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I pushed the basket anyway. The sooner we were done, the sooner I could go into my bedroom, close and lock the door. Somehow, I had a feeling the day was going to be long and arduous.

The clerk continued giving me the same uncertain look when I checked out, even backing away as soon as I’d finished the financial transaction.

Myhostagehad stood by with a wicked expression on her face the entire time.

At least Juliette had helped load the bags. Poor Tank was already crowded.

When she jumped in, she gave me a sweet smile. “Time for some killer clothes. Do they have department stores here?” The fact her voice was dripping of sarcasm just about put me over the edge.

The woman was more than just a temporary inconvenience. She would drive me into drinking myself into a stupor every night.

If she was teasing me, all she’d managed to accomplish was to drive my mood even further into the crapper. “We have stores. Country folk sometimes like to dress in something else other than burlap sacks. By the way. How’s that bottom of yours?”

The instant flash of red in her cheeks made me deliriously happy for some reason.

I headed to the one store that I’d seen that might sate her. I knew nothing about the place other than that it was pricey but hoped stopping there might appease the wanton socialite.

As soon as I pulled up to the curb, she glanced at me with a funny expression, but that quickly turned into the briefest hint of fear. I’d been right. She was reliving some shit in her past. Weren’t we all?

“What?” I snapped.

“You’re not coming in?”

“Do you need my fuckin’ approval for clothes?”

“Well, you are buying.” Some of the fire had sprinted away, her eyes now searching mine.

“Just buy whatever you need. I don’t care. I’ll take Tank and get a few items myself.”

“How long will you be?”

Snorting, I almost told her a week, but the slight crack in her voice yanked away the asshole inside of me. “Not long. Just stay inside and everything will be fine.”

“Okay. Just come into the store when you get back. I’ll try and hurry.” She unfastened her seatbelt, twisting around so shecould love on Tank. “Miss you, buddy. All one hundred or so pounds of you.”

My little buddy ate up the lavished attention like the traitor he’d turned into.

As soon as she jumped out, he managed to squeeze his big body between the two front seats, claiming hers. His whine drew her attention and she turned back and blew him a kiss.

“Jesus,” I muttered. As I drove away, I laughed mostly at myself and pulled my phone from my jacket pocket, dialing Gray.

“Is she safe?” he asked by answering, concern pitched in his voice.

“She’s safe.” I started to tell him she was still a pain in my ass, but remembered she was his goddaughter.

“Good. Glad to hear it.”

I glanced into the rearview mirror, the same nagging feeling lingering in the back of my mind. “Did something happen to Juliette before?”

“What do you mean, happen?”

“I don’t know, Gray. Was she the victim of a crime?”

His heavy breath and instant hesitation gave me an answer. “There was a break-in at her father’s house a long time ago. Maybe when she was twelve or thirteen. I don’t know much because we weren’t talking any longer by then. All I know is that Juliette was home alone when the incident happened.”

“Were the fuckers caught?” What the fuck? Home alone at that age? Her father was a real dick. I instantly bristled, windingmy hand around the steering wheel with enough pressure the leather squeaked.

“Don’t know that either. As you might imagine, that’s one reason Randolph was quick to offer a ransom.”