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at me with wide eyes and ran his hands through his perfectly styled hair. “Sweetheart, there is a difference between slapping your over friendly boss and taking on Don Knight. The man is the business, Fran. He won’t fuck about, he will hurt you.”
    I nodded and lowered my eyes. “That’s why he must never know, because he will hurt the people close to me to get it from me.”
    Gray made a funny gurgling noise and shot off his chair, his body above me imposing and broody as he scowled at me, “Excuse me.”
     
    I groaned as I watched him stalk to the bathrooms. He was persistent; his constant motivation to find out where the evidence I had against Don Knight was hidden, was becoming exhausting and getting rather irritating.
    What was it to him anyway? He wasn’t working this case with me and I couldn’t grasp what was worrying him so much. Something was prickling at my senses about it but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
     
    My phone ringtone chimed from inside my bag and I pulled it out, smiling as my father’s face filled the screen “Hey, Daddy.”
    “Pudding, you okay?” he asked, calling me by the nickname he had christened me with when I was five and had fallen into a huge bowl of trifle.
    His soft rumbly voice comforted my anguish immediately and I grinned happily, “I am. Are you still on for the race Sunday?”
    “Try and stop me. That’s what I was ringing about actually.” I frowned at his hesitant tone but remained silent, giving him clearance to carry on. “Well… would it be alright if I uhh, if I brought someone along?”
    I pursed my lips as my brows raised high on my forehead. He took my silence as a negative reaction and started flustering, “It doesn’t matter Fran, I’ll tell her no. The track is our…”
    “Daddy! Hold on,” I couldn’t help but laugh at his embarrassment. “It’s fine.” I paused for us both to catch our breath at his revelation, “What’s her name?”
    I heard him swallow and then release a huge breath. “Caroline.”
    “Okay, and how long have you been… seeing her?”
    “A couple of months” he answered quietly and my heart hurt for him.
    “Well that’s great,” I told him happily as I peered over at Gray walking back across the room. His shoulders were slumped as though he had a million weights pushing against him and his eyes were twitchy but downcast. “I have to go, Dad but I’ll phone you tomorrow night and work out Sunday’s plan.”
    “Great. Love you, Pudding.”
    “And you” I answered absent-mindedly as I placed my phone down and tilted my head at Gray. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
    He looked at me as though he didn’t recognise me for a moment then shook his head and smiled, “Nothing, just tired. Thank god it’s Friday.”
    I smiled at him before I took a sip of wine, “Yes, although I’m in the office tomorrow.”
    He frowned at me, “Why?”
    “Just… stuff.”
    He rolled his tongue over his teeth and I groaned inwardly as his anger became predominant once again. “You need any help? I could stay at yours tonight and help you out.”
    I shook my head, ignoring the darkening of his eyes at my decline, “No, it’s nothing I can’t handle; just paperwork.”
    “And judge’s arses to lick!” he added with contempt.
    “You know what, Gray. Sod this!” I stood and placed my palms on the table, leaning over it and into his face, “If you were working a case that required this much need for caution and confidentiality, I would accept that. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with you but maybe you ought to deal with it before you bother choking me in so much of your hatred.”
    “Fran!” He shouted after me as I stormed through the restaurant, people’s narrow eyes glaring and burning my cheeks as I refused to turn around and go back like I usually would.
     
    I knew this wasn’t just him. I knew it was as much me. He could sense me pulling away from him and I knew it was hurting him but I just couldn’t help