Pulls us both under.

She’s wrapped around me, holding on for a few minutes while we gather our wits.

“Was that your way of marking your territory?”

“I believe that’s what you’re mine means, Sarah.”

“You could have just peed on me,” she says sarcastically.

“I’m not into that.” I place a loud kiss on her neck. “This is much more enjoyable.”

“Agreed,” she says with a laugh. “Geez, Adam, that was so hard, I don’t know if I’ll be able to walk back out there.”

I grin. “You’re welcome.”

Chapter Eight

~Sarah~

“Mommy, why does Becca have to go to school today, but I don’t?” Hailey asks me as we walk toward the leopard exhibit at the New Orleans zoo.

“Because she’s in college and you’re in kindergarten,” I remind her. “Your teachers had meetings today.”

Of course, I don’t mention that it feels like her teachers have meetings every other week. Not that I’m complaining today because it gave me a reason to take the day off of work to spend with my little girl.

“I’m sad that Becca couldn’t come to the zoo,” Hailey says. “She loves the zoo!”

“She’ll come next time,” I assure her and kiss her head, breathing in her little girl smell. “Have I told you lately what a sweet girl you are?”

“Yes,” she says and giggles. “Oh look! Alangalangs!”

“Orangutan,” I reply, correcting her. “Do you like them?”

“Sometimes. But once, I saw one sniff its own poop.”

“Well, that’s kind of gross,” I reply.

“Yeah. But Trevor at school says he sniffs his own poop too.”

“Okay, let’s stop talking about poop,” I reply. “There’s a tiger!”

“Oh, and she has babies!” Hailey claps her hands and smiles as bright as the morning sun. “I love the babies.”

“I know you do,” I reply. “And I love my baby.”

“I’m not a baby,” she replies, still watching the tiger cubs romp and play around their mama. “I’m a grown-up girl.”

I laugh and squat next to her and we watch the babies for a long minute before my phone rings.

I frown at the screen, recognizing my work number, and answer.

“This is Cox.”

“Sarah, we need you to come in,” Ashley says.

“I’m off today. I’m not even on call,” I reply and pace two steps away from Hailey as she waves at the tigers.

“I know, but we have an emergency over at the LaCroix house.” Ashley sighs, and I can hear the exhaustion in my coworkers voice. “He came back.”

“Are you freaking kidding me?” I screech, then lower my voice. “How? There’s a restraining order.” Why didn’t we get them out of there faster?

“Yeah, because those work.” Ashley’s voice is dripping with sarcasm. “He has them holed up in the house and won’t let them leave. The police are on scene. She’s asking for you.”

“Shit,” I mutter. “I’m at the zoo with Hailey, Ash. It’s going to take me a half hour to get there, minimum.”

“Just hurry.”

She disconnects, and I pause, trying to figure out who in the hell I can call to keep Hailey. Becca doesn’t get out of class until later this afternoon.

Adam.

I’ve come to lean on him a lot lately, and I’ll analyze this more later, but time is ticking.

“Hailey, I’m so sorry, but we have to go now.”

“Was that your work?” she asks.

“Yes, baby. I’m sorry.”

“Are there kids in danger?”

My sweet, smart girl.

“Yes, honey. There are.”

“Okay.” She takes my hand in hers and we walk back to the entrance to the zoo while I dial Adam’s phone.

“Hey, beautiful,” he says, with a smile in his voice. “Are you enjoying the zoo?”

“We were, but I need a favor.”

“Name it.” His voice is sober now.

“Can you take Hailey for me? It shouldn’t be for long, but I just got called in on an emergency case.”

“Of course,” he says. “Do you need me to meet you?”

“Where are you?”

“The bar.”

I wince, not thrilled at the idea of Hailey hanging out in the bar, but it’s early in the day, not midnight on a Saturday night, and Adam will be there.

“I’ll drop her off in twenty. Thank you, Adam.”

“It’s a no-brainer, Sarah. I’ll see you in a few.”

When we walk inside The Odyssey eighteen minutes later, I’m relieved to see that there aren’t any patrons here drinking yet today, and Adam is stocking clean glasses.

“Hi, Adam!”

“Hi, sweetheart.” Adam catches Hailey in his arms and hugs her tight. “You’re going to hang out with me for a while, okay?”

“Okay.”

“I’m gonna teach you how to earn your keep.”

“I don’t know what that means, but it sounds like fun.” Her nose wrinkles in an adorable flirty smile, making me laugh.

“I have to go.”

Before I can turn away, Adam catches my wrist in his hand and pulls me to him, kissing me firmly. “Be careful.”

“Always.” I pat his cheek, wink at Hailey, and hurry back out in the warm sunshine.

I’m stunned when I pull up to the scene. Cop cars block either end of the street, and there are policemen milling about, talking, looking at the deceptively quiet house.