Southpointe Circle, Hoover, 6:01 p.m.

I don’t have to go in.” Lori hoped to come off as a martyr when she really was a total coward.

She did not want to go in that house—the home of Chet’s ex-wife, Sherry. Her domain. Her territory, where she had the home field advantage.

The last time Sherry dropped by their apartment to pick up little Chester she’d acted more indifferent than usual toward Lori. Chet’s ex had been all smiles and congratulatory when she first heard the news about Lori and him moving in together. Those first couple of meetings after that had been all sugary sweet. Not anymore.

The ex-wife and mother to Chet’s only child had decided she wanted or needed to hold her ground for reasons Lori couldn’t fathom.

Wasn’t it always that way? Sherry had wanted the divorce. The sooner the better. The ink was barely dry on the paper when she turned up engaged to another man—a big, powerful executive, according to Sherry, named William. Chet, however, tried not to hold it against her. For his son’s sake, he insisted, they needed to remain friends.

“I want you to come in,” Chet assured her softly. “We’re together now. Partners in more ways than one.” He smiled. “In every way. Don’t let her make you feel unwelcome. I gave her that power for a long time, but I’m over it now. Come on.”

He climbed out and rounded the hood to Lori’s door.

She sighed and did what she had to do. The one thing she wasn’t going to do was allow her insecurities with Sherry to hurt Chet. Or Chester. The kid was starting to grow on her.

“Just so you know,” Lori said quietly as they strolled up the walk, “I got the distinct impression on Saturday when we picked up Chester to go to the zoo and then again on Sunday that your ex doesn’t like me very much.”

Chet took her hand in his and squeezed. “Sounds like she has a problem.” He hesitated at the door. “But we don’t.” He grinned as he pressed the doorbell.

Lori relaxed then. He was right. Sherry’s problems weren’t their problems. If she didn’t like Lori that was too bad.

The door opened and Sherry, looking stunningly fit and tanned in a white dress, made a face. “Didn’t you get my message?”

“What message?” Chet’s posture stiffened as if he feared the worst. “Is Chester okay?”

“William and I had to cancel our dinner plans. Chester has a fever. He’s resting in his room. I left a message at your office with Chad Cook. Didn’t he tell you?”

Chet shook his head. “Did you take him to the doctor?”

“He has a fever.” She waved it off. “It’s probably a virus. He’ll be fine tomorrow, but tonight he needs to stay home.”

Sherry avoided eye contact with Lori. The slightly higher pitch in her tone she couldn’t hide. If Lori were a betting woman she’d wager the part of her savings that wasn’t earmarked for her sister’s college fund the woman was lying. Making a scene by suggesting as much wouldn’t do any good. The fact that Sherry had left the message at the office rather than just calling or texting Chet spoke volumes. She set up this moment to make Chet feel helpless. To show Lori, in person, who was boss.

“Since Chester isn’t feeling well,” Lori offered, forcing Sherry to acknowledge her presence, “why don’t you go on in and give him a kiss good night?” She gave Chet her best smile. “I’ll wait here. He may not feel up to seeing us both.”

Chet looked from Lori to Sherry and back. “I’m sure you can come inside. You don’t need to wait out here.”

“He’s asleep,” Sherry announced. “Didn’t I say that?” She pressed her fingertips to her temples in exasperation. “I don’t know whether I’m coming or going. The thing is, Chester needs to rest now.” To Lori she pointed out, “When small children are sick company of any sort can be a problem. He can call you tomorrow,” she informed Chet before stepping back to close the door. “Sorry about the mix-up.”

“It’s all right,” Chet relinquished. “If he wakes up, tell him I love him.”

“Of course. Good night.”

The door closed.

Side by side Lori and Chet returned to the car. She kept quiet, waiting to see what his take was on the situation. Sharing custody of a child was tough enough. She didn’t want to add to the angst. The disappointment he felt now was obvious as hell.

What a bitch.

Chet didn’t say anything at all until they were driving away. “I don’t know why Sherry lied to us that way. She hasn’t always been the easiest person to deal with, but she’s never done that before.”

“That’s the impression I got, too.” Lori was glad he saw through the ploy. “Maybe she doesn’t want Chester around me.” The idea kicked Lori in the gut but she couldn’t pretend that wasn’t a strong possibility.

“I hope that’s not the case.” Chet glanced at her as he navigated the intersection that would take them away from his son’s neighborhood. “If it is, she’s in for a rude awakening.”

His words should have made Lori feel better about his ex’s blatant dislike for her, but somehow they didn’t. The last thing she wanted was to become an obstacle standing between him and his son.

For the second time in the last half hour he reached for her hand. “You’re beautiful and smart, Lori. It’s natural for her to be a little jealous, especially of the idea that Chester might fall in love with you, too. Sherry isn’t a bad person. She’ll come around when she’s had time to think about the futility and pettiness of her behavior. I remember how I felt when she and William moved in together. I was certain he would try to take my place as Chester’s dad, but the fact is, he hasn’t done that at all. Sherry may be going through a similar reaction.”

One thing Lori knew with complete certainty: the woman had never deserved this man. Not for a minute, much less for the years she’d made him miserable.

“Thanks. I needed to hear that.”

He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her there. “I’ll never tire of telling you how beautiful and special you are.”

They needed a subject change, or she was going to climb over that console and show him a little of her gratitude. “This new development with Spears has Jess pretty rattled.”

“It’s a bad situation. I don’t know how the hell the FBI will ever find and stop this guy. As much as I want to see that happen, our priority has to be keeping her safe—even when she doesn’t want us to. Chief Burnett is damned worried.”

Lori would never forget the look on the chief’s face in that conference call with Special Agent Gant when he gave Jess the bottom line about Spears and his friends. “Spears’s followers could be anywhere.” The whole concept was totally insane. How could they hope to protect her or anyone else from that kind of threat? “Watching her and waiting to do that bastard’s bidding.”

They couldn’t fully protect her. No one could. Not even the chief of police.

“How was she holding up when you took her home?” Harper asked.

“She’s in denial.” No matter how incredibly smart and experienced Jess was, this was personal, and personal had a way of rendering the smartest, most experienced person a little off balance. “She’ll never admit it in a million years, but this has shaken her big-time. I think deep inside she’s scared.”

“You think everything’s okay between her and the chief? She seems a little flustered, more so than usual, when he’s around.”

Lori had noticed that, too. “She hasn’t mentioned anything.” Not that she necessarily would. “Anyone who knows her can see she’s really edgy lately.”

“She has a lot on her plate,” Chet agreed. He glanced at Lori, his eyes somber. “I have a bad feeling this is going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better.”