“And later?”

“It was in my best interests to not speak of it in front of you or Mindy if I wanted to keep seeing you.”

“What do you mean?”

“It doesn’t matter. The point is, I’m sorry to be dumping all this on you at once. I wanted to tell you, but I wanted you in my life. I wanted to keep on seeing you and Mindy, so I kept my mouth shut. Grandma is going to flip out when she finds out.”

“I’m not going to say anything for a while. I want to think on everything you’ve told me. Read some of these things.”

“You should keep that binder to yourself.”

“That’s more lying. I told you, I hate it.”

She nodded. “I get it. I swear I do. So how about you be discreet? Do you think there’ll be the peace to think all this over if she sees the stuff in that binder?”

“This is dumb and awful and I hate it.”

She hugged him. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry to be giving you this major info dump. I really should have taken it slower.”

“I pushed. I want to know. You did the right thing.”

They walked to the door. “Text me when you get home, okay?” She kissed his cheek and hugged him before handing over the entire leftover pizza she’d ordered so he’d have breakfast.

“You got it. I’ll be discreet.” He held up the binder.

“Good. Thank you. Love you.”

He’d already been halfway down her steps when he called back that he loved her too.

Her phone rang right after she locked the door.

Chapter Fifteen

Royal raised his glass. “To you, darlin’.”

Caroline grinned and took a sip of her beer. “I can’t believe they played it during drive time.” She’d prerecorded the radio interview and played it during drive time.

“Clearly your cop friend likes you to hook you up nicely.” He smirked at her.

“He’s a nice guy who wants to do the right thing.”

“Sure and gaining the trust and affection of the hottest woman to cross his path ever.”

“Aw you’re jealous?”

He snorted but she blushed and may have giggled a little.

“Well, sir, when you come in to my house and there’s a naked man in my bed we can talk.”

It was his turn to blush as he nearly choked on his beer.

“Touché,” he croaked.

“Anyway. I’ll check the tip line tomorrow morning before we go over to Melissa’s.”

They were nestled in a corner booth up at the front window, a pitcher of beer between them, burgers ordered.

“It’s not such a bad way to spend a Friday night. Beautiful woman with great news. There will be some sexing going on when we get to my place. Just in case you were wondering. So that’s a good thing. Add beer and a good burger and, really, a man can’t ask for much more.”

“You’re sassy today.”

“I’m sassy every day.”

She laughed and caught sight of Anne and Beth coming in with Joe. Anne turned, and upon seeing Caroline, she waved and they all started over.

“Hey you,” Anne said to Caroline. “If you go over there and sit with him, we can join you.”

Caroline rolled her eyes, but it was teasing and taken in that manner. Anne slid in followed by Beth and Joe.

The newcomers ordered food and another pitcher before Anne turned to Caroline. “I heard you on the radio tonight.”

“He got a cancellation at nine last night. I went to his studio this morning after court and did the piece. I had no idea it would run during prime drive time. He was going to try for late afternoon.”

Anne nodded. “Cool. You made some really great points, by the way. I hope you find answers.”

Caroline smiled. “Stop being so nice.”

She nearly leered and it made Caroline guffaw. “All part of my plan.” Anne looked to Royal. “Doesn’t your girlfriend’s hair look fantastic?”

Royal’s gaze slid from Caroline’s mouth up to her hair and them back to her mouth before answering Anne. “She does. She told me she went into the salon, and you did it for her.”

“I told you she’d look good with that mahogany.” Beth nudged her sister’s arm.

Caroline had planned to see Tate but Tate had been called over to the preschool where one of her children had just puked, so in the end, Caroline had gambled on Anne and won. Thank goodness.

And as she walked out of the salon, Caroline sort of had to accept she really liked Anne and her sister Beth. Tate had shown up halfway through the color so Caroline had gotten to know her too.

Caroline gave her hair a flip and felt Royal’s attention on her hot and hard for long moments.

The server brought more beer and some food. During all the chaos, Royal leaned over, his lips against her ear. “It makes me so hard when you flip your hair like that.”

She kept her eyes on her beer but smiled into the glass.

“Hey, Caroline!”

She looked up to find Elliot Charles standing there.

“Hey, Elliot!” She turned to Royal. “Royal, this is Officer Charles, from Millersburg. Elliot, this is my boyfriend, Royal Watson.”

There was some hand shaking.

“This is Joe Harris and Beth Murphy.”

“I met Beth and Joe that weekend I chatted with Edward and Polly about you.” Elliot grinned at them and then turned his attention to Anne. Anne’s eyes went half-lidded and soon enough, Elliot’s had done the same.