Free Beneath the Skin: de La Vega Cats, Book 3 by Lauren Dane

meant to do.”
    “I like that.”
    “I feel very fortunate. A lot of people, hell maybe most of them, don’t get to do things they feel born to do.”
    “The Bringer is the heart of the jamboree,” she said softly, quoting the story.
    And he was. The Bringer was justice, not vengeance. The Bringer protected and kept the cats safe. Guarded their rules and laws and found and judged the wrongdoers. It was a big job. One she wouldn’t have wanted at all. Being judge and jury had to be pretty damned tough.
    “I try very hard to do that justice. My mother would most likely spank me if I didn’t. She’s very smart that way. A judge in her own right.”
    She enjoyed that he respected his mother so much. From what she could tell, Imogene deserved respect and had raised at least one very decent son into adulthood, so that was a big reason to respect her right there.
    They sat and had more tea and talked books for another hour or so until he walked her back home.
    “Would you like to come up?”
    “Yes, I would.”
    But his phone rang and he paused to answer.
    By the tone she knew he was going to have to leave. Which bummed her out because she wanted to leap on him and jump his bones.
    He put the phone back in his pocket. “I have to go.” He shook his head. “Trouble back at work. I’ll see you soon though. All right?”
    She nodded.
    He stepped close and pulled her to him, his lips brushing over hers once and twice before he settled in for a long, sensual kiss that left her weak-kneed.
    “Bye for now, Mia. Be safe.”
    He held the door for her and she went inside. “You too.”
    And she watched him jog to his car just across the street, admiring that stellar butt of his.
    She might have sighed wistfully.
     
     
    “You’re looking better than you have in a long time.”
    Mia looked up as her mother spoke. “Thanks.”
    “Apparently getting shot isn’t the key. Does it have anything to do with how much time you’ve spent with Gibson de La Vega?”
    She sipped her tea, thinking over what she’d say. There was something between them. Aside from the amazing sex, which would have been more than enough on its own. But it wasn’t what her mother thought. She didn’t even have time for what her mother thought.
    “You make it sound like I’m with him every minute of the day. He’s investigating what happened to me. I helped him after he got shot. It’s not unusual that I’d be spending time with him. He’s a nice enough cat.” She shrugged.
    Mia’s mother snorted. “Of all the people on Earth for you to tell that story to, you think your mother is going to buy it? Plenty of nice boys out there, Mia. I’m not opposed to you finding one.”
    “Not looking for a nice boy. I’m not getting shot because I have a crush on the Bringer. Anyway, too much stuff on my plate just now. Dating is low on the list. I need to find a place to live and a job first.”
    “You have a job.”
    “Mom, you guys can’t keep me on. I know there’s some seasonable stuff now, which is why I’m happy to stay on for a bit. But we both know the shop is fully staffed with you and Drew. And I can’t afford to work part time. Especially once the physical therapy ends.”
    “Are you going to go back to school, then? What is it you want to do with your life?”
    She sighed. “I was thinking of finishing my degree.”
    Her mother shrugged. “Baby, you don’t want to be an engineer.”
    “You’re the mom. You’re supposed to encourage things like engineering degrees. Good degree. Good prospects.”
    “You don’t want to be an engineer. It’s why you left school to join the military in the first place. I’m all in favor of you having a good, solid career, but I’m not a fan of you doing something you’ll be unhappy with. Especially when you’re plenty capable of doing something you do love. Like flying.”
    “I haven’t totally ruled it out. But did you hear two airlines just passed internal rules that they won’t hire