Page 14 of Breaking Conviction
Wes took a moment to collect his thoughts, resisting a sigh of frustration. Hawk pulled the car out of the driveway, pausing in front of the house before setting off back to Sasha Saves.
Hawk’s deep voice filled the space, emphasizing the commanding presence the BlackStone Securities leader had earned over their years together in MF7 and then BlackStone.
“You good?”
Wes released a rough exhale as he studied the forest green craftsman home. In one of the windows on the top floor, the blinds in a window shuttered closed.
“No, I’m not good. And I don’t know why.”
Chapter Six
It took two freakin’ uneventful weeks of excuses to her boss, working from home, icing her wounds on and off, and a shit ton of makeup, but Naomi finally felt confident enough in her own skin to leave the house.
It’d been her first day back to work in person and she’d ambitiously decided it should also be her first official day volunteering at Sasha Saves. Unfortunately, Gail had run her ragged with plans for this stupid party the company was helping to host. It was only an hour and a half into Naomi’s volunteering shift, and already she was rubbing her back, regretting her eagerness to take on everything at once.
“How’re ya likin’ it, sweets? Bet it’s a nice change from sittin’ on your ass behind that reception desk all day long.” Dean’s voice oozed over the phone, totally unaware that he’d just been rude as hell.Hopefully,he was unaware. Maybe he was just a jerk.
Naomi grimaced, trying to think of how to answer. It worked her nerves to talk to him about Sasha Saves. She’d hidden the crown and shoes in Thea’s dress-up clothes, so she’d been able to play off that awful day as one where she’d driven off to think. But ever since she’d told himGailwanted her to volunteer, Naomi had been on edge that he’d somehow figure out her backup plan.
Dean had been sweet as saccharine since his little outburst—as he’d taken to calling it—and he’d even booked a therapist. He’d said that the only one that could take on a new patient was still booked solid for two whole months. She’d heard that mental health options sucked across the country, but hell, apparently small towns were downrightshitty.
“I like it so far,” Naomi finally answered. “Nothin’ too excitin’. I’m glad Thea’s preschool has a night program. Poor thing’d be bored as hell right now since I’m just unloadin’ inventory.” Of course, she could’ve just stayed home, but that hadn’t been an option. “How’s your night out with the boys?”
“It’s good. Had to stop watchin’ the basketball game to talk to you. They’re rivals, so it’s a nail-biter and I’ll probably miss some great plays…”
“Dean, you don’thaveto call me every fifteen minutes.”
“Shit, sweets, you’d think you’d be more grateful. This might bethegame of the season. And I’m missin’ it foryou.”
Oh, God. spare me. Or take me. Either’s fine as long as I don’t have to hear this BS.
She would’ve given anything to give him a taste of that sass, but his voice had an edge she hadn’t heard in weeks. Best to play it safe.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. Thank you for takin’ the time to check up on me.”Gag. Change the subject.“It’s neat they get donations from people that live in town, but the manager has been able to secure donations of ‘oops’ items from department stores, too. There’s actually some pretty nice stuff in here.”
She dug around the large box and searched the item pictures until she found the right ones for the window display, a pair of periwinkle heels. She placed them in the front window, remembering the green ones Thea had so graciously ‘bought’ for her.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. That’s, uh… interesting. I’m sure y’all are probably raisin’ a ton for those cancer kids. How much did you say they raised last year again?”
Naomi’s heart stuttered. Had his tone gotten even sharper, or was her paranoia kicking in?
“Uh, from my online orientation, I think they’ve only been open for like half a year? But they’ve managed to donate twenty-five thousand dollars so far.”
Dean whistled on the other side. “Hot damn, maybe I need to get in on the thrift store game.”
Of course, he’d see the dollar signs behind thenot-for-profit. It was one of the reasons he’d left the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office. AIE Securities and Charitable Technologies International scouted him for the supervisory security role and he jumped ship like a fish off a hook.
“Yeah, I think we’re doin’ pretty good for ourselves, though. Money-wise, I mean.”
“Speaking of doin’ someone good…” His sensual chuckle at what he believed constituted ajokemade her grimace at the phone. “I want you to be ready for me when I get home tonight, sweets. It’s been too long since I’ve had you underneath me.”
The entirety of his sentence made bile rise in her throat, especially hearing the name her daddy had used for her momma with such affection. Knowingly or not, Dean had learned to use the endearment as a weapon, slicing through her every time he spoke it. Her revulsion was so strong she’d almost forgotten what he said.
“That sounds great… But oh, dadgummit.” She lowered her voice. Not that anyone else was in there. “I just started today...”
“What? Shit,again? That fuckin’ blows.”
“Yeah… that’s kind of how periods work, unfortunately.”Not.
