“Oh…” Janet’s eyes lit up, a small smile peeked through her surprise. “You and Richard?”

“No, me and James. Of course, me and Richard!”

“Wow, that was fast.”

“Well, do you?” Kate knew her cheeks flamed red. “Yeah.” Janet managed to get up off the sofa.

“Follow me.”

“I’m sorry to ask, I just don’t want to be irresponsible, and it isn’t like I could make a trip to the drug store.”

Janet waved her off. “You don’t have to explain.” Once in her and Max’s bedroom, Janet opened a drawer to a smorgasbord of condoms.

“Holy cow.”

“I can’t take the pill,” she explained. “Pick whatever you want.”

“I don’t know where to start.”

Laughing, Janet grabbed four at random and handed them to her. “How long did you sit there waiting to ask for these?”

“Since dinner.”

They both laughed. “Don’t stew like that again.

I’m not shy.”

“I didn’t know what you would think. Richard and I haven’t known each other that long.”

“Please, Max and I were intimate right from the start. Besides, who am I to stand in judgment?” Kate sighed and sat on the edge of Janet’s bed.

“Richard is your brother-in-law.” Janet sat beside her. “Richard is a great guy and whether he knows it or not, he’s falling for you.”

“You think?” She wanted to believe the words, but how could Janet know?

“Richard has done for you more than he has ever

done for anyone, including his family.” Kate smiled and nodded. “He is a great guy.” Lights from a car splashed onto the house from outside. Kate’s pulse jumped. “Oh, God.” They were home.

“Come on, girlfriend. He won’t bite.” Janet stopped herself and started to laugh. “Well, maybe a little.”

Warm laughter eased her anxiety. Both women left the bedroom and went to meet their men.

Chapter Seven

Completely tuned in to her scent, Richard could practically taste her before they made it inside the house. Both women stood in the doorway hiding behind smirks. Kate’s face was crimson, a sure sign she hid something.

Janet moved in and kissed her husband hello.

But before she moved away she winked at him. What the hell did that mean?

They walked to the den. Max went behind the bar and poured drinks for both of them. “Want one?” he asked Kate.

“No thank you.”

“Maybe you should.” Janet nudged Kate’s arm.

The women exchanged a quick look and both tried to hide their grins. What are they up to?

“Well, how did it go?”

“Dead ends. Lots of them.” Max handed the drink to him while he told the women about their day. He left out the part about sniffing all over the city to find the criminals.

“What about Devon? Did he have any more leads?”

Max sat next to his wife and took her hand in his. “He’s working on it.”

“It’s kind of nice having another woman around the house. I hope you don’t mind keeping me company,” Janet said with a grin.

Richard’s heart went out to his sister-in-law.

She knew how to make everyone feel at home. Kate’s distress over being an uninvited guest wasn’t something she took lightly.

“Where’s Joey?”

“Bed. He played in the pool so long his skin wrinkled like an old man. It’s going to be hard for him to go back to our little apartment after all of this is done.”

The thought of her going back to that hole left a bad taste in his mouth.

“You’ve got yourself a great kid there, Kate.” The proud mom smiled despite the worry behind her eyes. “I can’t complain.”

“He even asked if he could have his school work sent over so he didn’t miss anything. Can you believe that?” Janet told Richard.

“That won’t last.” Max lifted his brows.

Janet nudged an elbow into his ribs.

“Hey… what? It won’t, wait until Junior High.

She’ll be yelling at him to finish his homework.”

“I have a few years before I have to worry about that.”

Kate turned her head away when Max nuzzled his wife’s ear. Richard caught her gesture and suggested a walk outside.

Alone.

A symphony of crickets, frogs and an occasional owl drowned out the silence of the night. He captured Kate’s hand, wove his fingers with hers, and walked behind the pool to the manicured gardens beyond.

“How is your arm today?”

“Much better than I thought it would be. It aches, but the sharp pain is all but gone, except when I attempt to use it.”

“Is that like, ‘Doctor, it hurts when I do this?’” Kate closed her eyes and gave into a deep laugh.

“Yeah, I suppose it is.”

“Joey seems to be adjusting.”

“What’s to adjust to, a big house, great people and a swimming pool at his disposal? He thinks he’s on vacation.”

Her voice was full of gratitude with her

assessment of the situation.

“Don’t forget the ‘not having to go to school part.’

What kid wouldn’t like that?” Richard added.

“Joey doesn’t have many friends there. I think if he did it would be harder for him.” A flicker of grief brushed her eyes with her comment.

“Doesn’t Joey make friends?” Richard thought he would.

“He makes them. I’m the one with the issues.

Most of the kids at that school come from broken homes.” She paused and glanced up. “Hypocritical of me, I know. The difference is Joey’s father isn’t around to make trouble like so many of the kids he knows. Many of the kids are left home alone. Those are the lucky ones. I let Joey visit one of his friends for a couple of hours once. The mom told me to take my time, go to the store run a few errands. Sounded good to me until when I went to pick him up.”

“What happened?”

“Mom was blitzed and yelling at her ex on the phone. I could hear the entire conversation from the driveway. Joey practically ran to the car and made me promise to never leave him at anyone’s house again.”

“And have you?”

“No. Never.”

No wonder there weren’t any men in her life.

“What about your family? Joey’s grandparents?” She shook her head. For a moment, he thought maybe they had died and regretted bringing up the subject.