nearly a year too late, but I’m sorry this happened to you. And while I understand why you kept it from me, part of me wishes I’d known so I could have tried to make things easier for you.”
“You did help, even if you didn’t realize it.” It was my turn to pause. “Marco has missed you. I’m glad you two are getting closer again.”
He glanced down at the table. “Yeah. I’ve got some things to sort out, but I’m workin’ on it.” He waited a beat. “Why did my mom come to see you?”
“She brought me some of Jerry’s belongings.”
“Really?”
“She said she thought I should have them. Apparently your dad was getting ready to throw it all away.” I held his gaze. “I noticed you didn’t respond when I said I didn’t know where you stood with your father.”
He tapped the table with one finger, growing agitated. “It’s complicated.” Then he raised his head to look at me, his eyes filled with intensity. “But know this…I won’t betray you, and I’ll protect you as best I can.” A crooked grin twisted his mouth. “You’re my employee, which makes you family, Carly Moore. Doubly so since Marco loves you.”
Tears stung my eyes. “Thank you, Max.”
He scooped up the last of his rice, then downed it with his water. “You look beat. Why don’t you go to bed, and I’ll stretch out here on the sofa until Marco comes home?”
“I hate that we’re putting you out.”
“You’re not,” he said, getting to his feet. “Marco’s been there for me more times than I can count. It’s only right for me to be there for him when he needs me.” Then he added good-naturedly, “It’s pure bonus that I’m doing it for you.”
I got up and gave him a hug, squeezing him tight.
He kissed my forehead. “Go to bed, Charlene.”
I laughed and released him. “Feel free to watch TV if you want.” I waggled my eyebrows. “Marco has a satellite dish.”
Chapter Twenty
I was asleep when Marco came home. I felt his arm wrap around me and pull me close, enveloping me in a cocoon of love and protection.
His lips brushed my cheek, and I released a contented sigh as I rolled over to face him.
“I didn’t mean to wake you,” he murmured. “Go back to sleep.”
I gave him a soft kiss as I cradled his cheek. “Is Franklin okay?”
“Just shaken up. His truck’s totaled, and I suspect he got five or six stitches on his forehead.”
“The deputy scared Ruth half to death.”
I felt his cheek shift beneath my hand as he grinned. “Yeah, Max gave me an earful. I’ll be sure to talk to him. He’s a bit green.”
“Was it really a hit-and-run?”
He hesitated. “Deputy Weaver never should have said all of that. This is an active investigation.”
“You don’t think it was the same person who ran Jerry off the road, do you?” I asked.
“No.” He gave me a reassuring kiss and stroked my hair. “No, Care. I really don’t. Don’t worry about it, okay?”
Could it really be a coincidence that two people connected to me had been run off the road within a week of each other? Sure, Franklin wasn’t a close friend, but Ruth was a different story. Still, I knew he wouldn’t knowingly lie to me.
“All right,” I muttered.
He held me quietly for a few moments before he said, “I heard about your run-in with Bingham. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just the usual butting of heads.”
“Sounded more serious than that.”
“Max probably made too big a deal out of it.” I sighed deeply. “I forgot to ask Bingham about Bruce Abernathy.”
He stroked my head again, then sank his fingers into my hair. “Tell me about it in the morning, okay?”
“Okay,” I murmured, feeling drowsy.
“We have to get up early. How long do you need to get ready?”
That got my attention. “What?”
“I’ll tell you what we’re doin’ in the morning. Presumin’ you want to fix your hair and do your makeup, how long would you need to get ready?”
“Thirty minutes without distractions.” I kissed him, sucking his bottom lip between mine and biting lightly. “Longer with.”
He groaned, pushing me onto my back. “How about we take care of the distraction now?”
“Glad you can pick up on my clues, Detective Roland,” I said, grinning.
He laughed. “I’m not detective yet, so maybe I need some practice. Are you offering yourself up as my tutor?”
“I’ll even give you a special rate.”
The alarm went off at five thirty, much earlier than either one of us usually got