go in court today?”
“It went well. I’m optimistic.”
Joshua took his hand and drew him into the living room. “Any news from Esther?”
Colin fell onto the couch with Joshua beside him. “There’s been some movement, but it’s all pretty much circumstantial at this point.” He saw Joshua’s face fall. “We’ve only been here two days, bud,” he murmured. “Can we give it a little longer before we get all doom and gloom? The case will break our way. We’vegot every law enforcement agency in Charlottesville putting pressure on Moreno, with a few state and federal agencies thrown in.”
He grabbed Joshua’s shoulders and turned to face him. “Look. No one in law enforcement wants Lexi to get away with threatening someone in my position. It paints a bull’s-eye oneveryone’sback.”
“I know, babe. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to whine.”
“You’re not whining. It’s been an upsetting couple of days.”
“Well, it’s only three days ‘til Saturday. Then we’ll have the whole weekend to relax and try to get used to this place.”
Colin breathed out a disgusted huff. “Fat chance of that.”
“David said he and Nate would come over. We could order pizza and play some cards.” He skated his fingers across Colin’s furrowed brow. “That might make thingsfeelmore normal.”
Colin shot him a look, his expression skeptical.
