Dead By Midnight by Beverly Barton

of your visit this evening? Why put yourself out for little old me?”
    â€œDamn it, Lorie, that smart mouth of yours—” Grimacing, he clenched his teeth together and snorted. “I came by here to apologize.”
    â€œWhat?”
    Their gazes met and locked. For a split second, she thought she saw something achingly familiar in the way he looked at her. But the expression vanished so quickly that she realized she had probably imagined it.
    â€œI let my personal feelings get in the way of doing my job,” he admitted. “I had no right to assume you were lying about being threatened and to dismiss your concerns as if they were nothing. I’m sorry.”
    To say she was stunned was a gross understatement. She never thought she would live to see the day that Mike would ever again apologize to her for anything.
    â€œI’m sorry, too,” she told him. “I’m sorry that I gave you reasons to believe I’d do anything to get back into your good graces. I should have accepted the fact, years ago, that you didn’t want to have anything to do with me…and with good reason.”
    He shuffled uncomfortably. “Yeah, sure. Apology accepted. So, what about you?”
    She forced a fragile smile. “Apology accepted.”
    â€œGood. Why don’t I help you close up shop and then I’ll follow you home.”
    â€œThere’s nothing to do except turn out the lights, get my purse, and lock the back door on my way out.”
    â€œI’ll walk you to your car,” he said. “You’re parked in back, right?”
    â€œRight.”
    She glanced at him briefly. He smiled. Her nerves tingled with awareness. This was the first time since her return to Dunmore that Mike had smiled at her.
    Don’t make too much of it. He’s just doing his best to be civil, to do his job, to prove to you and Maleah—and probably to Jack and Cathy—that he won’t allow his personal feelings to interfere with doing his duty.
    Â 
    Mike loaded Lorie’s suitcase into her Edge SUV and closed the hatch. “All set?”
    â€œYes, but it’s really not necessary for you to escort me to Maleah’s. I’m sure you’d rather be home having dinner with your children.”
    â€œHannah and M.J. are visiting Molly’s parents over in Muscle Shoals this weekend. Carl and Gail picked them up right after school today. They stay with them on average one weekend a month and they go over for a couple of weeks every summer.”
    â€œI know your wife’s parents appreciate your being so generous with the kids.”
    â€œIt’s what Molly would have wanted.”
    Lorie smiled and nodded before moving away from him and grasping the driver’s side door handle. “I’m ready to go.”
    â€œI’ll be right behind you.”
    As soon as she pulled out of her driveway, he started the truck’s engine and fell in behind her. He really wasn’t sure why he was doing this.
    Paying penance, maybe.
    His feelings for Lorie hadn’t changed. He still hated her, still wished she would leave Dunmore and never come back, still wanted to drag her off to the nearest bed and fuck her like crazy.
    But he owed her the common courtesy of showing her that the sheriff’s department intended to do everything possible to keep her safe. He might despise Lorie, but he couldn’t bear the thought of someone killing her. She might deserve some of the bad things that had happened to her, but she didn’t deserve to die.
    You’re an idiot, Birkett. A damn idiot.
    Lorie didn’t deserve any of the bad things that had happened to her. Just because she’d left him high and dry, had broken his heart and nearly destroyed him didn’t mean she should be punished forever for wanting a life he couldn’t be a part of. She had begged him to go to LA with her.
    â€œOh, Mike, it’ll be so much fun,” she had said.