“Yes, thanks. Why are we going to Grady’s place again? What are you planning to do?” Caity asked for the hundredth time.
She was going to find out sooner or later. He might as well prepare her. “Kick his ass.”
“Oh good. That’s just what I was hoping you’d say.”
The car had now officially turned into a kiln. Some of his anger seemed to be burning off along with the top layer of his skin. “Now you’re trying reverse psychology, but it’s not going to stop me.”
“Of course not. Because why would you forgo the fun of an ass-whooping just because I asked you to?”
“You think I’m going to enjoy . . .” He didn’t finish his sentence because the truth was he relished the idea of knocking the guy flat.
“You’re nearly a half foot taller than Grady. You’ve taken down killers in hand-to-hand combat. Grady looks in shape, I know, but he gets his muscles from a gym where they serve cucumber water. He’s an academic psychiatrist. It won’t be a fair fight.”
“Life’s not fair.” But she had a point.
“You’re not doing this for me.”
“Like hell.”
“You said it yourself. You don’t like the way he talks to me. You don’t like the way he looks at me. If you ask me—”
“Not asking you, babe.”
“If you ask me, you’ve been itching for an excuse to show him who’s the alpha dog around here, and now you’ve got one. This isn’t about protecting me. This is about your big fat giant out-of-control ego.” She jammed her finger on the AC. Now she was sweating.
Shit.
What he saw on her cheek wasn’t a drop of perspiration.
He braked so hard his seat belt went taut over his shoulder. He slowed, looking for a place to pull over. Coincidentally, he found one right in front of Grady’s place.
“Do not cry,” he said through gritted teeth.
“I’m not crying.”
“Caity, I swear. This has nothing to do with my ego.” Maybe just a little. “I don’t want that pissant little creep anywhere near you.”
“He’s a witness in our case. Which means we have to deal with him. But I’ve already set firm boundaries. Problem solved.”
“Caity, following you into the bathroom is a big deal. He was way out of line. No telling how far he’ll try to take it next time.”
“There’s not going to be a next time. And I’ll say it again, he’s a material witness. If you let your temper get the best of you, then Grady wins. He can file a complaint against you, get you kicked off the case. He could even get you arrested for assault.”
“He doesn’t have the balls.”
“You’re underestimating him. Grady’s smart and manipulative. He’ll make it look like you’re the aggressor. You are the aggressor. Let’s just turn around and go home.” She grabbed his hand. “I can take care of myself, but if you get hurt, I get hurt. Grady has probably already figured out that’s the best way to get back at me. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s expecting you right now. Don’t let him play you.”
He put his head on the steering wheel. Tried to focus on her words. She was making a lot of sense. He’d made her promises, too, that he wouldn’t let his feelings for her interfere with getting the job done. It was what they’d agreed on. That was the deal, and he was supposed to honor it.
“Okay,” he said. “I’ll just talk to him. But Grady Webber needs to know that if he touches a hair on your head, I’m coming after him.” He blew out a breath and pocketed his keys.
He came around and got her door for her.
As they headed up the front steps to Grady’s home, she smiled at him, and talking low, like a trainer soothing an unbroken horse said, “Take it easy.”
She was right. Of course, she was right. “I promise. I’m just going to talk to him and set him straight.” The three of them would have a nice, mature, grown-up conversation during which he’d make his position perfectly clear.
He rang the bell.
Grady Webber opened the door wearing a red-and-black silk dressing gown. He held a snifter of brandy, or perhaps whiskey, in one hand. With the other he motioned them inside. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
He didn’t look a bit surprised. Maybe, like Caity said, he’d been expecting them all along.
“We just want to talk, Grady. I hope it’s not too inconvenient.” Caity walked through the door, and Spense followed.
“Anytime you want to come to me, Caitlin, night or day, I’m always ready for you.” Webber’s tongue darted out of his mouth, and he ran it around the rim of his snifter. He fixed his gaze on Caity’s breasts and then did it again.