Page 38 of Tough Justice

After he and Thor had left, her legs had turned to limp noodles, and she’d all but fallen right on her ass. Her lips had tingled, and the skin around her mouth still stung from Deck’s five o’clock shadow. It was just as well that he’d left without taking things further.

How could she kiss a DEA agent? A man who worked for the very organization that destroyed her family? He wasn’t for her in any way, shape, or form. The man was like a lightning bolt, illuminating her sky for one brief moment, then disappearing just as quickly. Which was exactly what would happen the moment he caught the distributor they were after and no longer needed her.

If only his kiss didn’t send her craving for another one into unstoppable overdrive.

Stop it. Just stop it. Focus on something else. Anything else. Take his wardrobe, for instance.

Like her, he’d worn jeans. Unlike hers, his were soft and worn, showcasing every cut muscle in his thighs and butt. The shirt he’d worn was a dark brown polo that matched the color of his eyes. Okay, that so didn’t help her refocus.

“Can we stop at a convenience store or a drug store?” She scanned the road ahead for a strip mall.

“What do you need?”

“Something I can put my hair up into a ponytail with.” She kept digging through her bag, getting antsier by the second. She never went out without her hair up. Having it down this way left her feeling undone. It was part of her every day, neat and tidy wardrobe. Everything in her life, including her hair, had to be under control. Nothing left to chance. “Hey, stop!” She pointed to a drug store, but he kept right on going. “Why didn’t you stop?”

He glanced at her. “You should leave it down.”

“I don’t want to leave it down.” She uttered an exasperated huff and crossed her arms, feeling exactly the same way she always had when her mother had told her she couldn’t have ice cream until she’d finished all her green beans.

“Try something new.” He turned off the road into the parking lot for the Bear Creek Teen Center.

Seemed like that was all she’d been doing lately, trying new things.

Thor uttered a low bark as Deck parked in front of the main doors.

“Is Thor coming in, too?” She turned to give him a scratch under his chin and was rewarded with a lick to her hand.

“Yep.” He grabbed a leash from inside the console. “He’s more popular here than I am, especially with the girls.”

“That’s hard to believe.” The second the snark left her lips, Tori groaned inwardly.

“C’mon. We’re gonna be late.”

As she followed Deck and Thor into the Center, a woman with short blond hair and wearing a navy-blue sleeveless blouse greeted them from behind the visitor’s desk. “Good morning, Deck.” Thor barked. “Good morning to you, too, Thor.” The dog gave an appreciative wag of his tail.

“Pam, this is my friend, Dr. Tori Sampson. She’s an ER doctor who’s treated a lot of overdose patients.” Deck touched the small of her back, sending a stream of tingles up her spine.

As a doctor, she would have attributed tingly sensations to a possible injury involving the nervous system. In her case, however, there was no denying it was the direct result of attraction. Pure, animal attraction.

“Tori?”

“Huh?” Deck’s brows rose slightly as he flicked his gaze to the other woman. And her outstretched hand. “I’m sorry. I was thinking about a patient.” Heat flooded her face as the lie rolled off her tongue, and she shook Pam’s hand.

“Very nice to meet you, Dr. Sampson, and thank you for coming.” Pam’s greeting was warm and welcoming. “They’re all inside waiting for you, Deck. It’s a rowdy bunch this week.”

“What’s the breakdown?” he asked.

“Most are in their sixth week, the same crew as last time. Only one newbie. You’ll know him when you meet him.” Pam lowered her voice and leaned forward, whispering, “He’s got a rough road ahead of him. See if you can work your magic.”

He smiled. “I’ll do my best.”

“I know you will,” Pam said. “The kids enjoy your sessions more than the ones given by our people.”

Deck led the way down a short hallway, at the end of which were two open doors. Thor’s nails clicked on the tile, his tongue hanging out and his tail wagging as if he knew he was about to have fun.

When they walked in, twenty pairs of eyes turned their way. A mixture of girls and boys between the ages of fifteen and nineteen sat on chairs arranged in a big circle.

“Thor!” One of the girls jumped up and ran over. Thor’s big body wriggled and his tail whipped back and forth, thumping against Deck’s leg. “Can I take him first?”