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“Within the next month.”
Ali had needed to use the bathroom, so the two men stood alone in the living room. Bradley had asked questions as they’d visited each house, so this one wasn’t unusual. Which was why what he asked next caught Daniel off guard. “Why is she living with you?”
The way he asked it was as if it were no big deal, but Daniel wasn’t born yesterday. Instead of answering, he raised an eyebrow at his son.
“Does she not have a place of her own?”
“You’re walking a very thin line, Bradley Allen Ross.”
His son ran a hand through his hair. “I’m trying to understand, Dad. Really, I am, but I just don’t see her angle.”
“There’s no angle. She needed a place to stay. I have plenty of room.”
“So you asked her to move in with you?” The look on his face was almost comical.
While he didn’t want to have this conversation with his son, he figured it was better to get it out of the way. “Ali has an apartment, but she’s having issues with her neighbors.”
“Were you sleeping with her before or after she conned you into moving her into your house?”
Daniel stepped forward, getting in his son’s face. “You will not speak about Ali in that way, do I make myself clear?”
Something flashed behind Bradley’s eyes. “Yes.”
Ali felt the tension when she entered the room. “Everything all right?”
Daniel didn’t back down. He held Bradley’s gaze and waited for his son to break it.
“Yeah. Everything’s fine,” Bradley said.
She looked toward Daniel, wanting confirmation. He met her gaze. “Ready to go?”
“Sure,” she said, not sounding sure in the slightest.
Bradley walked to the door and opened it.
Daniel started to follow him, but she stopped him. “Hey, are you sure everything’s okay?”
“I’m sure.” Daniel grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the door. “Let’s get home so we can eat. I’m starving.”
The ride home was only about fifteen minutes, but it felt much longer. Bradley sat in the back seat, his brow furrowed, but luckily silent. Ali didn’t miss the chill in the atmosphere, but she didn’t say anything. He knew he’d have to share what happened with her, but he wanted to do it when they were alone.
Once they arrived home, Bradley was on his best behavior. He even smiled a couple of times at Ali and had a long debate about which police procedural was the best.
Daniel stayed close, not trusting his son wasn’t going to pounce, but the rest of the evening passed without incident.
At nine o’clock, Bradley took his bag and headed upstairs, crashing in the room James typically used. Daniel gave his son ten minutes before he stood and gathered Ali into his arms. “Time for bed.”
She shifted and averted her gaze. “Maybe I should sleep in my own bed tonight.”
“No.”
“No?”
“No.” He lifted her chin so she was looking at him. “You’re sleeping in my bed. That is not up for negotiation.”
“But your son—”
“Has absolutely nothing to do with you and me.” Before she could argue further, he took her by the hand and led her to his room.
