Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Cole inclined his head, letting out a slow breath of air. “Then you will.” With Cole there watching and making sure that kid was protected from the way Cole had grown up.
He rose from his seat. If he felt worn out from this ordeal, he couldn’t imagine how overwhelmed and exhausted his father must be.
Cole glanced back at the bed only to discover Jed was already asleep. He stepped out of the room and leaned against the nearest wall. It would take a long time to process this talk with Jed. Even longer to discover whether the tentative truce would last.
With Jed taken care of, Cole turned his attention to Erin. He was ready to head over and see what remained of the feelings she had for him, if he’d done enough work on himself and his life to be worthy of her. Or whether Erin was so set on not being hurt that she’d shut him out of her life completely—no matter what he had to say.
Chapter Nineteen
Erin’s doorbell rang, and she walked over, looked out because she’d grown so much more cautious recently, and let Evan in.
“Hi,” he said, clasping her hand. “You’re looking well.”
She smiled. “Thank you. I appreciate you coming straight from work. I know it’s been a long day.”
He loosened his tie and followed her inside. “Seeing you isn’t an inconvenience.”
“I’m sure you’re wondering why I asked you to come over.” She gestured for him to follow, and she headed for the kitchen, where she’d left her tea.
“Yes, but I’ve been meaning to talk to you as well.” Evan stepped up beside her.
She was still supposed to be resting, but she was allowed to get up for short periods, and Evan was one guest she didn’t want to face lying down. “Can I get you a drink?” she asked.
“No, thank you. Erin—”
“Evan—”
They laughed. “You first,” she said.
“Okay, I was a jerk that night at Joe’s,” he said. “Your private life is none of my business, and I reacted from a . . . jealous place. I’d like to put it behind us. We don’t need this affecting our work or relationship at the office.”
She wrapped her hands around her mug of tea. “I agree. That’s sort of what I needed to talk to you about too.”
“So I’m forgiven?” he asked, looking boyishly charming.
She nodded her head and laughed. “Yes, you are.”
“Good.” He braced his hands on her shoulders in thanks, then released her. “So what did you want to discuss?”
She wasn’t ready to quit the district attorney’s office until she’d spoken to Nash and was certain the job, salary, and benefits worked for her. But she did want to discuss a current case with Evan, and given how they’d left things between them, she’d known they had to talk in person.
“It’s about Victoria Maroni.”
“Aah.” He nodded. “Something else I’m sorry for. I shouldn’t have left you alone in that hallway where she could get to you.” He appeared contrite, embarrassed.
“I was never your responsibility.”
“But I knew you were in danger, that you had a bodyguard—”
She shook her head. “And my brother and his wife, both police officers, were mere feet away. Forget it, please?”
He inclined his head. “Thank you. Again.”
“There is something you can do for me.”
He cocked his head to one side. “What’s that?”
“Make sure part of any deal you make for Victoria includes mental health help?”
He stared in disbelief. “She had you shot, she nearly ran you down, she stalked you, she shredded your clothes, and here you are making sure she gets psychiatric help?”
Erin shrugged. “What can I say? No rational person would do anything like that, so clearly, she needs help. Her sister said she suffers from bipolar disorder. Just call a doctor in to evaluate her. I’m not saying she shouldn’t pay for what she did, but she needs to be medicated. Helped.”
Evan studied her, his gaze warm, full of more admiration than anything else, and she wasn’t uncomfortable. Maybe they could repair their friendship after all.
“That man so does not deserve you,” Evan said.
She stepped back and leaned against the counter. “Can we please not discuss Cole?” To her mortification, her voice cracked on his name.
“I told him if he hurt you, I’d kill him.”
“He didn’t hurt me. Not in the way you think. He never lied, led me on, or told me I could expect more. That’s all on me.”
Evan wrapped a friendly arm around her shoulders. “Come on. Let’s go sit down.”
She liked this side of Evan, she thought, as she walked with him to her family room.
“Well, this is unexpected.”
Erin jumped at the sound of Cole’s voice, and Evan stiffened.
“Ever hear of ringing the bell, Sanders?” Evan asked.
“The door was partially open.” Cole shot Erin a look that said she ought to know better.
Erin’s breath lodged in her throat. So much for distance making it easier to deal with him. He looked delicious in a black T-shirt and jeans, and her heart swelled with happiness before she immediately reminded herself he didn’t want a life with her—and sex wasn’t enough.