Page 6 of Single Greatest Threat (Atlantic City’s Most Wanted #6)

For five minutes, Joesph reveled in the sweetness of waking up covered up.

Shaw had obviously taken care of him before leaving.

His phone had been on charge and everything.

Then reality had set in. His car was back at the office and his wheelchair was in the trunk of Shaw’s car.

Joesph got ready and pulled out his phone to hire an Uber.

The doorbell rang, saving him. A smile exploded across Joesph’s face when he spotted Shaw through the peephole.

He tried tempering his reaction before opening the door.

Shaw didn’t wait for a hello. “Good. You’re still here. I worried you’d try to find another way to work without your chair since I’m running behind.” He handed Joesph the Styrofoam container he held. “I know you didn’t eat. You know you get flare-ups when you skip meals.”

Joesph bit his bottom lip and turned to grab his cane. Before he could fumble too much, Shaw took his keys from him and locked the house.

“Thank you.”

Shaw tucked the keys in his pocket. “Of course. Come on.”

Joesph fought for his life not to smile like an idiot. Two days in a row, he got the good Shaw. His heart couldn’t take it. It was dumb to be hopeful, even though his brain knew this was temporary, that love still existed…on his end.

Shaw opened the passenger side door for Joesph, helping him get settled. When the door closed, Joesph let himself have a second of grinning before Shaw was behind the wheel.

Shaw pointed at the cup holders between them. “The coffee in front is yours.”

“Thank you.” It was all Joesph could think to say. He sipped the drink while the car was still parked and there was no risk of spilling it. The coffee was doctored perfectly because, of course, it was.

Shaw backed from the driveway. When they were on their way, he motioned toward the food sitting on Joesph’s lap. “Eat.”

“I don’t want to eat in your car. It’s too nice.”

An annoyed look shot his way. “Your health is more important than my leather seats.”

Memories slammed into Joesph, making him glad he was already sitting .

“You look tired today.”

Joesph winced. “Thanks for that.” That was just what he needed on top of feeling sick.

“Let me get you something to eat. You don’t look after your health anymore the way you should.” Shaw looked twice as sexy when he showed his caring heart.

Joesph wished like hell he felt good enough to seduce him. He nearly whimpered at the thought. That body… yum. “I’m good. I think I’m just coming down with something.”

“Nope. You’re not good. Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”

Joesph shook his head. He wished Shaw would stop pointing out how terrible he looked. With a sigh, he went back to searching the law books on his desk for specific case numbers.

Shaw was back in no time. At least he thought Shaw had been quick, except he held a bag full of hot food from a restaurant down the street. Joesph looked at his book. He was still reading the same page. It was like he had lost time.

Shaw rearranged the things on Joesph’s desk so he could set out their meal. “I figured I’d join you.”

His adorable guilty expression had Joesph feeling slightly better. “Good. I hate eating alone.”

“I know.” Shaw flashed him one of those irresistible smiles that kept Joesph awake at night. “Damnit.”

“What?” Damn. Even the aggravated line between Shaw’s brows was sexy.

“I forgot drinks.”

“No problem. I’ll grab a couple from the break room.” Joesph pushed to his feet. His head spun. He took one step and was on the floor with his head on Shaw’s lap with no clue how he got there.

“Are you okay? Holy shit, Joesph. You scared the hell out of me. Talk to me.”

Joesph still had no idea how he ended up on the floor.

For pride’s sake, he wanted to claim he was fine.

But this wasn’t the first time this had happened, and Joesph felt out of control.

There was something wrong with him and it was starting to scare him.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” Even Joesph heard the sheer terror in his voice.

Shaw ran his fingers through Joesph’s hair. “Don’t worry.” He kissed Joesph’s forehead. “I’ll take care of you. You’re not alone. Okay? I’ll always take care of you.”

Fuck. It would happen. Joesph would let Shaw wreck him again. He practically heard the clock ticking on the hammer fall. Joesph flipped open the lid on his food container. The delicious scent of a southwestern omelet smacked him in the face. “Oh, damn. This is that good one from Millie’s Cafe.”

“Of course. It’s your favorite. I wouldn’t buy you something you won’t eat.” Shaw was so matter-of-fact—like Joesph should know he could trust him.

Joesph grabbed the plastic fork waiting inside and dug in.

It was still warm and so delicious. He tried not to hum with happiness.

Joesph didn’t normally eat breakfast. He preferred to sleep in as late as possible.

The exhaustion of being chronically ill was real and constant.

His life revolved around what his body could do and handle now.

That was why he no longer had many friends.

“Thanks again. This is perfect.” He had to focus on something other than his thoughts. Those were a downward spiral.

“It’s no big deal. Millie’s is between your house and mine.”

Joesph had been so focused on his food, he hadn’t realized they weren’t heading toward the office. “Where are we going?”

“I closed the office today so we can take care of some things.”

Irritation struck. Here they went with Shaw being Shaw, acting like the office just ran on magic. “I have appointments with clients today.”

Shaw glanced his way. “Not anymore. I rescheduled everything for later this week. We have something else to take care of today. Well, I do.” Shaw hesitated. “And I really don’t want to do it alone.”

There was something in Shaw’s voice. “What’s up?”

“It’s time to talk to Dad about Kayla. I know the office is mine, but really, it isn’t.”

Yeah. Joesph knew that. Shaw Sr. would never relinquish full control.

Shaw’s knuckles turned white on the steering wheel, proving how that constant meddling and lecturing bothered him. “While I could press charges without Dad onboard, who knows what he would do if he feels like I’ve gone around him?” He tossed Joesph a look. “Really. I don’t want to do this alone.”

“Okay.” He wouldn’t make Shaw beg. They both knew how Shaw’s dad could be.

He liked Joesph, but that was only because Joesph had let them use him eighteen hours a day for years.

They were probably the reason he was sick.

Shaw was the best fucking lawyer Joesph had ever seen in his life.

His IQ and ability to charm a jury were off the charts.

He was amazing. Yet Shaw would never be good enough for his dad. Joesph couldn’t imagine.

“You know I’ve got your back.”

At his statement, Shaw flashed him a blinding smile that stole Joesph’s breath.

Joesph focused on his food to protect his sanity.

The omelet was gone before Joesph realized it.

He drank his coffee. It was halfway gone before the truth struck him.

They had always been comfortable. Sitting in silence with Shaw was peaceful.

He liked it. Joesph supposed he had always known he liked Shaw’s company even when they did nothing at all, but he had never looked too closely.

His relationship with Shaw was a raw spot he tried not to pick at.

Shaw Sr’s house came into view, giving Joesph something else to focus on.

The stucco house sat on a hill overlooking the ocean.

It wasn’t as big or as nice as where Dodge lived, but still way more than Joesph would ever have.

Not that he could navigate the stairs anyhow.

“You closed the office for the entire day for this. Do you expect your dad will be difficult?”

Shaw chuckled as he steered into the driveway.

“Dad is always difficult. But in this case, I didn’t want Kayla getting arrested at the office with clients watching.

Plus, I have no idea how I’ll replace her.

Honestly, if she had just asked for more money, I probably would’ve given it to her just so I wouldn’t have to find someone new. It’s the betrayal I can’t stomach.”

Joesph nodded. That would matter a great deal to Shaw.

While Shaw had stomped on Joesph’s heart, he had never lied.

He never claimed they were more than friends or made promises.

Shaw’s entire business model was built on integrity.

Their office kept some of the biggest criminals on the east coast out of prison.

Shaw had to be loyal to hold on to that clientele.

“We’ll go in through the garage to avoid the front steps.”

Joesph nodded. He planned to cane his way around, but Shaw was out of the car and dragging out Joesph’s wheelchair before Joesph had time to offer to be less of a burden.

Once Joesph was settled, he twisted and met Shaw’s stare.

“You’ve got this. I saw the evidence too.

If you need me to jump in, just let me know. ”

A sad-looking smile touched Shaw’s lips. “Okay.”