Home to Stay (The Long Road Home #2) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,77
trying to decide how I felt about everything. If I’d judged her too harshly. Or maybe if our friendship was based more on convenience and not true feelings. Anyway, I was sitting in my car and saw her pull up and stop at the storage facility. She got out, but instead of going through the gate and into the office, she just walked to the fence where she waited until a man came out. I saw her pull out a thick envelope and shove it through the fence. He took it, looked through it, and it appeared they were having not-happy words. It was like something out of a movie or TV crime show. While I couldn’t be sure, I was almost certain that I was watching some kind of handoff or payoff.”
Now, she lifted her cheek from his chest and leaned her head back so she could peer up into his face. “Oh, John, I got so angry. She drove to the back of her house and went in, and I climbed out of my vehicle and stomped straight up to her front door. Righteous indignation was pouring from me, and I was ready to tell her our friendship had no meaning. Now, I’m so embarrassed.”
“Lucy, babe, you’ve got no reason to be embarrassed. While we don’t know all the details, it’s pretty obvious that Paula was involved with a known criminal who’s part of an organization that runs drugs, guns, money laundering, and who knows what else. I’m just sorry as fuck that she was trying to hang on to your friendship at a time when she needed to protect you by staying away.”
Bray walked over, his hand landing on John’s shoulder while he looked at Lucy. “Hey, Lucy. I’m Bray, one of John's coworkers. How’re you doing?”
“Damn, I should have asked if she needed you,” John said, grimacing. Seeing Lucy’s crinkled forehead, he added, “Bray is a medic.”
She smiled and shook her head. “It’s nice to meet you, but no, I’m fine. Really. A bit overwhelmed with the last hour’s events, but that’s all.”
Bray offered a chin lift to go along with his smile. Turning his attention back to John, he said, “Mace said once Lucy has given her contact information to the Task Force, then we’re good to go. They’ll talk to her sometime soon but not today.”
It only took a few minutes for Lucy to talk to the agent after Bray led her and John over, giving a preliminary explanation of why she was there and what she’d seen. The agent thanked her and said he’d come by in the next few days to take her formal statement. John wrapped his arm around her shoulder and led her down the sidewalk. They stopped at Bray’s truck, and he turned to clasp his friend's hand. “I can’t thank you enough, man.”
Bray waved him off. “Hell, there hasn’t been that much excitement on surveillance in a long time. Normally, it’s boring as shit.”
Rolling his eyes, he laughed. “Next time, I hope it is boring as shit.”
“Don’t worry about your vehicle. I can come to pick you up tomorrow morning.” Bray inclined his head slightly toward Lucy, holding John’s gaze. Catching his friend’s silent question, he nodded to be picked up at Lucy’s house in the morning. No way was he going to leave her side tonight.
Bray grinned, nodded, then reached out and kissed Lucy’s forehead. “I’m glad you’re okay. Next time we have a Keeper get-together, have this guy bring you.”
John then pulled Lucy back into his side as they walked to her car. “I’ll have to scoot the driver’s seat back so I can fit in behind the steering wheel, but I’m driving, sweetheart.”
She handed him the keys and laughed. “If I wasn’t having such an adrenaline crash, I’d fight you over who could drive my car.”
On the drive back to her house, he’d worried about her state of mind, but now that the crisis was over and Griz was in custody, her relief was obvious.
That night, lying in her bed, naked in the aftermath of making love with legs tangled, chests pressed together, and her head on his shoulder, he peered into her eyes as his finger traced over her jaw. “What would you say if I told you that I want to stay?”
Lifting a brow, she smiled. “What would you say if I told you that I don’t want you to leave?”
A deep chuckle erupted. “What would you say if I told you that