Page 38 of Blood Money

“He’s fine.” Alex placed a hand on Daisy’s forearm. “He’s down the hall at Mrs. Frattiani’s.”

Daisy leaned back in her chair. “So talk. And don’t you dare leave anything out.”

Twenty minutes later, Daisy said, “Oh. My. God.” She turned to Gray. “You weren’t kidding about not kidding. Alex, you should have told me sooner.”

“No, she shouldn’t have,” Dom interjected. He’d been watching Daisy intently the entire time Alex had relayed her situation. “Just knowing about this puts you somewhat at risk.”

“Me?” Daisy jabbed a purple-painted fingernail at her chest. “Who’s going to protect Alex and Nicky? I’m staying here tonight, and every night until those bastards are arrested. They shouldn’t be alone in this apartment.”

“I agree.” Gray stood and picked up Daisy’s coat from where she’d draped it on the back of her chair. “That’s why I’m staying the night. You’re going home.”

Alex stared at Gray, dumbfounded. “You’re going to sleep here?”

“Yes.”

That’s when she realized this had been part of Gray’s plan from the beginning. The duffel bag he’d carried inside didn’t contain tools. It was an overnight bag.

Dom likewise stood and easily pulled out Daisy’s chair with her still on it. The chair’s legs scraped lightly on the floor. “How did you get here?” he asked.

“I cabbed it.” Daisy looked first to Dom then narrowed her eyes at Alex. “Are you okay with this arrangement?”

“I’ll be fine. I promise.” Alex hugged her friend, hoping her last words were true. “But thank you for worrying.”

“I’ll take you home.” Dom took Daisy’s coat from Gray, draping it over her shoulders then guiding her to the door.

“Call me.” Daisy pointed her finger at Alex. “If you don’t, I’ll call the FBI, or the CIA, or the NSA to look for you.” She shot Gray a stern look. “And you, tough guy, if you hurt her, I’ll—”

“Say good night, Daisy.” Dom opened the door and gently urged her into the hallway. Over his shoulder, he grinned and rolled his eyes at Gray.

Gray shut the door behind them. Soon Alex would have to pick up Nicky at Mrs. Frattiani’s, but for the moment they were completely alone. And he was spending the night.

She met Gray’s gaze and swallowed. Hard.

How the hell am I supposed to get through the night knowing Gray—the man I’ve dreamed about for nearly a year—will be sleeping in my apartment?

Chapter Ten

Standing in Alex’s open doorway, Gray watched her walk down the hallway to her neighbor’s apartment. He’d shed his coveralls but still wore dark dress slacks, a light blue business shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, and his shoulder holster.

Alex sent him a worried look as she knocked on the other apartment’s door and was invited inside. Christ. All the woman had to do was look at him and his restraint nearly went out the window.

The only one who knew how messed up in the head he was about Alex was Dom. They never talked much about personal shit, but Dom knew. They’d been friends for a long time, since they first crossed paths in Afghanistan, and there wasn’t much about Gray’s life that his partner wasn’t privy to.

A few years after Gray got on with the NYPD, Dom also joined the department. Since then, Gray learned Dom was the most perceptive sonofabitch he’d ever met. Sometimes it was like the guy could see into Gray’s blackened soul and read things others couldn’t. Sure enough, when Dom ushered Daisy out the door, grinning over his shoulder, he knew damn well what was pinging around in Gray’s brain.

Staying here tonight was going to be one of the toughest assignments Gray ever had. Then again, Dom could have been grinning like an idiot over Daisy.

It hadn’t escaped Gray that his partner couldn’t take his eyes off Alex’s friend and seemed all too eager to drive her home. It was like he’d been bushwhacked by Cupid. Gray hadn’t seen him interested in a woman since…the day that changed both their lives.

The sound of a door shutting yanked him back to reality. That, and the pounding of little feet as Nicky ran down the hall. The boy’s exuberance was impossible to ignore, so Gray lifted him into his arms.

“You’re back, Mr. Policeman.” Nicky looped his arms around Gray’s neck. “I’m glad.”

“So am I.” The words were out of his mouth before he could take them back. He glanced at Alex, whose lips held the barest hint of a smile.

Gray was unable to resist smiling into Nicky’s dark brown eyes. Eyes so different from Alex’s in color, yet not so different. The more he looked at Nicky, the more of Alex he saw in the boy. Nicky may have gotten his father’s dark coloring, but his aristocratic features were all Alex.

“How old are you?” he asked, figuring the boy was between six and eight.