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“I’m a big girl, sis, and I can make decisions about myself,” Monique replied with a tad bit of irritation.
“Oh, I know.” Angelique smiled in an obvious apology. “I just worry about you.”
Monique’s irritation immediately faded away. “I’m getting along just fine,” she said. “Besides, in less than two hours I’ll be back on Jacque’s sofa and resting.”
“So, you’re comfortable there?” Dominique asked.
“Very comfortable, and he’s committed to making sure I stay safe,” Monique replied.
“I can tell you Daniel is absolutely tearing his hair out with frustration over Mama’s case and now yours,” Angelique said.
“And you have no idea why somebody attacked you?” Dominique asked.
“No clue.” This little white lie was falling easier and easier from her lips. Would it really help Daniel in his investigation if he knew what she and Jacque had been doing? Maybe it was time to come clean with Daniel. There was no question that their activities had given somebody a motive for murder.
Her sisters remained in the shop for about a half hour, and then Angelique needed to get back to her store and it was time for Dominique to head to the café for her shift.
Lunchtime came and went, and the shop stayed fairly busy until almost two when Cynthia came in to work. A look out of the front window let Monique see Jacque’s car pull up at the curb.
When there had been lulls of customers in the shop, her thoughts had gone to the man who, at least for now, had put his own life on hold for hers.
She didn’t have a ton of experience when it came to lust. She’d only had one lover in her life. But there was no question she had some major lust building up for Jacque, and it was something that had no place in their relationship as budding friends. She just needed to figure out a way to squash the physical attraction.
“Good day?” he asked as she slid into the passenger seat of his car.
“It was a good day,” she agreed. “Nola stopped by, and then my sisters came in, which was enjoyable, and I stayed pretty busy, which is always nice. What about you? Good day?”
“Okay day.” He pulled away from the curb. “After I dropped you off, I went to the police station and spoke to Daniel. Unfortunately, there has been no movement in your mother’s case or in yours.”
“I figured that since he hadn’t been by to talk to us,” she replied.
“I’m just hoping he finds the perp before you get well enough to come up with another crazy plan.”
She laughed. “Don’t worry, right now another plan is the last thing on my mind.”
He flashed her a quick glance. “That’s good to know. After I spoke to Daniel, I went to the grocery store, and then I went home and put everything away, and now I’m here with you. And I haven’t forgotten that you want to stop by your shanty on the way home.”
“Yes, since I intend to continue going into work, I need to pick up some more of my clothes.”
“How do you feel?” He shot her another quick glance and then returned his gaze to the road.
“I’m a bit tired, and I’m hurting some, but I’m all right,” she replied.
“What’s your schedule like for tomorrow?”
“The same as today.” She studied his profile for a moment. “Jacque, how long are we going to do this?”
“Do what?” He shot her yet another quick glance.
“How long am I going to be staying at your shanty? It isn’t realistic for me to stay until Daniel catches the bad guy. That hasn’t happened in the last four months, and it might never happen.”
“Tired of my hospitality already?” One of his dark eyebrows quirked upward.
“Of course not,” she quickly answered.
“Monique, please as I told you before, let’s just take this one day at a time, okay? Right now, I really believe you are where you need to be.”
Of course he was right. In truth, she was afraid to leave his protection. She had tried not to focus on her fear, but it was there simmering inside her all the time.
