Page 23 of Call it Reckless

Damn. Where did that thought come from?

I picked up the papers and started scanning them. “If you’ll excuse me, Simone, I need to get to work.”

She twirled a lock of hair around her finger. “Well, if you need anything, you know where I am.”

Yep. And I know where Iwon’tbe.

Seconds later, a throat cleared. Annoyed at yet another interruption, I scowled.

“Wow. Someone seems a little sensitive this morning.”

Zane stood in front of my desk, holding two large cups with the Brew’s Clue logo. My mouth watered at the sight, but I scowled at my former best friend. I should have known he wouldn’t have kept his mouth shut about what had happened at Bristol’s house.

He held one out to me. “Peace offering?”

Okay, maybe I’d keep him around. “I’ll take them both,” I growled.

He chuckled but only held out one. Just as I grabbed for it, he snatched it back. “You know you’d’ve done the same to me.”

“You’re right,” I relented and was rewarded with the steaming cup. I wasted no time taking several sips.

“This attitude is more than just from the guys giving you a hard time. You doing all right?”

I grimaced at Zane as he sat at the desk across from mine. Sammy was quick to jump onto the back of Zane’s chair and paw at his shoulders. I rubbed a hand across my stubbled chin, hating I was too tired to hide my emotions better.

“It’s a compilation of shit, I guess.” I tapped the files in front of me. “Not getting a break in these cases, housework, a never-ending to-do list. And how much homework do kids need to do, anyway?” I shook my head and drank more coffee. “I swear we never had this much work when we were kids. And don’t get me started on the math. Honestly, why can’t math be done like it was when we were kids?” I shook my head, remembering Lexi’s homework last night.

I knew Zane would understand. He had three kids.

“Tell me about it,” he said. “I’ve got a college degree, but my kids make me feel stupid as hell when I can’t figure out how numbers should be put into boxes. Numbers belong in columns.”

I nodded in total understanding and agreement. Then I tapped a finger on my desk calendar. “And it’s Tuesday.”

His forehead puckered as he made the connection. “Man, why do you make your kid go there if she hates it so much?”

“Why do you make your boys go to Scouts? Because it’s good for them. God knows I can teach her to skin a deer, take down someone twice her size, and change her own oil. But I don’t know shit about dresses and make-up and all that girly stuff.” And it wasn’t like I had any kind of role model growing up.

“But my crew likes Scouts.”

Lucky bastard.Plus, he had an amazing wife at home to balance the testosterone. I knew their family well, and his kids might be “all boy,” but they all knew their mother would string them up if they ever mistreated a girl or forgot their manners.

I didn’t have any women in my life other than Gail and Emalee. Em was good for Lexi, but she had her own life, her own family. Nor was it Em’s responsibility to help raise my daughter, even though I wouldn’t have made it this far without her.

Zane settled in a chair across from my desk and pointed a finger at me. “You need to find yourself a good woman.”

I snorted. “Yeah, good thinking. I’ll do that right now.” I pretended to type a few keys on my computer. “What was that site called? I’ll order one up.”

Zane kicked his booted feet up on his desk. “Wiseass. But seriously, I’m sure Kelly could set you up with someone.”

The corner of my eye twitched. “Yeah, no offense to your lovely wife, but the last time we went out to dinner with one of Kelly’s surprise dates, I thought I was going to have to take out a restraining order to keep her away.” I gave an exaggerated shudder, recalling how the woman, who was a teacher, acted demure and sweet throughout the dinner but practically climbed me like a monkey on a tree afterward.

Even after I bluntly told her I wasn’t interested in a new relationship, she showed up everywhere I turned. When I found her inside my house one day, cooking dinner, I’d had to take more drastic measures and called her principal. I installed new locks on my doors and an alarm system. For weeks, I constantly looked over my shoulder until word reached me that she’d resigned from her position and moved out of state.

He winced. “Yeah, who knew a kindergarten teacher would be a first-class stalker?”

I finished my coffee and tossed the cup into the trashcan.

“So, now you know Bristol Allen,” Zane said casually. “She’s going into business, opening some kind of car garage and hair place with a friend. Sounds like a strange combination, but frankly, I’m glad to see that side of town get some revitalization.”

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