Page 41 of Finding Amanda

"Wear it or keep it by you when you're not at home."

She considered that. It was cold enough outside that she usually had the coat on when she left the house. The inside pocket was the perfect place for the pepper spray.

When she didn’t argue, Mark continued without the slightest hint of smugness. "Tomorrow night I have a guy coming over to install a security system. He should be here about six. He's a friend of mine, and he's actually pretty backlogged, but he said he'd work late for me."

"No. I have a class tomorrow night. There'll be a houseful of women."

He grabbed his cell phone out of his pocket, pressed a button, and studied the screen. "I don't have that on my calendar."

"Do I have to run my schedule by you?"

"If you need me to watch the girls?—"

"Jamie's watching them."

His lips flattened into a thin, white line. "Why? Why wouldn't you ask me?"

"Whoa." She raised both hands, palms out. "Don't get mad. After this weekend, I didn't want to impose."

"Impose? They're my daughters!"

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry. I'll call Jamie?—"

"You weren't even going to give me the option?"

"I thought you'd want a break, that's all."

Lips pursed, he shook his head. "And you accusemeof not knowingyou."

Another uncomfortable silence filled the air. Mark stretched his hands, which had suddenly clenched into fists. "Okay, so tomorrow night's out. He gave me the option of tomorrow morning, too, but I figured you'd prefer the evening. I'll call him and try to get him over here in the morning."

"I really don't think I need a security system."

"Also, not optional. You'll need to keep it on whenever you're home, and make sure?—"

"You can't make me." She sounded like a petulant child, even to her own ears.

"If I don't think this house is secure, then I won't allow my daughters to stay here."

Amanda stood. "Is that a threat? How dare you!"

He dropped his chin to his chest. After a deep sigh, he looked up again. "I don't want to take the girls away from you, and I don't think I'm asking that much, Mandy. I just want you—all three of you—to be safe."

She stared at him. But . . . was it really that much to ask that she set an alarm and carry a can of pepper spray? No, of course not. She not only sounded like a petulant child, she was acting like one, too. She pushed her hair back with both hands. "You're right. I'm sorry. Thank you for taking care of this stuff."

"Of course. It's my job to protect you, you know. I just wish . . ."

His voice trailed off, but she didn't ask him what he was about to say. She already knew.

"Thanks for putting the girls to bed."

He slid on his sweatshirt and grabbed his untouched ice water off the coffee table. "Anytime. And I mean that. I really miss them."

She grabbed her own glass, following him to the kitchen. "I wasn't trying to keep them from you, I just thought . . ."

After a moment, he said, "Yeah." He set his glass in the sink. "I'll be over about seven."

"The class starts at seven, so?—"

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