The two women walked down the sidewalk to their cars.
“You did great, by the way,” Mac said sincerely.
“You think?”
“Definitely. You’re a natural at this stuff.”
The compliment filled Charlie with confidence. “Maybe I can plan your wedding someday.”
It was Mac’s turn to snort. “Sorry, sister. Not gonna happen.”
“Never say never,” Charlie teased.
Mac raised a defiant brow. “Never.”
Charlie laughed, grateful Derek had someone like Mac on his team.
The other woman had definitely helped take her mind off of the tragedy Derek faced yesterday. He’d handled it much better than she would have expected.
As if he knew she was thinking about him, Derek chose that moment to call her.
“Hey,” she answered the phone. “Mac and I are just leaving the office. Where are you?”
He groaned. “I’m still at the house I told you about. There’s a glitch in the new security system we installed and I’m still tryin’ to figure out the issue.”
He’d texted her earlier to check on her and let her know he was going over there.
“I still can’t believe you’re working today.”
She could practically hear him shrug. “I’ve got every program I can think of keepin’ an eye on Caleb’s activities. As for the fire, I can’t do anything until the insurance company is done with its investigation. Sittin’ around with my thumb up my ass isn’t gonna rebuild my house any faster, so I may as well work.”
“Is anyone with you?”
“Coop is, although I hate having him stay. The problem is definitely in the computer system, so until I get it fixed, there’s nothin’ for him to do. At the rate this is going, we’ll be here most of the night.”
“I’m glad he’s there,” she told him. “Makes me feel better knowing you aren’t in that big place all alone.”
Unlocking her car, Mac mouthed that she would follow her home and then got into her Jeep and started it up.
Charlie opened her mouth to say something else to Derek, but her words were cut off by a long yawn.
“Sounds like you’re ready for bed.”
“I’m beat,” she admitted, firing up the engine. “It’s probably a good thing you won’t be stuck with me tonight. I’d be totally useless to you.”
“You’ll never be useless to me, darlin’. And for the record, I love watching you sleep.”
Her heart stuttered. “You watch me sleep?”
Mortifying images of her snoring or drooling came to mind as she pulled out onto the street.
“It’s one of my favorite pastimes.”
“You’re crazy,” she laughed.
“Crazy for you,” he drawled.
With a girlish grin, she turned into the nearest fast-food place she could find.
