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“You’re welcome. What happened to your car again?”
“The mechanic happened. Some new guy poured in the wrong transmission oil and nearly broke the thing.”
“Take my SUV while you wait for your car.”
“Thanks, Fox. You’re a gem. But they’ve already offered me an Aston Martin.”
“Well, we can’t miss this appointment, so you’re stuck with my Bentley for now.”
She lowered her hand to mine. I switched the gear, slowing in the park neighborhood.
“I enjoy being stuck with you and the girls. It’s just like old times.”
Except it wasn’t like old times. Back then, we were in love when we adopted Kensi. The newborn girl created a bond I never expected. Life was perfect—until it wasn’t, and co-parenting became our only option.
“I’m sure the doctor will tell us she’s lacking vitamins, that’s all. We didn’t think we could figure out Laila’s autoimmune disease, and look at her now. She’s thriving.”
Kensi’s tummy aches had turned into sleepless nights because she couldn’t stop throwing up. Her skin color was off, and the doctor suspected liver failure. We were getting the diagnosis today. I glanced in the rearview mirror as she closed her eyes and drifted off. She was more tired this month than last, and I prayed Dr. Hippo had our answers. He was working at the emergency clinic today and had squeezed us in for a chat. The pediatric hepatologist looked nothing like Kensi’s favorite zoo animal and everything like the men Tiffany was into.
I stopped at a red light as my phone dinged with an incoming message that Laura had the day off. I turned southeast to the local park, where she took her kid for walks. I’d seen them there twice in the past week.
“I have to make a brief stop. Do you mind?”
“We can’t be late. I cleared my schedule for the day.”
“You don’t have a house to stage or an office to furnish?”
“I have my priorities intact. How is my lipstick?” She turned in her seat and pouted. “Did you know this shade of pink is Dr. Hippo’s favorite?”
“Priorities.” I snickered.
“Fox Silver, are you jealous?”
Her hold over my hand shifted to my knee and then up my thigh to my groin. My ex had a knack for pushing boundaries, but her later manipulations had torn us apart. When my condom broke during breakup sex, she told me she’d taken a morning-after pill. She lied, and nine months later, we had Laila, complicating an already complicated relationship. I removed her hand from my dick.
“Stop it, Tiff. We’re here.”
I circled the park, and I spotted Laura near the swings. I pulled in by the park’s entrance and pressed my foot harder on the brake. She was standing with her back to me, pushing on the swing. The skin-tight leggings outlined her toned legs right up to the shorter fuzzy sweater which exposed her flat stomach. The army boots paired well with the camouflage colors. She looked hotter than the nutcracker and the cop outfit combined.
“Where’s here?” Tiffany’s voice jerked me awake, and the fantasy of peeling leggings off Laura’s ass faded.
“I have an errand to run. It shouldn’t take long. Wait here with the girls. I’m leaving the car running if you want the heater.”
“Where are you going?”
I unbuckled and hopped out of my seat, then lowered to the window.
“Stay in the car.” I lifted my finger. “I mean it, Tiff. I don’t care what sale you see in the window display or if you have a craving for a mocha cookie crumble frappuccino. Stay with the girls.”
“Is she someone special?”
She was someone special three years ago and just as special the day she arrested me. It turned out her roommate and best friend was working a case with me at Silver Securities. We were bound to run into one another eventually, and I preferred the moment to happen on my turf. For the past ten days, I had shamelessly stalked Laura’s house, but there seemed to be no logic to her schedule, and I missed her most times.
I checked my watch and hurried across the lawn. The sunny day held a hint of fall in its breeze. I kicked through scattered leaves, and Laura turned at my approach. Her lashes flipped fully open and her backbone clicked into a rod as she stepped in front of the swing, stopping me mid-step. She stood open-mouthed and blinked rapidly.
“Motherhood suits you.” I removed my hands from my pockets.
“What are you doing here? Are you following me?” Her attention scattered across the park before returning to me.
