Page 127 of Naughty Dreams
“John Bolles, down the road. He’s taken care of my needs for years.”
DJ snickered into his tea, and she shot him a narrow look. He lifted a hand. “I didn’t say a word.”
“John is a gentleman,” she declared. “Never even flirted with me.”
“Because he can’t put together three words around you. Man’s been crazy about you forever. Time to give him a break.”
Marjorie merelyhmphed. “I will slap your head in front of Roy. Don’t think I won’t.”
DJ grinned around the lip of his mug. They spent the next hour in easy conversation while the crickets sang and frogs croaked. DJ inhaled the smell of cut grass. Roy’s arm was stretched along the back of the swing. Occasionally, he brushed DJ’s shoulder with his fingers, keeping that buzz going between them. Roy’s long legs were stretched out, one foot controlling their slow rock back and forth. DJ had one leg folded beneath him, the other bent, with his foot braced on the edge of the swing. Letting Roy control their pace.
“It’s been a good day,” Marjorie said, reaching over the arm of her glider to squeeze DJ’s hand. “It felt like all my boys were here with me.”
“Yeah, it did.”
“Roy is sleeping in the guestroom Tal liked,” she mentioned. “It has a king-sized bed and its own bathroom.”
“I’m aware.” DJ lifted a puzzled brow.
“There’s room for two in there,” she said, giving him a significant look.
Rising, she collected their empty mugs, waving their help away as she moved back into the house, a little hum floating over her shoulder.
DJ stared at Roy. Roy stared back. “What are you waiting for, Dory?” Roy asked.
“I guess an invitation.”
Roy’s fingertips slid over the bare skin exposed by the collar of DJ’s shirt, sending tingles through his arm and chest, tightening his nipple. “You’re invited. But before we sprint in that direction,” his eyes did that sexy glint again, “let’s talk to her about what we discussed while you and I were doing dishes. I already touched base with my mom. She’s good with it.”
“Yeah.” A less-good feeling gripped DJ, but he knew it wasn’t something he wanted to avoid. Just the opposite. “I might need backup.”
“You have it. Always.”
DJ pushed off of the swing, his leg brushing Roy’s. He was aware of Roy’s attention following him. The door was open, so he’d be able to hear the conversation through the screen. A glance back showed DJ he was in the same position, arm along the back of the swing, legs stretched out, intent gaze upon DJ.
He moved into the kitchen and joined Marjorie at the sink. “Marjorie, I’d like you to go stay with Gilda, Roy’s mother, for a few days. I think you’d like her.”
Marjorie gave him a puzzled look. “Tell me why.”
“Because I don’t know if this maniac knows about you, and he resents the fuck out of anyone I love. He sees them as a threat. If I lost you…” His voice shook before he clamped down on it, turning it cold and deadly. “I would turn into a rabid animal. Serious.”
Her eyes darkened and she laid both hands on his rigid jaw. “My tall boy. No. You never would. But if it gives you peace of mind, I’ll go. Roy told me plenty of stories about her today, and it sounds like we’d fit well together.”
Her jaw tightened. “I haven’t asked many questions because this time together isn’t about that. But I won’t sleep well until I know this horrible sick person has no chance of getting to you.”
Her gaze moved past DJ’s shoulder. He turned to see Roy standing on the other side of the screen, a hand propped high on the frame, the other hooked in his jeans pocket.
“Since it’s her boy protecting you,” Marjorie added, “and this stalker has made it clear he’ll take out whoever he feels is an obstacle to that, we can reassure each other.”
“She’d appreciate that,” Roy told her. “I have a top notch security system in place there. She’s agreed to use it. Probably for the first time ever,” he added dryly.
“Roy’s mom is mostly blind,” DJ told Marjorie. “But she has no trouble keeping Roy on a straight path.”
Marjorie’s brown eyes twinkled. “Isn’t it awful when parents have minds of their own, despite their kids knowing what’s best for them? It’s karma, plain and simple.”
DJ wasn’t ready to let go of the seriousness quite yet. He laid his hands on her shoulders. “I think you’re right about you and Gilda, but if you decide you’d be more comfortable at my place, just reach out and I’ll get you to Asheville.”
Marjorie gripped his arm. “We’ll be fine. But be warned. We’re going to talk alotabout our boys.”
