“Go to work,” Valentina said.“I’llbefine.”
“The doc said you needed to takeiteasy.”
“And I will.But it’s not like I’m on bed rest, and Trinity won’t let me lift a fingeranyway.”
“But when she has to leave forclass—”
“I’ll tell anyone who needs a piece crated they can pick it up later.You don’t work here, so you’re not staying.Go do your job, and I’ll do mine the same way I did before your super-sperm knockedmeup.”
I stepped away from the statue blocking me from their view.“Congratulations.”
Both of them whirled on me, but it was Rix whospoke.
“What the hell are youdoinghere?”
“Came looking for you, but I didn’t realize you had a lot more important things happening.I’ll find another way.”I wasn’t going to drag Rix into this after learning they were expecting a kid.I wasn’t that much of anasshole.
“Oh no, not you too.Whatever you need from him isn’t changing just because I’ve got a bun intheoven.”
“Duchess—”
When Valentina raised an eyebrow, Rix released a frustrated breath.“Fine.But I’m bringing you lunch at noon to make sure you eat, and you’re leaving on time today.Noworkinglate.”
“Deal.”She leaned forward and kissed him before turning toward me.“You get him into any trouble, Rhett, I expect you to get him outofit.”
“Yougotit.”
“Good.Now both of you, shoo.I have thingstodo.”
Rix took one last look at his wife before she disappeared into the back room, and then turned to me.“You must need something awful bad to be tracking medownhere.”
“It wasn’t my firstchoice.”
He led me out of the shop.“Don’t do it again.I got my reasons, and now youknow’em.”
“Sorry, man.I wouldn’t have come here if I’dknown.”
“Crazy to think I’m gonna be a dad in a fewmonths.”
“Definitelycrazy.”
I followed him to a blacked-out SUV and the lightsblinked.
He nodded toward the passenger side.“Getin.”
After I climbed inside, Rix pulled away from Noble Art.“You wanted to find me, and you found me.What’sgoingon?”
I glanced around the interior.“You sweeplately?”
Rix nodded, and it was good to know some things didn’tchange.
“Did you hear about what happened lastnight?”
“To SkipSampson?Yeah.”
“You read thereport?”
Rix shook his head.“Haven’t been to the station yet.Didn’t plan to at all today.Once I get a look at the report, I can fill you in,though.”