Joke’s on You by Lani Lynn Vale Page 0,60

station.”

My stomach cramped.

“Kerrie was released on bond just a few minutes ago,” Dad said. “He has an ankle monitor, and instructions to stay at least five hundred feet away from Dillan.”

Bile rose up my throat.

“How the fuck was he allowed out?” I asked stiffly. “I didn’t even know that he was being released from the hospital today, let alone getting in front of a judge, or I would’ve been there.”

“My sentiments exactly.” Dad growled. “But he had a fuckin’ awesome lawyer. Plus, he has money that got him in with a judge before anybody here was made aware of the situation.”

“Who bailed him out?” I asked curiously, trying to reel in the anger.

“Dillan’s father.”

I hissed in a breath. “Of fucking course he did.”

“Yeah, it went a long way in the judge’s decision, I’m sure.” Dad sighed. “I just wanted to let you know. I’m taking your kid out to go see a movie. He hasn’t thrown up all day. And has eaten like a horse.”

Relief at that news poured through me.

“You’re taking him to a movie?” I asked, grinning now.

“Fuck off.”

Then he hung up.

My dad didn’t do movies.

Apparently, that was for anyone that wasn’t his five-year-old grandson.

Dillan, having heard everything at my side, had stiffened until she was as cuddly as a wooden board.

I hung up the phone and shoved it into my pocket.

“He’s out?” she cursed. “Now what?”

“Now,” I said. “We let my dad watch Asa. You don’t go home at all by yourself. And when you leave the house, you always have someone with you.”

She growled.

“What is it?” Malachi asked in concern.

“Kerrie is out on bail.” Dillan rubbed at her neck tenderly.

Malachi’s eyes went to her neck, then to her eyes, before coming to me.

“If I can help, I’m there,” he said. “If you need me to drive her to and from work, or sit with her while she’s at work…”

“My dad says he’s under house arrest and has an ankle monitor,” I grumbled. “I think as long as we know where Kerrie is at all times, and we’re highly cautious that she’s never alone, then her doing her own thing really shouldn’t be that big of a deal.”

Dillan scoffed. “How long until he has the court hearing that’ll send him to jail?”

I didn’t know the answer to that, but you could bet your ass that I would be finding out.

Chapter 13

Let’s wear pajamas, make stuff, and watch Hallmark Christmas movies.

-Dillan to Delanie

Dillan

“I’m not even going to call him back,” I found myself saying. “I refuse.”

My dad had called while I was in the shower, and neither Booth nor I had realized it until over an hour later.

Now he was wanting me to call him back, and I didn’t want to.

“You got another call while you were drying your hair.” Booth changed the subject. “That one was from the health department again today. An old employee said that she went to collect her final check and found some inappropriately stored old food items in the kitchen.”

I stared at him blankly. “I wasn’t even open today.”

“That’s what I told him. He said that the employee sounded disgruntled, so he wanted to let me know that there may be a cause for concern,” he said.

“Moshe.” I sighed. “I wonder if she’s the one that reported me to the health department that first time.”

“I was thinking that as well,” he murmured. “You ready for bed?”

“I’m ready to get in bed,” I admitted. “But I want to finish my book.”

His lips twitched. “Can you read while I watch television?”

I moved until my mouth was as close to his as I could get it. He was too tall, though. He would have to come down the last few inches for our lips to connect. Which he did when he realized what I was waiting for.

Our lips connected, and he pulled back only to come back for more.

“What was that for?” he asked when I pulled away completely.

“I need a reason to kiss you?” I asked curiously.

He shook his head. “No. Not at all. But normally you don’t smile the entire time.”

I shrugged. “I’m happy.”

He eyed me skeptically.

“Despite everything that is going on in my life, I really am,” I told him.

He winked, then moved, wrapping his arms around my lower thighs, and lifting me up until my breasts were level with his eyes. Then he was carrying me into the bedroom.

“I’m happy, too, you know,” he murmured as he walked.

I wrapped my hands around his head and sifted my fingers through the small