Page 53 of Tough Justice

After glaring for several seconds at Deck’s back, her father led the way inside, letting Thor gallop ahead of them. Just before going in, Deck whispered in her ear, “Something I should know?”

Warm breath tickled her neck and she shivered. “Uh…” Too late now, Mr. Special Agent. She’d tried to save his ass. Looked like her dad would spill the beans in his own sweet time.

She’d never wanted to tell Deck about her family. Given the fact that she hadn’t heard from him for over a week, she assumed she’d never have to. Part of her wanted to protect him from her father, which was silly. Deck was a grown man—a huge man, actually—and a federal agent perfectly capable of standing up to her father, if and when it became necessary.

“After you.” In a gesture becoming familiar to her, he put his hand at the small of her back just as her father turned around to catch the subtle gesture and arched a questioning brow.

Her face heated. Deck was the first man she’d brought to a family dinner, colleague or otherwise. No wonder her family was making assumptions. She’d have to end those thoughts stat.

When they were all in the kitchen, she grabbed a large bowl from the cupboard, filling it with water and setting it on the floor. Thor happily lapped up half the contents, licking his snout then expressing his thanks with a wet nuzzle to her hand.

“You’re welcome, boy.” She stroked his velvety-soft ears, appreciating the soothing nature dogs had on people. It couldn’t have come at a better time.

Tori reached for another bowl on the higher shelf but couldn’t reach it.

“I’ve got this.” Deck stretched a long arm over her head, plucking the bowl from the top shelf and grazing his arm against her bare shoulder. Her skin prickled with goose bumps, and she crossed her arms to ward off anything else on her body getting prickly again.

“Thanks.” She stepped aside for him to fill the other bowl with kibble.

Her dad watched on intently yet silently. The only sign of the turmoil Tori knew without a doubt was seething inside him was the muscle twitching in his cheek.

“Dinner’s about ready.” Margo piled up thick slices of ham surrounded by root vegetables on a large platter.

To her shock, her dad opened the refrigerator and pulled out two beers, handing one to Deck. “Beer?”

Am I in another dimension?

“Thank you.” Deck accepted the beer and twisted off the cap.

For a fleeting moment, Tori had the ridiculous thought that her dad might’ve slipped something into his drink. Hopefully, Deck wouldn’t drop dead on the spot.

“Tori?” Her dad held out another beer, her usual microbrew.

“Uh, no.” She shook her head. “I think I’ll fix something else.” Like vodka, straight up.

“So tell me, Deck,” her father said. “What made you want to work for the DEA?”

“I wanted to help people by getting illegal drugs off the street,” Deck answered without flinching.

“And how long have you been…helping people?”

Oh, boy. Here it comes.

“Fourteen years.”

Her dad took a sip of his beer then swallowed. “How do you feel about working for an agency that imposes excessive rules on small business, say mom-and-pop pharmacies, but allows pharmaceutical companies to essentially skirt the same laws and do whatever they please to line their pockets?”

Again, Deck didn’t hesitate. “Given that pharmaceutical companies are responsible for supplying drug stores with their products, they should be held to even higher standards. Unfortunately, in Washington, money talks. Big Pharma has a lot of lobbying power, and that’s way above my pay grade.”

Her dad pursed his lips then narrowed his eyes on Deck.

“Anything else you’d like to ask?” Deck offered.

Her dad shook his head. “That’ll do. For now,” he tacked on half under his breath.

The corners of Deck’s mouth lifted slightly, telling Tori he’d heard every word.

“Well.” Margo put on a bright smile. “Dad, Deck, you might as well go in and sit down.”