“That was then. Now, I’m telling you to go fuck yourself. You put my business and my license in a fucked-up situation.”
“I came to you for help,” she said through clenched teeth. “You said you believed me. And then you take him from me?” Tears streamed down her face. “He was mine first.”
As angry as I was at Dory, her mental state concerned me. She was a danger to the community, but more so to herself. I glanced at my watch and prayed Jace would get here soon. “You need help, Dory,” I told her. “Professionalhelp.”
Dory stomped toward me, but before she made it to my desk, Jace stepped into the office with two officers. While Dory shouted obscenities and hurled threats, one of the officers handcuffed her, and the other read her the Miranda Rights.
Jace approached me once the officers escorted Dory out. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” I said. “She didn’t do anything, but she’s not well.”
“I’m surprised she showed up here.”
I shrugged. “I’m not. She saw me with Lennox. Jealousy made her careless.”
He squeezed my shoulder. “I have to get down to the station.”
“Thanks, Jace.”
Lennox entered the office, a frown on his face. “You okay?” He shook Jace’s hand. “I just saw them walking Dory out.”
Jace excused himself, leaving us alone.
“I’m fine,” I said. “I know how to protect myself.”
He ran his finger down my cheek and pulled me into a hug. “I know, baby.” He pulled back and searched my eyes. “What did she do?”
I explained the situation to him. “The more she talked, the more it became apparent she needs more than punishment. As much as I wanted to kick her ass all up and through this building, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. She’s troubled, and she needs psychiatric help.”
“You did the right thing,” Lennox agreed.
Wrapping my arms around him, I kissed him. I poured my all into that kiss, clinging to him like a lifeline. When I pulled back, the words were on the tip of my tongue—I need you, I love you. But I couldn’t bring myself to say them. Instead, I brushed my lips over his again.
Lennox groaned, and that sound made me want to make love to him right here. “You taste good,” he murmured against my mouth.
“Jolly Ranchers.” I kissed him again. “Grape.”
“What did you want to talk to me about?”
This was why I didn’t want to tell him I was leaving. Because I knew that once I saw him, I wouldn’t want to go. Because I was dangerously and hopelessly in love with Lennox. My eyes burned as tears threatened to fall. And I was also an emotional wreck. “Um—” I swallowed past the hard lump that had formed in my throat, “—I wanted to tell you I’m going to Cali to see Paityn.”
He frowned. “Okay?”
“Today.” I looked at the wall clock. “In a few hours.”
He stepped back. “And you’re just now telling me this?”
I fiddled with a paperweight on my desk. “It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I need mommy-sister time.”
“Are you okay?”
Dammit. He was so good, so sweet…so sexy. “I’m fine.”
It was an outright lie, because I wasn’t okay. I messed around and fell in love. And now I had to figure out what to do about it.
Chapter 12
U Got It Bad
