Free Justice for Corrie (Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Book 3) by Susan Stoker Page B

thrilled he’s managed to get someone as pretty as you to agree to be seen in public with his ugly self.”
    Corrie could hear the affection for his friend in Dax’s voice. She smiled as he continued, “I’ve also been working all day and I’d like to get home to Mack, my girlfriend. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow, by phone if that’s easier for you, or I’ll get in touch with Detective Algood, if you’re more comfortable talking to him. Either way, you both look too pretty to be cooped up in this apartment gabbing about something none of us can do anything about at the moment. Go out. Have fun.”
    Corrie looked up at where Quint was. “Is he always like that?”
    “Fuck no. He’s usually a pain in the ass and all about protocol. But I’m not looking a gift horse in the mouth. If he says to get out of here, I’m all for it.”
    “Okay, let me grab my jacket and purse.”
    “Here you go, Cor.” Emily was there with her stuff. “I’m going too. This works out great. I can get home to Bethany and our son and eat with them.”
    The foursome walked out of the apartment and Corrie reset the alarm and locked her door. As soon as the door was locked and Corrie had put her key away, Quint took her hand in his to lead her to the car. They all walked down to the parking lot together. Quint gave Dax a chin lift and he returned it before heading to his vehicle and easing out of the lot.
    “Call me tomorrow, Cor. I need to know what’s going on and what we’re doing next.”
    “ We aren’t doing anything, Em. I already told you, I’m not involving you any more than you already are.”
    “But—”
    It was Quint who interrupted her this time. “I’ll be in touch, Emily. I agree with Corrie, though. You shouldn’t be involved in this. I’ll take care of your friend.”
    “Swear?”
    “Swear.”
    “Okay…don’t do anything I wouldn’t do tonight then.”
    Corrie laughed out loud. “I don’t think that’s the best advice, knowing how much you love Bethany.”
    Quint watched the banter between Corrie and Emily with a grin. It was obvious that the two women were close. And the fact that Corrie wasn’t prejudiced made him like her all the more. Every scrap of information he picked up about the woman standing next to him, seemingly content to hold his hand, solidified the warm feeling in his belly that she was meant to be his.
    After Emily had gotten in her car and driven off, Quint returned his hand to the small of Corrie’s back. He felt her arch against him just a bit and he smiled. “Come on, sweetheart. I have a dinner to take you to.”

Chapter 7
    C orrie nervously unlocked her door , somehow managing not to drop her keys in the process. She could feel Quint standing at her side. He had one hand on her hip and she could feel his thumb caressing her side as he stood patiently, letting her unlock her apartment by herself.
    It was one of the four hundred twenty-three thousand things she found herself mentally calculating that she liked about the man. Holding her hand as he helped her navigate? Check. Asking her if she read Braille, then requesting a Braille menu from the hostess? Check. After the waiter put down their drinks, moving hers until it touched her hand so she’d know where it was? Check. Calmly and without fanfare explaining, by using a typical clock face, where the food was on her plate? Check.
    Even now, he could’ve been overbearing and asked for her keys so he could open her door for her, but he didn’t. He got it. He really seemed to understand that she wasn’t helpless because she couldn’t see.
    They’d talked a lot throughout dinner about how she got around and what assistive technologies she used in her everyday life. She promised to show him some of them when they got back to her place.
    Now they were here. Corrie’s heart beat quickly. He’d been touching her all night, and it was driving her crazy.
    She finally got the door open and she keyed in the code to the