Before another one paraded by the man of the hour and she let go of the scream that threatened, she said brusquely, “Let’s get out of here.”
He gave her such an innocent smile, she knew he knew why she was hot and bothered. She tucked the irritation neatly away, knowing it was too late to do any good. She was not jealous, just annoyed at the brazen way women looked at him. Like he was nothing more than a slab of beef. Prime sirloin. When the word loin hit her consciousness, she groaned, coming to the dire conclusion that before this was over, before the divorce was in place, she’d know what kind of power he exerted there as well. It was almost freeing.
She drove them to Downtown Crossing, where she rushed him through a few stores, collecting bags along the way. They purchased two new suits, ties, a dozen dress shirts, jeans, several pairs of slacks, long-sleeved tees, sneakers, socks, and a pair of Sketcher boots with traction rubber soles. She didn’t allow him time to admire anything. He could do that later.
So, could she. She’d done her best not to peer too closely as he was fitted for the suits and tried to keep the moans to a minimum, but the tiny shocks of pleasure pulsed through her body every couple of seconds or so. It could cause severe injury if she wasn’t careful.
Her voice was a bit too high-strung when she said, “Time to meet Mac.”
They started for the garage where the car was parked. On the way, he fumbled with the heavy load in his arms, shifting the bags for a better grip, almost dropping the suit bag in the process so she took it away and slung it over her arm.
His eyes held what might have been embarrassment. “I should have kept a new pair of pants on. I look like a refugee.”
“You are a refugee. He’ll understand.”
He stopped dead in his tracks. “Is that how you see me? Did I shame you?”
She quickly glanced over at him. She’d never thought about how he might feel at being out in public dressed in his old clothes. They might be a bit shabby, but they were clean. The shirt also showed off his muscular assets. That thought sparked additional irritation.
“The only shameful thing about this shopping trip was the way those women tripped all over themselves waiting on you.”
He now wore a sarcastic smile. “They were extremely helpful.”
“It was heroic the way you held back your appreciation.”
“How could I do less with my wife sitting right outside the dressing room?”
She could feel a frown coming on. “If said wife wasn’t there?”
“Then I wouldn’t have been there, either. Besides, I told you I would do nothing to disrespect you. Flirting back would have done that. That’s not who I am.”
She almost believed him but almost wasn’t the guarantee she was looking for.
You’re looking for a guarantee from him? What the fuck?
As if he couldn’t feel the tension wafting in his direction, he said matter-of-factly, “I can’t believe we found everything I needed in one place, with no lines. No black market. I can’t wait for my mother to get here.”
His mother was a safer subject. How could she think about his hands, his lips, his abs when he was talking about the woman who’d birthed him?
Less prickly, she asked, “Have you talked to her lately?”
“Yes. Now that she has a phone that works, we’ve been texting. I hear from her every day. She is worried.”
Concern popped up out of nowhere. “About what?”
“With my defection, the government is keeping a close eye on her. Her tenant noticed and moved out.”
“She doesn’t need the rent anymore, right? She got the money we wired to her?”
“She did, yes. She is updating the house for sale as best she can. Money might be available to her, but materials are still hard to come by.”
“We’ll get her paperwork started as soon as we can. I’m not sure how long it will take, but the lawyer we’re hiring is one of the best in the city. She’ll know how to expedite it.”
“You have used this lawyer before?”
“I have. Jelani Ramirez helps me out with the immigration program. She works for the law firm Woodley and Fisher, an extremely reputable firm on that front. She’s the best and that’s who we want.”
They’d reached the car and dumped everything in the trunk before Alicia drove out of the city and hit the highway toward Lexington, her brake foot tapping to an exotic beat as she did.
Twenty minutes later, they were standing at the front door of Mac Calipari’s home, waiting for someone to answer the bell.
CHAPTER NINE
Mateo wasn’t surprised when Casey answered the door. She’d told him she’d see him later before disappearing into her office at the complex. She was dressed much differently than she’d been this morning, more professional in a suit and heels. She gave him a small smile and welcomed them in. “We meet again.”
“It is a pleasure.”
“Come on. You can wait in the family room. Rique’s in with Dad now but they should be wrapping up soon. He’s very conscious of time and likes to keep things running smoothly.”
Alicia pointed out, “That’s why he needs Case. She keeps the train on the track.”
“Don’t let her fool you. The only place I keep the track running is at the complex. This is me standing in for my mother, who is working at the moment.”
They were led down a short hallway and into a room that was warm and homey. Alicia sat on the couch. He took a chair beside it, wanting to be close but not intrusive.
Casey mumbled, as she sat down next to her friend. “There may be a few rails coming loose soon.”
He glanced over at Alicia, wondering what kind
