AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Mason’s chest sagged. “Oh.”
“Yeah.”
“Sorry, man.” He reached over and gave my shoulder a squeeze. “I just wanted to be sure.”
“No worries. I completely understand.”
“Just wanted to be sure you understand. Shelly… She’s not like most women.”
I was fully aware of that. I’d put a full file together on her, back when Mason’s wife, Lynn, was missing. Shelly had been abused as a child, had been removed from the family home at the age of six, the circumstances of which I still didn’t fully understand, and she had never had a solid relationship with a man. Oh, and she was known to be homicidal. No one could prove it, but I was pretty sure she’d kill anyone who threatened Lynn. I was also certain she’d killed their father, but I couldn’t prove it.
“Well, good thing is that you never have to worry about anyone hurting that kid of yours.” This time, it was me who squeezed his shoulder.
Mason shivered. “She’s like an old mother hen with him. I never would have thought that Shelly has a maternal side.”
“I don’t think they call that maternal. I think they call it homicidal.” I took a sip of my drink. Too sweet. Needed alcohol.
“Takes one to know one,” a voice chimed out from right behind me.
Ah, fuck. Of course, she was right behind me. “Shelly,” I said. I inclined my head toward her ever so slightly.
“Clark,” she replied. Nothing more. Just that single word. I had a feeling I was in trouble.
“So,” Mason said slowly, looking from Shelly to me and back again, doing that Spidey-shrink thing he did so well, “did you find anyone to fill that job you had open?”
“Job?” Shelly parroted. Instantly, she was beside me, staring up at me, her blue eyes blinking slowly, the side of her breast pressed against my arm. “What job?
“Whoops,” Mason said and chuckled. “I think I hear the baby.” Then he walked away, leaving me with the viper.
“I don’t know what he’s talking about,” I said quickly.
“He said job. I heard him. What kind of job is it? What would I have to do?”
“No.” No fucking way I would ever hire Shelly Punter to work in my office.
“Tell me.” She jerked my forearm toward her.
“No.”
“You have no choice, now that I know about it.”
I heaved out a sigh. “I needed a person to help with filing, answering phones, doing data collection for cases, and things like that. Just someone to help me, that’s all.”
“I’d be perfect for a job like that.” She danced on the toes of her sexy shoes.
“No.”
“Yes.” She stomped her foot. I jerked my toes back at just the right moment.
“No.” I tipped my drink up and drained the last of the glass. “I need to go.”
“Where are we going? What are we working on?”
“I’m working on a case. You’re staying here.” She pressed so tightly against my side that I could feel her heart beating in my forearm. I put my hands on her hips and set her away from me. But then all I could think was how Shelly’s hips felt under my hands. “I have to go.”
She finally stepped away, her eyes narrowing into thin slits framed by blond lashes.
I paid my respects to Lynn and Mason, pretended to fawn over their offspring for a moment, and left.
