No threat, he would feel it, he’d had a lot of practice.

Then he found them with his eyes again and waited impatiently, because it wasn’t a whole helluva lot of fun, for them to do what they did.

* * * * *

Cal pulled Violet’s Mustang into her drive.

It was after she’d bought her jeans, another short skirt Keira made her try on (and it was sweet too, though nowhere near as good as the jeans) and four of the same tank tops in different colors.

It was after her daughters dragged them to a shoe shop which was torture compared to the jeans store considering Violet tried on at least twelve pairs of shoes. She eventually bought a pair of high-heeled sandals she swore she’d never wear but both her daughters declared she had to have. Again, her daughters weren’t wrong. They were sexy as all hell.

It was after dinner which was the only glitch they had after his conversation with Violet in the parking lot considering he paid and she made it clear she didn’t want him to. She made this clear by having what could only be described as a quiet tantrum right in front of her daughters and the waiter. Keira, who should pursue a career as a diplomat, waded in and suggested her Mom pay for Cal’s movie and popcorn to even things out. Violet gave in and Cal allowed this but only because he had no intention of eating popcorn.

And it was after a f**king boring romantic comedy that both girls declared was the best movie they’d ever seen. This was mostly because they liked Nicole Bolton’s clothes and they thought the actor who played her love interest was gorgeous. Cal and Violet had both stayed silent on the subject, then again, they didn’t need to speak, even Kate went on about it so there were no openings to get a word in.

Cal parked, switched off the ignition, opened his door, unfolded his body from the Mustang and pulled the seat forward for Keira.

“Thanks Joe!” she hopped out and tipped her head back to look at him. “And thanks for dinner.”

Cal didn’t reply verbally, just dipped his chin.

She leaned into him and whispered conspiratorially, “Told you it would be fun.”

Cal couldn’t say it was fun but he could say it was far from boring, except the movie.

Keira didn’t wait for him to respond, she turned and bolted to the side door.

Kate followed her, carrying her mother’s shopping bags and calling, “Thanks for dinner, Joe.”

Cal lifted his chin to her, she waved then jogged to the side door and disappeared through it behind her sister.

Violet came to stand in front of him.

She lifted her hand, palm up. “My keys.”

Cal didn’t give them to her.

Instead, he looked her in the eyes and told her, “What I’m gonna say is gonna piss you off.”

He watched her press her lips together as she braced her body then she asked, “What?”

He didn’t delay. “Colt’s gonna talk to you about your security system. Man named Chip, good guy, is gonna update it. Chip can’t do what I designed for your system, I’m gonna do it.”

Her lips parted and she stared at him.

Then she leaned forward and hissed, “You are not.”

“Buddy, I am.”

“No, you are not.”

“You can stand there and snap at me all you want. It’s gonna happen.”

“I can’t afford a new security system.”

“No one said you’re payin’ for it.”

Her mouth clamped shut and she took a step back on her foot like he’d shoved her.

Then she came back in close, tilting her head way back, her eyes narrow. She was, as he suspected, seriously pissed.

“You’re not payin’ for a new system for me.”

“I am.”

“It isn’t gonna happen.”

“It is.” She opened her mouth to speak but Cal angled his head so his face was in hers and he got there first. “Be pissed at me ‘cause I f**ked you over, that’s cool, you got a right, I f**ked you over and it was a shit thing to do. But you got two girls to look after and neighbors who’re willin’ to wade in to help. It’s not that you’d be a fool not to take the help. It’s that you’d be a shit Mom if you didn’t do all you could to keep yourself, and them, safe. What happened with us happened. It’s over. Now I’m bein’ neighborly, Colt and me are willin’ to help keep you and those girls safe, and, buddy, you got no choice but to accept that and you know it.”

She stood there, not moving, not blinking, just staring straight into his eyes.

Then she whispered, “What happened with us happened?”

“Violet –”

“You’re right,” she said quickly and softly. “You’re security to the stars and if you’re willin’ to help, I should take it. But I’m gonna tell you even though I figure you know, I think you’re an ass**le. I don’t only not like you, I hate you. I hate how you played me. I hate that I was so f**king stupid, I let myself get played. I hate that you know about this because I hate that you know anything about me. And I hate that I have to accept help from you.” After she dealt her lethal succession of blows, she finished with, “But I’ll do it… for my girls.”

And before he could speak, she reached in, yanked her keys out of his hand, turned on her sandal and walked swiftly away.

Cal watched her go, listened to her side door slam and dropped his head to study his boots.

Then he walked to his house, let himself in and went directly to the fridge to get a beer. He twisted off the cap, flicked it into the trash bin, lifted the bottle to his lips and took a healthy pull.

Then he held the bottle in front of him, studying the label without seeing it.

Then he threw the bottle through the doorway of the kitchen. It flew into the living room and smashed against the wall.

Chapter Five

Daniel Hart

I was running late and that sucked.

Chip hadn’t been able to install the full system that Joe had designed and Joe hadn’t been able to get to it before he had to leave so now that it was a week later and Joe was back, he was coming over to see to it.

Feb and Colt were having a barbeque and I’d promised Feb I’d go over and help before everyone showed up. I was supposed to be over there fifteen minutes ago which was fifteen minutes before Joe was supposed to show.

The girls were off as usual. Keira was coming back with her friend Heather to go to the barbeque. Kate was at work at Fulsham’s Frozen Custard Stand. Dane who, regardless of the fact that Kate had a car, took her to work and picked her up, was going to go and get her and they both were also coming to the barbeque later. I’d told Colt to tell Joe I’d leave the side door open for him and Colt had obviously done this because now I heard the side door open.