dog by the neck and yanking it away from me. “You okay?”
I sat up and picked flowers out of my hair. “No.” Everything hurt. My clothes were once again ruined.
Thelma walked around the corner of the house, the kitten safely in her arms. “Snuffles only goes in the fenced back yard unless he’s on a leash,” she said, rather helpfully.
The dog saw the kitten, yipped, and bunched its back legs. Bud lifted the canine against his chest and strode for the front door, setting the dog down gently and shutting the door. Then he came back to me and lifted me by the armpits, much like he’d handled the dog.
I slapped his hands. “Don’t even think of kissing me.” Nick and Aiden were enough for one week. Now I had a date with Pierce later.
Bud reared back. “I don’t even like you. Not at all.”
Huh. I pushed bark off my pants, wincing as slivers dug into my already scratched palms. “Why not?”
“Seriously?” Bud gingerly reached out to tug a full blossom from my hair. “You’re a disaster. Every time I see you. It’s lucky I haven’t been shot somehow.”
I’d take umbrage or at least be a little irritated if he wasn’t a hundred percent correct. Still. Lately it seemed like most of the men around me were a mite interested. Not that it mattered. I wasn’t looking for romance at the moment, especially since I was a disaster, as Bud so kindly put it.
Thelma reached out her bony hand to pinch Bud’s bicep. “What about me? You have such nice arms.”
“I’m taken,” he croaked, his eyes nearly bugging out. “Nice girl. Been together forever.”
Bud really wasn’t a very good liar.
“Well.” Thelma fluttered her thick eyelashes. “In case things don’t work out, keep in mind that I used to be a gymnast. I’m very bendy.”
My phone buzzed, and I reached for it, but it wasn’t in my back pocket.
Bud shoved branches of the plant out of the way and drew it out. “Here.”
“Thanks.” I took it. “Albertini.”
“Hi, Anna. It’s Celeste. Your documents are ready, and Judge Hallenback is in his chambers, so you can catch him for the next hour or so. He usually works a few hours before heading off to parts unknown.”
“Thanks.” I clicked off just as a rumble of motorcycle pipes ripped through the peaceful community. Several bikes drove by, and I recognized Spider as well as Aiden. My chin lifted, and my body flared wide awake, even with the new bruises. How had they found me? Were they following me, or were they looking for Melvin?
Bud edged his way between me and the bikers, setting his stance wide and his hand on the butt of his gun.
Aiden grinned and opened the throttle, disappearing around the corner.
My lungs seized. I gestured toward Thelma. “Were you two going somewhere?”
She nodded. “Yes. We’re going to the vet and then shopping for a bed and food for Betty White. We’ll check on Snuffles and feed him dinner tonight.”
Good. “Okay. I’ll see you later.” I’d waited until the ladies had gotten into their car and driven away before looking at Bud. “Don’t argue with me, but you need to stay here and guard Charles’ car. I’ll have Detective Pierce execute the warrant as soon as I get it.”
Bud shook his head. “I go with you.”
“No. I’ll go straight to the office and then the courthouse, I promise.” I couldn’t let Spider get his hands on the car, if that’s why he had just ridden through the neighborhood. Were he and Aiden trying to tie off loose ends? “Trust me.”
Bud crossed his arms. “Fine, but you call me the second you get to the office. If you don’t, I’m coming after you.”
The sound of the motorcycles faded into the distance. “No problem.”
I had to hurry.
Chapter 36
The warrant and affidavit were on my desk the second I arrived at the office. I signed, had the receptionist notarize it, and then hustled back into the nice spring day.
The smell of flowers followed me from my office to the courthouse, and the sunshine helped my mood, even though fresh bruises were making themselves known. Soon I was going to be one big purple blob. I’d called Bud the second I’d arrived safely at my office, and he’d reported that the Lordes hadn’t driven by again. For now, I dodged up the stairs to the third floor, taking a left for the office area. Then I knocked on Judge Hallenback’s door. Hopefully he was in the office