One Bad Day (One Day) Read Free Page B

that—eyes closed—everything would go away.
    Gray cleared his throat.
    Clearly that wasn’t going to happen. She lifted her head and turned to look at him.
    He was staring at her. The intensity of his chocolate gaze had her squirming in her seat. She tried to remember exactly how many parking tickets there were. Five? Six? She was sure it was enough to get her arrested if the cops found out.
    “I’m officially off duty, so as soon as we get the all clear, we can go in,” he said. “Afterward, you’re going to need to answer some questions so that the detective can fill out a report.”
    Tessa watched as one of the officers came out of her apartment and called out to Gray.
    Gray turned to her. “Stay here.”
    She nodded.
    Gray got out of the car and strode up the steps to her apartment. With one hand holding the door open, he turned and shot her a fleeting glance before going inside.
    Tessa rubbed her eyes. It was a very, very bad day. She didn’t have much but the thought of someone pawing through her things and taking what little she had of value made her feel even more shaken than she already was. She leaned her head back and took deep breaths. She was not going to cry.
    Tessa startled when her door opened. Gray stood on the other side and handed her a pair of shoes. They were her running shoes that she always left near the door. With rapid movements, she laced them up and then stood.
    “It looks like someone was searching for something.” Gray took her elbow with a light touch. “Any idea what they’d be looking for?”
    Tessa shook her head.
    They made their way to her apartment, then Gray stopped her before she could enter. “I want you to be prepared. Your place is completely trashed.”
    Tessa took a deep breath and braced herself.
    Gray pushed the door open.
    “Oh crap!” Tessa covered her mouth with both hands.
    Her loveseat was torn to shreds, little cotton bunnies dusted the floor. Stuffing popped out of her couch where the cushions had been ripped. Pictures were knocked off the walls and there were various belongings strewn everywhere.
    She made her way further in. Kitchen drawers were dumped and silverware and broken glass littered the linoleum floor.
    An officer with blond hair came out of her bedroom and walked over to her. “Hi...” he glanced down at a notepad in his hand, “Ms. Manville. I’m Officer Burgess and I’m going to need to ask you some questions.”

Chapter Seven
    Gray stood next to Legs, who had just finished answering all of Burg’s questions.
    She turned and looked at him with shimmering blue eyes. “Um... Thanks for the ride and everything. I, uh, guess I’ll see you later.” Gray watched her lower lip quiver.
    Aw, hell!
    Legs—aka Tessa, as he now knew—was attacked in a parking garage, and came home to a trashed apartment, and she thought he was just going to leave? He knew he could be a jerk at times, but he wasn’t heartless.
    He blew out a breath and ran a hand through his hair. He heard Burg snicker. The asshole.
    “You can go now, Burg.” He walked over and opened the door.
    Burg elbowed him on his way out. “See you later, Stanley .”
    Gray gave him the finger and closed the door in his face.
    “Stanley?” Tessa cocked her head to the side and smirked.
    “My first name is Stanley,” he mumbled.
    “Stanley?” she repeated, a small smile spread across her face.
    “Stanley Grayson Kingsley.” He stared her down. “You’re one to talk, Misty .”
    She had an “oh shit” look on her face. “Are you going to arrest me?” she asked, her eyes wide. She had the bluest eyes he’d ever seen. Her lower lip quivered again.
    Shit . “Why would I arrest you?” He’d had Burg check her out and knew that she wasn’t guilty of anything illegal. He still couldn’t figure out why she wouldn’t tell him her real name.
    “Parking tickets,” she whispered.
    “Tickets?” He put his hands on his hips and looked at the ceiling. “You mean this whole