Page 34 of Until Easton

Quinn's bike rolls up beside my truck, and he cuts the engine. "Sorry to ruin your love bird's moment, but I need to drain the dragon."

In and out. That's my plan as we enter my apartment building. The moment the three of us step into the elevator, a hand shoots in from outside, stopping the door from closing, and in steps Mallory.

"Oh, hey. You're back." Her eyes light up and travel over me like she is the predator and I'm her prey, until they fix on mine and Becca's joined hands. She loses her happiness. If looks could cut a person, Mallory would have sliced right through Becca. What the hell is up with her? Mallory plasters a fake smile on her face. Mallory's eyes cut to Quinn, who leans against the wall as the elevator begins to move. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?" She says friends like it leaves a nasty taste in her mouth.

"Mallory Vargas, meet my brother-in-law Quinn, and my woman, Becca," I introduce her to them.

Mallory rolls her eyes. "Your woman sounds so primitive and degrading."

Before I can respond, Becca grabs my face and rises on her toes.

"I find it to be a huge turn-on," she claims with a kiss.

My girl has claws. Nice

"Fuck yeah," Quinn boasts. "You fit in perfectly with our side of the family."

"Whatever floats your boat." Mallory blanches and changes the subject. "I heard about the break-in. Can't believe something like that happened here. I've been worried sick it may happen again. I sure hope they catch the person responsible." She takes a pause, perhaps waiting for my response, but I have none. "Any leads on who sent you the letter?" she asks.

"How do you know about the letter?" I glare at her.

"Oh, we all know about the stalker situation." She waves her hand, and I don't second guess what she says because the walls have ears in this business. A couple more seconds pass in uncomfortable silence before the doors slide open. "This is my stop," Mallory chirps, and Quinn holds the door for her to step out. "Quinn, Becca, it was nice to meet you." The door closes.

"That was awkward," Quinn grunts.

"She's had a thing for me since we hired her, but I've never been interested."

"Does she know that?" Becca asks as we exit the elevator.

"I've told her as much." I punch in the door code.

"I don't think she's gotten the memo." Becca follows me inside my apartment. I stop and grab her in my arms, lifting her feet off the ground.

"I'm pretty sure you set her straight when you kissed me."

"I didn't care for the way she was undressing you with her eyes," Becca remarks, and I do my best to hide my amusement. Instead, I kiss her forehead, then the tip of her nose, then her lips.

"You can claim me anytime you want."

Becca smiles. "Good."

We don't stay long. I grab some extra clothes and some of Gizmo's cat toys before we are again on the road, heading to Miles' place. Just like I told him this morning, we arrive at his doorstep before noon. "Come on in. You guys are welcome to stay for lunch."

"Thanks, but we need to get back home," I tell him.

"Home, huh?" He pours himself a small drink. "You plan on a change of address?"

I look at Becca, who has Gizmo in her arms. "I hope so."

"I'm happy for you, Easton," Miles says. "So, anything I should know about before you leave? Does Wilkerson have any news to pass along?"

"They have nothing that points them in any direction."

Miles sips his whiskey. "I kick myself in the ass for not reporting this shit sooner." He sits in his favorite chair in front of the TV, where he watches hours of ESPN. "If you don't plan on visiting for a bit, then I'm going to relax and watch some sports talk."

"Thanks for keeping my cat the past couple of weeks." I take Gizmo from Becca and place him in his pet carrier.

"Hell, it isn't any bother. It gets a bit lonely around here when we aren't on the road. The fat furball keeps me company." Miles kicks his feet up, and I feel a little horrible for taking Gizmo back with me. "If I can give you two love-struck fools one piece of advice: Always have a full house. Make plenty of babies, and if you can't have kids, adopt. The quietness makes the loneliness hard to handle at times." Miles lost his wife, Claire, two years ago to cancer, and they never had children.