Join the Club - Lani Lynn Vale Page 0,39

using my boot to slowly slide the glider back and forth.

“Someone had the stomach bug. And since I was here, I volunteered.” I paused. “I wanted to try to give you the space that you seemed to need.”

She was silent for a few seconds as she chewed on her lip, likely thinking about what she wanted to reveal.

“I saw Angel at the governor’s office yesterday,” she said. “He said it was sketchy. That the governor was sketchy.”

There was a long moment of silence before I said, “Well, he is.”

She snorted. “And I’ve done a lot of thinking today. And it’s really fucking convenient that my father is running for office. And that his position of choice seems to be the chair that the current governor is occupying.”

“So do you think it was your dad that was responsible or the governor?” he asked.

“I have no idea,” she said. “I just know that it’s one or the other. The governor of Texas wouldn’t be calling me to talk without first having a reason. And, though he acted interested in my occupation, I don’t think he was at all. There were just too many inconsistencies.”

“What time would you like me to meet you with your dad tomorrow?” he asked. “What time will he be in town?”

“The voicemail said ‘zero-eight hundred.’” She finger quoted in the air. “I’m assuming that’s the exact time he wants to meet. But I’ll put him off for an hour or two. We can just meet here. I’ve been neglecting the dogs a little too much lately. I’ll work them while he’s here. You can do the questioning.”

I smiled at that. “Gladly.”

Her head turned and she stared at me for a long few seconds. “And you can sleep here and we can spend time together before you wake up and have to do it all over again.”

I winked at her and offered her my hand.

“What about Asa?” I asked. “He won’t wonder why I’m sleeping at your place?”

She looked me squarely in the eye and said, “If we’re going to do this, Asa’s going to have to know.” She paused. “My sister and Booth, however? They can just cool their jets. If they find out, they find out. If they don’t, they don’t. But, honestly, I feel like keeping a secret from them for a change. At least mine doesn’t have to do with my almost dying.”

I wasn’t sure if I liked keeping the secret from my brother, to be honest.

It felt like something he needed to know. Especially since it was his child that was going to be spending a lot of time with me. I would think he would want to know.

But seeing how determined Delanie was, I chose to give her what she wanted.

For now.

“I’m not going to lie to them,” I said. “So if they ask, I’ll be truthful.”

She turned in her seat and looked at me squarely.

“I don’t want you to lie,” she said. “I just… nothing’s ever been just mine before. I want you to be just mine for a while.”

I understood, and I could give her that.

For a while.

But…

“I won’t be your dirty little secret, babe,” I told her.

Her eyes widened.

Then she frowned, pulled out her phone, and furiously began to type.

I glanced down at her screen and saw that it was a text message to Dillan.

Before she could send it, I snatched it out of her hand.

She followed the phone, climbing me like a tree, and causing me to laugh.

I hooked my arms around her hips and pulled her down, cursing and screaming.

“Give it to me! I’m going to tell her. I don’t want you to think that,” she ordered, still struggling.

Though she was giving it all she had, I was overpowering her easily, which was turning me on.

I growled and kissed her neck, loving the way she was squirming on my lap.

The moment my mouth met her skin, she froze, only just then realizing what she was doing to me.

“You’re weird,” she said, her hands going to my face and holding me in place.

“I’m weird because I find you attractive?” I asked.

“Yes,” she whispered, then yanked my head back and kissed me.

Long moments later, after we were both panting from lack of oxygen, I pulled away and stared into her eyes.

“I can’t do this,” I grumbled. “I have to get back to work.”

She pouted. “I guess I can see why you would need to. Fighting crime and all.”

I chuckled and stood with her in my arms.

She wrapped her arms around