“Is everything okay?” Marley asked.
“It will be. Family drama.”
“I wouldn’t know anything about that,” Marley drawled, rolling her eyes.
Kai pulled out a chair for Josie, then sat between her and the police chief. Marley took their order, then rushed off to do her job. She returned quickly with Josie’s latte and Kai’s black coffee. The pretty waitress lingered as long as possible before flitting off again to take care of her other customers.
“I like her,” Josie told Dane.
“She’s a peach, and I can tell she feels the same about you. Kai, what do you say we plan supper for one night this week so our girls can compare notes?”
Josie squeezed Kai’s hand. “Please. Can we?” Josie asked through their link. She wanted to take full advantage of having new friends who she could talk openly with.
“That sounds like a great plan. Is Thursday good for you? We can grill out at our place.”
Dane smiled. “Your place, huh? Does that mean you’ve bought Sixx’s house?”
“Not yet. I’m leaving it up to Josie whether we do that or find something smaller.”
Before Josie could tell Kai she’d already made up her mind, Marley returned with their food. She ate quietly while the males discussed who was bringing what for their get together. Kai asked her opinion on steak or chicken, and Dane told Marley what they were discussing on one of her mini breaks.
After saying goodbye, Josie sat stiffly on the ride to the office. She had a new friend in Marley, and that should have been enough to quell her nerves. Even Kai’s silent support wasn’t helping. When he parked in her spot, Josie wished she hadn’t eaten. Her stomach roiled.
“Say the word and I’ll take you home right now.”
“Can we please buy Sixx’s house?” she blurted.
Kai released his seatbelt and angled his body toward her. “If that’s what you want.”
“It is. I know it’s a big place, but I’d like to eventually fill the empty rooms with kids,” she admitted.
Kai’s smile was larger than Josie had ever seen, both dimples popping. “I’ll make the call this morning. Now, do you want me to take you home?”
Josie swallowed down the bile in her throat. “No. Another day will only make it worse.”
Kai stroked her cheek. “Remember, you hold all the power here. They’re desperate because they need you, not the other way around. They can either accept your resignation gracefully, or they can deal with their own shit without you. I’ll be at the gym, so if you need me, I’ll only be a few minutes away.”
“You’re right. I can do this.”
“Yes, you can.” Kai got out and came around the car to help Josie to her feet. “I’m walking you to the door. I’m going to kiss the shit out of you in front of the gods and everyone else. You’re going to go in there, kick ass, and take names. When I come back at noon, we are going to lunch to celebrate our new home.”
Kai carried Josie’s briefcase and didn’t hand it over until he gave her a toe-curling kiss where anyone watching could see them. He left her with a promise to see her in a few hours. Knowing he would be there within minutes if she needed him gave her the courage to step into the office with her head held high and her back straight.
“Joselynn, a word,” her father said before she’d made it four steps.
Josie set her briefcase on her desk, placed her purse in the cabinet, and continued holding herself poised as she stepped into her father’s office. Presley was there, sitting in one of the chairs across from Preston’s desk.
“Have a seat.” Josie sat next to her sister without looking at her. She didn’t have to see Presley’s face to feel the rage. “Your mother tells us you plan on giving notice.”
“That’s right. You have me for two more weeks unless you would like me to clear out my desk now, which I have no problem with.”
“May I ask what brought on your sudden need for departure?” Her father was leaning forward with his forearms on his desk. He had on his lawyer face. She had news for him; it wouldn’t work on her. Not any longer.
“I wouldn’t call it sudden. I’ve worked hard for eight years. Until yesterday, I have never taken a sick day. I have so much unused vacation accrued I’ve lost track of how many days it is. When I do go on vacation, I can’t relax because this one” — Josie thumbed over her shoulder at Presley — “won’t let me.”
Presley huffed. “This is—”
“I’m talking.” Josie cut her eyes at Presley.
“If you were so unhappy, why didn’t you say anything?” her father asked.
“It wouldn’t have done any good. I was happy working for you, but when you added Presley to my workload without a raise, it was supposed to be temporary. Temporary turned into permanent with double the work and quadruple the headache. I put up with it hoping you would see my value, but you never once told me ‘good job.’ Neither of you. That tells me you either don’t care about me, or I don’t actually do a good job. Since you both win your cases with the information I provide, I know that isn’t true.”
“This is because—”
“Not now, Presley,” their father growled, as close to yelling as Josie had ever heard. Presley gasped, and Josie’s mouth fell open. Never had he raised his voice to either of them as far as she knew. He didn’t have to, but Josie guessed everyone had a breaking point.
“Here’s what I propose. I will find a new paralegal to take over my portion of your work. You will be
