Murders & Romance: A Psychic Detective Romantic Mystery (Isaac Taylor Mysteries Book 5) by Lashell Collins (ready player one ebook .TXT) 📗

some badass out of an action movie. And now I see for myself that you’ve got the bruises to prove it.”

Sidney looked up at her, dumbfounded. Was that really what Ann and Tyneesha thought? Because she certainly hadn’t felt like an action hero last night. She lifted a hand and lightly touched her bruised cheek.

“Well, it… it was just… instinct, I guess. A reflex.”

Zoe shook her head.

“Um mmm. Women who’ve been abused don’t reflexively spring into action when faced with an irate male. That’s something that only comes with careful training and determination. And I know you’ve been taking self-defense classes and the like. I think last night, we’re finally seeing the results of all your hard work in that area. Well done, Sidney.”

Sidney took a proud, but uneasy breath and let it out slowly. She hadn’t thought much about her defensive actions last night. After it all happened, she’d been much too preoccupied with how her feelings about loosing the baby had played into the rage she’d directed at Ann’s husband. But hearing Zoe talk about her training now gave her an unfamiliar sense of pride in her ability to take care of herself.

And others.

She’d defended them all last night, and she’d prevailed.

A small smile erupted on her lips.

She’d done it.

She could honestly say she’d kicked a man’s ass.

Granted, that man had been weakened by his drunken state, but that didn’t matter. She’d faced him and won.

Her smile grew bigger.

“Thanks, Zoe.”

“You’re welcome. Now… what’s this I hear about the strange tension between you and Lance Tobey in the midst of everything that happened last night?”

Sidney’s smile vanished, and she rolled her eyes at the mention of him.

“Julie told me she thought she’d walked in on something pretty heated when the police arrived. She said you looked extremely pissed.”

“Julie’s a little chatterbox, isn’t she?”

“Don’t blame the messenger, Sidney. Julie was doing her job of keeping me informed of what went on overnight. Now, tell me what happened.”

Sidney sighed and crossed her legs, leaning back in her desk chair. Then she looked her boss in the eyes.

“First, he did something inappropriate. And when I called him out on it, he said something very inappropriate. So, yes, I put him in his place with a few choice words. That’s when Julie and the police showed up.”

“And your fiancé.”

“Yes. I’d sent Isaac a text right after the incident with Ann’s husband, and he showed up right after the officers did, to check on me.”

“Well, back up a bit. What inappropriate thing did Lance do that upset you?”

Sidney hesitated and sighed.

“When he was tending to my wounds, he kissed me.”

Zoe’s eyebrows shot for the roof.

She rushed forward and sat on the corner of Sidney’s desk.

“He kissed you?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, my God! Was it good?”

Sidney stared at her.

“It was unwelcome, Zoe! And when I pointed out why it was unwelcome, he said that he believed things weren’t going well in my relationship. Like that somehow gave him permission. And, that’s a notion he could’ve only gotten from lurking in the doorway the other day when we were talking.”

Zoe’s expression fell, but Sidney kept ranting.

“Then he had the nerve to say that maybe I was so upset because I secretly wanted him to kiss me!”

“Oh, boy.”

“Yeah! That’s when I really let him have it, and I pointed out that he was treating me like the inferior-weaker-sex-playthings that Neanderthal-bullies always accuse women of being.”

“Ouch.”

“Yeah, well, he had it coming. Trying to tell me I don’t know my own mind? Of all the degrading, condescending, self-esteem-killing things to say to a formerly abused woman!”

“Okay. I can see we’re still a little hot about this issue.”

Zoe stood and moved over to her own desk.

“Can you blame me?” Sidney stared at her. “Zoe, come on. I know you’ve got this little crush on him, but…”

“I don’t have a crush!”

“…please tell me that you understand why I’m so pissed off. The guy acted every bit as bad as Ann’s husband, only without using his fists!”

Zoe sighed, and Sidney could hear the disgust in that sound.

“Shit. That is not what I wanted to hear.”

“I know. And I’m sorry, but… if you could’ve heard his words and seen the smug smirk on his face.” Sidney’s tone was softer when she said, “Felt the humiliation he tried to lay on me.”

“I’m so disappointed. I thought he was better than that. Tell me, was his behavior bad enough to terminate his volunteer work here?”

“Terminate?”

That word made her look up and give Zoe her full attention.

Zoe nodded.

“Well, I can’t have him volunteering here and speaking to the residents the way he spoke to you, can I? Makes me wonder if he’s made anyone else feel uncomfortable in the past.”

Sidney sighed. She didn’t want to get anyone fired. Even if it was just a volunteer position for him.

“I honestly don’t know if he was deliberately trying to demean me, or if he just wanted to save face after being turned down.”

“Well, either way, he said all the wrong things, didn’t he?”

“Well, that’s certainly true.”

Zoe seemed to study her for a moment before she spoke again.

“The decision is yours, Sidney. If you feel uncomfortable around him after last night just let me know, and I’ll take care of it.”

Sidney stared at her. How was she supposed to respond to that? If she were being truthful, almost from the moment she’d met him, the good doctor had made her skin crawl with imaginary chiggers. But she’d learned to push that unease aside and ignore him, for the most part.

“Let’s just see how it goes for now, okay?”

“All right. If you’re sure.”

Zoe left the office then, and Sidney got to work on some of the administrative tasks she handled every day. She pushed all thoughts of the previous night behind her. Well… as much as the dull throb in her right cheek would allow.

She worked steadily through to lunchtime, when she stopped and went into the shelter’s kitchen and heated up a cup of noodles.

Once lunch was over, she gathered the math