Lacey stared at her for a moment, and Gray wondered what she saw. Allie was young, much younger than he was. Probably in her mid-twenties. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Her top was low-cut and a bit tight. He thought he caught sight of a bruise on her breast.
That could be from anything, he told himself. Or her bastard boyfriend could be back in the picture.
“I’ll have some soda water, please. With lemon, if you have it.”
“Sure thing.”
Lacey continued to study the other woman as she walked away.
“Not much of a celebratory drink,” Gray commented.
“I don’t drink.”
“Don’t like the taste?”
“Don’t like feeling out of control.”
That was interesting. But it fit with what he’d observed of her. Whatever she did was so careful and precise, from the way she dressed to how she worked. Her desk looked almost as naked as it had before she’d taken up residence, with just a pen and notebook to show that someone worked there. Where was the clutter? The mess? There was tidy, and then there was just bare.
“You don’t think you could stop at just one?”
She gave him a withering look, but at least she wasn’t avoiding looking at him again. And she was talking to him about something other than work. A miracle.
“Of course I can. But not everyone is capable of stopping themselves.”
“No, they’re not.” He wondered if she knew how much she was revealing. It would be interesting to see how much she’d divulge if she was distracted.
“There’s something wrong with her.”
“Pardon?” he asked, surprised by the change of subject.
She nodded over at Allie. “She’s moving stiffly. I take it she doesn’t normally walk like that.”
He studied Allie again. Saw the way she favored her left side. Then he looked over at Hunter and noticed the way he and Cady stared at Allie. Cady whispered something to Hunter who nodded and lifted her off his lap, giving her ass a sharp tap. Cady turned to glare at him, and he just grunted.
How was it Hunter found someone so perfect for him and Gray hadn’t? Not that he thought he was a great catch or anything, but at least he could talk about his emotions without going into cardiac arrest.
“Cady will talk to her.”
She lifted one eyebrow. “And you think she’ll tell you what’s going on? Because from the look of her, I’d say she’s at least got some bruised ribs. And considering there’s one visible bruise on the upper part of her breast, I’m thinking she didn’t bruise her ribs in an accident. It’s possible, of course. But then there’s also the guarded look in her eyes and the look of fear she occasionally has.”
“Her boyfriend used to abuse her. I thought we’d gotten rid of him, but it’s possible he’s back, and she hasn’t told us.”
He studied Connor, saw his face darken as Cady spoke to Allie. The younger woman shook her head, looking scared and Connor clenched his hands together.
“You better tell Connor to get that look off his face if he wants her to feel comfortable a
round him. I think she’s been around enough anger.”
“You’re very observant.”
“It’s my job to be.”
Allie finally nodded her head, and Cady gave her a card then moved back over to Hunter. “He’s back,” she said as she settled on his lap. Hunter hugged her tight.
“I’ll get rid of him,” Hunter said darkly.
“Actually, I think it’s my turn,” Connor told them. “By the time I’m through with him, he’ll wish he’d never come back here.”