29. Got Some Talents

29

GOT SOME TALENTS

“ I ’m sorry I’m leaving tomorrow,” Zander said. “I’d rather go and get back before next week and then you won’t be alone.”

She was trying not to grind her teeth as they drove to his parents’ house for the holiday dinner.

He’d been good about the letter for the past few days, but this morning he’d dropped it on her that he’d changed his schedule to leave Friday rather than Monday. She knew part of it had to do with him not wanting to leave her alone at the office.

And though deep down she really liked that he was watching out for her and she felt somewhat protected and safe, she also couldn’t let herself depend on him all the time either.

She’d been managing her life and clients for years and it was not the first time creepy things had happened or been said or sent.

“I’m fine and you know it,” she said. “I’m not saying this to upset you or make anything worse. I’m just stating a fact. You could be in town and out running errands and the building full of people and something could happen. You can’t control it all.”

“I know,” he said. “I understand that. But the truth is, this is for Sloane and one of the people I’ve been trying to reach actually got back to me via email. He’s in town over the weekend and then gone again. He has information and doesn’t want to give it over the phone.”

“Does that happen a lot?” she asked.

“More than you realize. Whether we were together or not, I’d be going there tomorrow.”

“At least you’re not changing your schedule for me,” she said.

“No. I would if I could, but I can’t always. I don’t like that either. I hope you understand.”

“I do,” she said. “And I have no problem with it. Just because I love you doesn’t mean we have to spend every minute together.”

“No,” he said. “We don’t.”

“But I will admit I’ll miss you from my bed this weekend.”

He groaned when she said that and she laughed and decided to tease him even more and reached over to cup him between his legs.

“Cut that out,” he said. “I don’t need to walk into my parents’ house looking like I want to jump you.”

“So you’ll jump me later tonight before you leave?”

“I promise,” he said. “Now move your hand. We are only a block away.”

“This is a new development. You didn’t grow up here, did you?”

“No. They downsized after Marley graduated from law school. Maybe if they stayed in the same old big house my father would have things to do.”

“You love having him work for you, don’t you?”

“I’d love it more if he’d let me pay him, but he doesn’t and it’s getting frustrating.”

“That’s what the little bag is?” she asked.

She knew it was full of gift cards. To the home goods store and the hardware store, some restaurants too.

“Yep. If he won’t spend it, my mother will. Then she’ll give him hell when he gets mad and doesn’t want to take them. I know who to play.”

“You don’t need to bill for insurance to learn those things, huh?”

“You think you’re so cute,” he said.

“I know it.”

He pulled into a driveway. It was a nice modern one-story house. They got out and she grabbed the cake and Zander got the pie and tray of cookies that she’d picked up at the bakery.

“You brought too much,” he said.

“I wanted to make sure there was something for everyone,” she said. “If I had more time I would have made more.”

“I’m looking forward to the apple pie.”

“Because I made that last night?” she asked. Zander had spent the night and was actually leaving some clothes at her house.

She hadn’t stayed the night at his place once and that was fine. It was tiny and could use some work.

It wasn’t as messy as she’d thought it’d be but an older apartment that was bare of much in terms of decor.

“Yep, but I happen to like apple pie.”

“You like triple chocolate cake too,” she said. “I know because you’ve gotten it when we’ve been out to dinner.”

They didn’t go out as often now. Guess it was true that if he was working and someone else was paying for it, it was easier.

But she wasn’t complaining because they both worked late at times and grabbed food on the way home to her place. She liked that much better.

Though she had to admit being with him on a case had its perks. Like being fun and adventurous and she would have to say she wasn’t much like that in life.

“I’m sure I’ll have a piece of both. Or at least take a piece home. I tend to overstuff myself on holidays.”

They went up the few porch stairs and to the front door.

“Hello. I’m Marjorie, Zander’s mother. It’s not fair you got to meet Dave before me.”

She’d met Zander’s father yesterday. Since the cat was out of the bag and all the players in the two offices knew, there was no reason she couldn’t stop over and introduce herself.

“Only by a day, Mom. I’m Marley. Don’t let my mother grill you or make you feel bad.”

“I won’t let either happen. It’s not a big deal. I figured it’d be rude to not introduce myself after Miles and Betsy knew.”

“Betsy is like family,” Marjorie said. “She keeps Zander in line.”

“I don’t think Zander needs anyone to keep him in line,” Marley said. “My mother just likes that she can text Betsy to make sure Zander doesn’t forget what time to show up.”

“I stayed with Regan last night,” he said. “She’s never late. Maybe she is wearing off on me in a good way. Where do you want these desserts?”

“If nothing needs to go in the fridge, then put it on the counter over there,” Marjorie said.

“Nothing does,” Regan said.

“Can I get you a glass of wine?” Marley asked. “Then we can chat.”

“You don’t need to get my girlfriend drunk to loosen her tongue. She’ll tell you what she wants to tell you.”

“I don’t get drunk,” she said, frowning.

He bumped into her shoulder. “Nope. You don’t. You get loose and I like it. But I find you aren’t anything like the woman I met months ago.”

“How is that, if you don’t mind me asking?” Marjorie asked.

“I guess some would say I’m reserved.”

“Professional,” he corrected.

“At least you didn’t say snooty or stuck up,” she said.

“I’d never do that,” he said.

Others had, but there was no reason to say that here. It wasn’t anyone’s business and she and Zander had this conversation in the past.

“No,” she said. “You wouldn’t.”

“Zander filled us in on how the Fierces wanted to set you two up,” Marley said. “I’m not sure I’d like that.”

“I’m finding it’s not that big of a deal,” she said. “At least after talking to Chloe. Thankfully we’d already gone on a date prior to finding that out.”

“Are you sure?” Dave asked. “The way Betsy’s been talking it’s been since before that first date.”

“Dad,” he said. “Don’t start. You know the timeline. Betsy is trying to get information out of you.”

Dave laughed. “I know she is. I told her to leave me out of it.”

“Yet you just tried to cause problems now,” Marjorie said. “And what is in that bag you brought in?”

“I was going to give it to Dad for helping me out, but maybe I’ll give it to you instead.”

Zander picked the bag up he’d put on the counter and brought it over to his father anyway.

Dave opened it and pulled out all the gift cards. “What’s this?”

“You won’t let me pay you,” he said. “You’ll use these and if you don’t, Mom will. That is your choice.”

“What’s in it?” Marjorie asked. “Oh, I’ll use this one. I could use some things around the house.”

His mother snatched the home goods one out of his father’s hand. He’d made that the biggest on purpose, Zander had told her.

“Hey. I did the work,” Dave said.

“And you’ve got other cards there for tools and coffee and breakfast or lunch,” Marjorie said.

“Listen, Dad. I want to pay you.” He put his hand up when his father went to argue. “I wasn’t going to talk to you about this now, but maybe a licensed psychologist could help get to the root of your problem with accepting payment.”

“That’s low, Zander,” Marley said.

Regan thought the same thing, but when Marjorie laughed she decided to go with it. “I could do that if need be.”

“Don’t be an ass, Zander. I don’t need your money. You’re giving me something to do. Now your mother gets to go shopping.”

“I can keep doing it that way, but if I pay you it’s a business write off.”

“See, Dad,” Marley said. “Zander is keeping it legal too.”

She snorted over that.

“Grant and Garrett stopped up last week,” Zander said. “They’ve got several tenants who want better security cameras in the building. Not just in the halls where they’ve got someone that can look it over if needed, but in the actual companies. They asked if this was something I could do and monitor. It’d be a whole new end of the business. We’d be installing the systems or sourcing that out. Monitoring it when there are issues. It got me thinking that maybe I could expand to private security.”

“There are a lot of guys on the force that wouldn’t mind that,” Dave said. “They’ve asked before if you ever needed it.”

“It might be bigger than I want to go, but I need to work it out. It’d help if it’s something you could handle or oversee. You’ve got a lot of contacts. I know you don’t always like sitting at a computer.”

“I like your father sitting at a computer,” Marjorie said.

“You heard your mother,” Dave said. “We’ll talk about it next week and get a game plan worked out. I can reach out to some guys and see if they are interested if it comes up.”

“Betsy can work on the business end of it with services.”

“Doesn’t look like you need me at all,” Regan said. “You both have a great line of communication. I’m going to assume that you’ll become an employee now and collect your salary. Maybe in stipends? You know, paying taxes and all to keep it legal in front of the DA and ADA?”

“She’s good,” Marley said.

“Why, thank you. Dave? What is it that you would like to get out of this?”

“Not a therapy session. You win, Zander. And you too, Marjorie. I think I was the one played today.”

She laughed and Zander came over to kiss her on the lips. “Not bad for improvisation.”

“I’ve got some talents you haven’t seen yet.”

“I can’t wait to find out more,” he whispered in her ear.