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Her voice rose. “Without calling me?”
“Hannah had said she’d already called and left you a message. So I figured she’d fill you in.”
Devyn pointed to Heath. “You, go inside. Take a shower and then plant your butt on the couch. We’re going to talk.”
The kid was smart enough to keep quiet and do as told. When it was just Devyn and me, she stepped out into the hallway and closed the door behind her. I figured she probably wanted to lament how difficult it was managing the kids, or maybe even thank me for helping out today. But boy was I wrong…
She gripped her hips. “Why did you do all that?”
“Do all what?”
“Get involved. Go down to the police station?”
Was she being serious right now? “I thought it was pretty obvious. I was trying to help.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean, why?”
“I’m not sleeping with you again as payment, if that’s what you think.”
I shook my head, feeling my cheeks heat. “You know, sometimes people help just because they’re good people.”
“Not in my experience. When someone wants tohelpme, they usually expect something in return.”
“You know what? I’m not listening to this shit. You don’t know me well enough to think the worst of me.” I leaned down so we were eye to eye. “You’re welcome.” Then I turned and stormed away.
***
A few hours later, I was still fuming. I had a giant knot in the back of my neck, not to mention a throbbing headache just above my eyebrows. And now my hundred-dollar dress shirt was covered in orange and black dye. I’d been too angry to think straight and take it off before washing Mrs. Unger’s damn cat. I was just about to pour myself a glass of whiskey to calm down when there was a knock at my door.
Devyn was the last person I expected to find standing here. She held out a glass filled with clear liquid. “I can’t bake for shit. But I wanted to apologize for the attitude I gave you earlier. Plus, I figured you could use a drink after the evening you had with my little brother. It’s a tequila soda. You drank one the night we met.”
I hated that I softened so easily. I’d been pissed for hours. “I didn’t help because I wanted something in return,” I told her.
“I know you didn’t. It was just my knee-jerk reaction, and it was totally inappropriate.” She smiled. “I have a bad habit of being overly defensive. I’m not used to nice guys, I guess. Can you forgive me?”
I opened the door wider. “You want to come in? We could share that drink. I’m sure you could use it too, right about now.”
“Thank you for the offer, but I really shouldn’t.”
I looked back and forth between her eyes. “Youshouldn’t, or you don’t want to?”
She bit down on her bottom lip. “Shouldn’t.”
I held out my hand, and she passed me the drink. “Apology accepted.”
“Thank you. And thank you for everything you did for Heath.”
I nodded. “No problem.”
“Have a good night.”
“You too.”
I stayed at my door, watching Devyn walk to the elevator. Just as the door slid open, I yelled after her. “Hey!”
Devyn turned back.
