LITMIR.BIZ

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slide inside before he shut the door for her. “Thanks,” she said, tugging the shoulder harness in place before buckling her seat belt.

      “Anytime.”

      Placing both hands on her steering wheel, she told herself not to look back up at him, just to turn the ignition, say goodbye and drive off. But she couldn’t. Nor could she stop herself from rolling her window down. “Thanks for a wonderful day, Quasar. I really enjoyed myself.”

      He crouched down, bringing his face level with hers, just outside the window. Their mouths were in kissing range. “So did I. Drive carefully.”

      “Okay.”

      He leaned his head in the window and copped a quick kiss from her lips...just like she’d been hoping he would do. “And no speeding, Randi.”

      She was tempted to stick her tongue out at him, but it was still tingling from the force of his kiss. Instead, in an authoritative voice meant to mimic his, she said, “And no speeding, Quasar.”

      He threw his head back and laughed. She started the engine and saw him move away and sprint ahead. She couldn’t help but appreciate how agilely he moved in his jeans. When she saw him get into his car, she pulled away from the curb. As she passed his SUV, she watched in the rearview mirror and saw him pull behind her.

      The drive to Zach and Anna’s home took about thirty minutes, and each time she glanced in the rearview mirror, Quasar was behind her, right on her tail, figuratively speaking. A comforting feeling filled her, knowing he was there.

      When she drove into Zach and Anna’s driveway to park right behind Trey’s car, she turned off the ignition, unbuckled the seat belt and got out. He’d stopped at the end of the driveway and had rolled down the window. “I’ll sit here until you go inside.”

      “Alright, and good night, Quasar.”

      “Good night, and I’ll see you next weekend.”

      She nodded and hurried up the walkway to the door.

      * * *

      QUASAR STAYED PUT until Randi had opened the door and gone inside. It was only then that he drove off. He’d gone half a block when he remembered the phone calls he’d gotten today. Twice. He had ignored both, not the least bit curious why his father had been trying to reach him. Didn’t matter. He’d had no intention of letting Louis intrude on his time with Randi.

      Since the drive back to the hotel would take a good thirty minutes, and considering the time difference between DC and California, he thought he would return the old man’s call now. When he came to the first traffic light, he used the car’s hands-free system to dial his father.

      “About time you returned my call.”

      Quasar chuckled, deciding not to tell Louis blatantly that in all honesty, he was lucky to get this phone call. “And the reason you tried reaching me?”

      “Doyle intends to announce his candidacy for mayor of Beverly Hills next weekend at the house. I want you here.”

      You can hold your breath for that to happen, Quasar thought. That’s how it had been in the past, though. Louis gave an order and he obeyed. Even if he had to jump through hoops to do so. Even if it meant spending three years in jail. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m busy next weekend.” Already he was looking forward to visiting Randi in Richmond. “Besides, I’m surprised you’d want me there, being an ex-con and all.”

      “You served your time. And I want to show family unity.”

      “Family unity doesn’t really exist with the Pattersons. Count me out.”

      “Look, Quasar, this is a serious matter,” Louis snapped.

      “Like I care. I haven’t been back home in ten years and I have no reason to return now, so like I said, count me out.”

      “It was your choice not to return to LA. We would have been glad to see you.”

      Yeah, right. When he’d been released seven years ago, he’d taken Shep’s advice and joined Striker and Stonewall in Charlottesville. There was nothing for him to return to in LA. It was a decision he’d never regretted making.

      “Tell that to somebody else, Louis. You haven’t seen me in ten years. Another ten won’t bother you.”

      “It’s not like I haven’t tried keeping the lines of communication open. I do call to check on you and make sure you’re okay. It’s not like I haven’t tried getting you to come home. Hell, you wouldn’t even tell me where you moved after you got out of jail or even how to reach you, for that matter. I probably still wouldn’t know if I hadn’t hired that private investigator.”

      Quasar drew in a deep breath, trying to keep his anger at bay. Yes, his father called from time to time, but usually it was with some BS. The old man always bragged about Doyle’s successes and highlighted what he saw as Quasar’s failures. The phone conversations were so draining mentally that Quasar regretted answering the calls.

      And the old man was right. He hadn’t let him know his whereabouts after leaving prison. He hadn’t seen the need. Neither his father nor Doyle had visited him or communicated with him while he’d been locked up. Not even during the time he’d nearly lost his life in jail and had to be hospitalized. Other than his godmother, no member of his family had given a damn. That was the main reason he had wanted to put as much distance between them as he could once he became a free man. He’d wanted a new life, one without the stench of them in it. He was determined to make something of himself without their criticisms, and to come to terms with the fact that he had a father and brother who didn’t give a fuck about him. He’d been able to do that by getting a surrogate family. Shep was the father figure Louis could never be, and Striker and Stonewall were the brothers Doyle had never tried being. Quasar was satisfied with his life.

      “Don’t you think it’s time for you and Doyle to call a truce?” his father asked.

      Truce? Honestly, Quasar didn’t think he and his brother were at war. Doyle was probably the same ass he’d been all his life. And as far as Doyle marrying Lilly, well, they were welcome to each other. It hadn’t taken him long to realize she’d just wanted to be married to a Patterson.

      “If it’s about him marrying Lilly,” his father continued, “then you need to get over it. They love each other.”

      He doubted Doyle or Lilly truly knew what love was. They equated love to opportunities. “Glad to hear it. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to—”

      “I need you to come home, Quasar. You should come home. Think about it.”

      Quasar shook his head. He should come home? There was no reason why he should. Over the years, Louis had said the same thing a number of times, and Quasar knew it was a biting burr in his father’s ass that he wasn’t there under his thumb for him to manipulate and control. “There’s nothing to think about. I’ve made plans for next weekend and don’t intend to change them.”

      He heard his father snort. “Why are you wasting your time working at that job? You’re my son. You should be working alongside Doyle to run Patterson Industries and—”

      “And do what? Wait for him to stick his hand in the cookie jar again so I can go to jail to protect him? No thank you. I’ll pass. Three years of serving time for a crime I didn’t commit was three years too long. But I don’t expect you to understand that. Now, goodbye.” Not giving his father a chance to say anything when there was nothing that could be said, he clicked off the phone.

      Plans were still on for him and Ryker to get together tomorrow. Then he would head back to Charlottesville by evening time. For now, he intended to put his father as well as his phone call, out of his mind. The only person he wanted to think about was Randi. He’d never been involved in a long-distance affair. In a way, long-distance equated to long-term, but would that be such a bad thing? At least he wouldn’t have to worry about her showing up unexpectedly at his place, and while he was on assignments, out of sight would

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