Page 54 of Tough Justice

Tori’s eyes widened on her sister. Alone? Together?

Before she could stop him, her father motioned for Deck to follow him into the dining room.

The only sound in the kitchen came from Thor licking his now-empty bowl.

“Here.” Margo handed her the martini glass she’d been drinking from. “You look like you could use something stronger than beer.”

“You know I do.” She took the glass and tilted half the contents of the rosemary-grapefruit martini down her throat, swallowing then sighing. “Where are Zach and the kids?” Margo’s husband and kids usually joined them for family dinner.

“Zach took them to a Rockies game. They actually made it into the playoffs this year. Can you believe it?” Margo began mixing herself another drink.

“Too bad,” Tori whispered. “Tonight, of all nights, it would have been nice to have them here.” Anything to minimize the awkwardness.

“Yup, it sure would.” Over the martini pitcher, her sister’s eyes shimmered with censure.

Tori poured gravy into a gravy bowl and added a spoon, glancing into the dining room to make sure her dad hadn’t beheaded Deck.

Margo poured herself another martini from the pitcher. “I keep waiting for the explosion.”

“You and me both.” She clinked glasses with her sister, grateful for the support. They’d always been close, and after Tori had moved back to Colorado, more so.

“Is he really just your colleague?” Margo asked. “I find it incredibly bizarre for you to bring home a DEA agent, of all people. Important life-saving project aside, of course.” She pursed her lips, clearly not buying the story Tori had given her.

Again, Tori peered into the dining room where her dad and Deck talked about something she couldn’t hear. “Yes, he is just a colleague.” This lying thing was getting far too easy, but from the skeptical expression on Margo’s face, her sister still wasn’t buying it.

Margo took a sip and swallowed. “I call bull. You are seeing him, aren’t you?”

“No. I just…”

“Just what?” Margo prodded.

Tori rolled her eyes. Might as well spill it. She never could hide anything from Margo, anyway. “I started thinking that maybe something between us was changing. Then he disappeared on me for a week, and I thought whatever was happening was over before it even began. Today, he showed up again.”

“What did you think was happening?” Margo waggled her eyebrows.

“I don’t know.” Funny how she’d never experienced confusion when she’d been dating Mike last year. Somehow, she knew their relationship was fleeting.

Thor perked his head up then trotted into the dining room to join Deck and her father.

“The DEA thing aside for a minute, what do you want to happen between you?”

“I don’t know,” Tori admitted. “He’s so…so…”

“So not like you?” Margo supplied.

“Exactly.” She set down her now-empty glass, intending to switch to water. Then again… I’m not driving, so what the heck? She topped off her martini.

“He seems to like you. But you’re asking for trouble.” Margo handed her the mashed potatoes. “At least Dad hasn’t shoved a pitchfork into his back yet, so that’s a good sign.”

“I suppose so.” Something was up with her dad. Only time would tell what. “I’ll put out another setting.” Tori went into the dining room and set the bowl and her drink on the table, keeping one eye and ear on the men as they chatted, surprisingly amicably. She opened up the hutch and took out plates, silver, and another napkin, while Margo brought in the rest of the food.

“Let’s eat.” Her father took his usual place at one end, while Margo sat at the single place setting on one side of the table.

Tori reached for her chair when Deck stopped her, pulling it out then waiting for her to sit. “Thank you,” she said, looking up in time to see the surprised expression on her father’s face.

Her dad took a thick slice of ham from the plate then passed the plate to Deck. “How did you two meet?” He looked alternately from Deck to her.

“In the ER,” Deck answered. “A colleague of mine was exposed to opioid powder and nearly died. Tori saved his life.” He sent her a grateful look. “You should have seen her in action. You would have been proud of her, sir.”