Page 93 of Caught in the Crossfire

“Aside from telling me I smelled good, no.” She glanced away. “I really need a shower now. I feel dirty.”

Linc wrapped his big hand around her upper arm and urged her toward the salon door. “Let’s go. I understand we have another stop to make.”

Right. Important things first. Food. “I’m craving Mexican, and I don’t want to eat out.”

“Sounds great. Everything secure?”

She nodded. “The trash was the last thing on the list.”

“For the record, that’s the last time you take trash to the Dumpster. You don’t have any security cameras or lights back here.”

Nicole frowned. “I have a business to run. I can’t stop doing my job because someone scared me.”

“Until Mason learns what’s going on and the police arrest Riva’s killer, have Ryan dispose of the trash.”

Wise words from an experienced bodyguard. “All right. You sure you don’t mind stopping at the grocery store, Linc?”

“Are you kidding? I benefit from the detour. I also ran two extra miles today as part of PT. Trust me, I’m more than ready for dinner, especially one that’s homecooked.”

She smiled. After locking the back door behind them, she strode through the salon to the reception area where Dawn waited. Nicole grabbed her purse from the drawer beside the computer. “I hear tacos, nachos, and burritos calling my name.”

Linc moaned. “Please say dinner won’t take long. The menu is causing my mouth to water already.”

“An hour, tops.”

“Thank goodness.”

In the grocery store, Dawn pushed the cart along the aisles while Nicole selected the ingredients for the meal and Linc eyed everyone who neared them with suspicion.

Once they purchased the food and left the parking lot, Linc frequently checked the mirrors as he drove home.

“Is someone following us?” Dawn asked.

“I haven’t seen anyone, but I won’t take your safety for granted.” He wrapped his hand around hers.

Nicole turned her face to the window to hide her smile, happy for them. The couple might not realize it, but their emotions were already involved.

When her thoughts turned back to the incident in the alley, her stomach knotted. Nicole dreaded the moment when she told Mason about Fisher. He’d looked ready to kill Ivan when he learned her former boyfriend had slapped her. Mason wouldn’t be happy that his coworker had been at Pet Palace.

Why did Fisher get into her face? Even if she broke up with Mason, Nicole wouldn’t look twice at Fisher. Something about him gave her the willies.

Linc parked in the driveway near the door. “Wait here.” He exited the SUV and scanned the area. When he was satisfied, he unlocked the front door and returned to the vehicle for Dawn and Nicole. “Go inside. I’ll bring in the food.”

Dawn laid a hand on his arm. “We can help carry the bags.”

“Not this time.” Linc nudged her toward the house.

Nicole tugged her friend toward the door. “Come on. The sooner we clean up, the quicker we start dinner. Linc, store the cold stuff in the refrigerator while we change clothes.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She and Dawn walked into the house and to their rooms. Minutes later, refreshed and dressed in clean clothes, Nicole returned to the kitchen to see Linc and Dawn breaking a lip lock at her entrance. “Oops. Sorry.”

Dawn’s face flushed. “What’s first?”

“Dice the onions and brown the hamburger.”

“Need me to help?” Linc asked.

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