Being brave—or at least pretending I was—I asked, “What was the job that took too long tonight?”

“Sometimes a job involves doing PI work for clients. Month or so ago, we started gathering proof that a man was cheating on his wife. She left him. We sent our findings to her lawyer. Thought it was set. Got a call from her earlier that she’d returned to him and wanted to make sure we didn’t leak the documentation.”

“Did he force her to come back?”

“That’s what we worried about. Went over to their place and talked with them separately. He claims he changed. She said the same.”

“That doesn’t mean anything,” I cried, smacking his chest.

“Easy there, killer.” He covered my hands and pushed my palms to his chest. “We know that.”

“Sorry. I’m trained to pick up on tells and warning signs, but even I know how easy they are to miss.”

“Got no clue why she went back. The fucker is a piece of work, and she had her chance at freedom. But she didn’t take it, and there was nothing we could do. Can’t force her to leave.” His voice didn’t hold scorn or condemnation. It held pity.

A lot of pity.

We sat for a moment, lost in our own thoughts.

With a yawn, I looked up at Ward. “I need to get to bed.”

“Yeah.” Even as he agreed, he held me tighter. When he loosened his hold, it was slow and reluctant.

I stood and was about to take off his hoodie, but he didn’t give me the chance. He took my hand and walked me to my back door, which was the kind of sweet I was too tired to fight.

I just enjoyed it.

When I stepped inside, I went onto my toes and still had to grip his shirt to pull him down so I could lightly press my lips to his stubbled cheek. “Thanks for… everything. You made me feel better.”

“Anytime.” His arm wrapped around me, his large hand stretching down to palm my ass in a tight hold that took me back onto my toes. When he kissed me, nothing about it was light. It was demanding and greedy. He released me, but not before pressing against me so I could feel he was hard again.

Or still.

“And I do mean any-fuckin’-time.” He stepped back and tipped his head toward the door. “Lock that and reset your alarm.”

Tempted to pull him inside, I did the smart thing.

I slammed the door right in his face.

I heard his chuckle and the sound of his boots on the concrete. Before he could get far, I opened the door, and his concerned gaze shot to me.