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Plus… he knew his buddy needed to blow off steam too. They didn’t have enough time to get into it earlier. He’d have to make plans with Luke for later, take him out, and get him drunk. Let him rant so he’d talk himself into seeing the bigger picture. It had always been that way. Beau would pretend to be involved in the conversation, but usually, he steered Luke in the right direction, let him have the floor, and watch the poor bastard debate both sides until he saw the light.
He’d always considered himself as much Rachel’s friend as Luke’s. Because of that, they both knew there were lines that couldn’t be crossed, and that the discussion would stay civil. Jesus, now Mellie.
“Look, my girl, I’m sorry about the situation at home but you have to understand, your parents love each other… like, a lot.”
“They used to. Nowadays, I wonder.”
“People have different opinions and sometimes they gotta voice them.”
“They yell. It’s nasty.”
“That’s what people do when they’re trying to be heard.”
Shouting back her answer on purpose, she bellowed, “I know.”
He grinned at her, and she returned his smile. “You’resooonot funny.”
“And you’re right. It’s not funny. Almost every person in my class comes from a broken home, divorced parents, and multiple layers of siblings. I stood out because my family was unique.”
“Bet that made you feel good.”
She reached for Beau’s hand and held on tight. “It really did, Uncle Beau. I felt safe.”
Beau pulled up outside the school and waved back at the simpering girls waiting for Mellie. He leaned his cheek over for his kiss, the reward for him chauffeuring her. His sigh turned into a groan. “Fine, I’ll talk to them. Go. Have a good day and no texting in class.”
“Party-pooper. Love ya.”
She ran toward her friend, Leanne, and linked arms, as they headed to the opened doors.
Beau waited for the bus in front of him to pull out and couldn’t help watching the sweetest female in four-inch heels hurrying after a hunched-up kid carrying a bag like it held the crown jewels.
He didn’t know why that sight caught his attention, but it did. Something felt terribly wrong. In fact, when the car behind honked for him to move, he flipped them the bird before wheeling into the parking lot.
Chapter Two
Over the years, Lori had learned to depend on her instincts. Others had tried to scoff until she’d be proven right. Then they’d shake their heads and admit she’d called it. This time her instinct screamed with the knowledge she couldn’t negate. This kid’s trouble. Big time.
Dammit, she had an interview. One she’d waited for weeks to get. If she didn’t start soon as an FBI profiler again, the job she’d been trained to do back before she’d taken leave to look after her father, her newly acquired interim waitress job and pub worker wouldn’t begin to cover the piled-up overdue bills.
Hospital bills, medical payments, insurance coverage were the big ones, then toss in rent and gas. How the hell folks kept their heads above water in today’s rotten economy, she’d never know. She’d been praying her father’s insurance would kick in with the anticipated check, but they’d been giving her the runaround for months.
Suddenly, the bus stopped in front of a high school, and she saw her subject rise and walk to the back door. Something inside forced her to her feet, and she was at the front door before she knew she’d use it. Son of a bitch, this unconscious decision probably cost her the job.
She followed the stooped figure toward the front of the building until the guard stepped into the open, his flashy uniform clarifying his status to all. Her suspect pivoted to the right and stood fidgeting with his phone, watching for his opening. Sure enough, some girls approached the uniformed man and got his attention. That gave her guy enough time to slip through the front door.
Knowing she couldn’t stop the kid without a good reason or a badge showing authority, she still followed him into the large hall and watched him disappear into the men’s room.
Now what? She sensed there was going to be trouble. For her, that indication had been revealed in his expression and behavior. Yet, she couldn’t call the police in on an assumption and no proof. Neither could she get into the room where he’d entered.
Unexpectedly, a tall man with curly blond hair approached, wearing a sexy smile and a laser-like gleam in his green eyes. “Can I help you, Ma’am?”
“Do you work here?” Lori felt an instant trust that sure-as-hell didn’t happen very often.
“No. But I noticed you seemed to hesitate and thought you looked lost.”
“Do you have a child going to this school?”
“A goddaughter. I just dropped her off.” Suddenly, the bell rang, and the hall became crowded. Lori felt her arm being taken as the man beside her aimed her closer to the wall for safety.
