“No shopping sprees for you,” Juliette said firmly.

“Maybe a small one?” Colin peeked at her in the rearview mirror again. “I could use some new kicks.”

“It’s almost four”—at least I’m getting the swing of civilian time—“we’re pushing our luck by being out this long.” But I couldn’t resist giving in to his request, so I faced Juliette and gave her the best “begging puppy” look I could manage that I’d learned from Izzy. “Come on, let the kid have some new shoes.”

“Don’t encourage him.” She folded her arms but was failing to hide her smile. “He’s supposed to be grounded, remember?”

“Your mother has a point, but . . .” I left my sentence hanging, hoping Colin would swoop in and save us both. We made a good team.

“Buuuut,” he picked up like a pro, catching on, “I’ve never been shopping with my father before.” Colin copied my eyes and downturned mouth, sending her the sad-puppy face, too. “You won’t steal that chance from me, will you?”

“Pick a different word than steal if you want me to keep going with the flow here. At least try not to remind me of the danger we’re in because of why you’re grounded.” The authoritative tone in her warning was entirely too sexy and something I definitely shouldn’t react to while being in a car with our son.

“Please,” was all he said, shifting around, offering the exact look I gave her.

She sighed but surrendered. “Fine, fine. But no spoiling.”

Colin faced forward, already pulling into traffic.

“Maybe a little spoiling,” I remarked, earning a smile of approval from him.

Once we were at the shopping center closest to my place, which I remembered lacked metal detectors so I could walk around with my Glock tucked at my back, he parked in the garage on the second level.

I unbuckled and faced Juliette. “I plan on spoiling you, too, by the way. Your birthday is next weekend,” I reminded her. “What would you like? Anything, and it’s yours.”

“You’ve already given me more than I could ask for,” she said softly.

Colin groaned. “You two just need to do it already.” He opened the door and got out, and my heart may have momentarily stopped, needing a complete reboot after that comment.

Her eyes widened in apology. “I’m sorry. He’s got this problem.”

“Oh yeah, what’s that?”

“It’s called being a teenager. Symptoms include word vomiting whatever is on their mind.” She sighed.

“Any cure?” I lifted a brow.

“Getting older?”

I couldn’t help but smile. When she went for her door handle, I shook my head. “Let me, one sec.” I stepped out, kept an eye on Colin hovering by the car on his phone, probably checking on Lennon, then opened her door and offered my hand.