Undercover in Six Inch Stilettos Read Free Page A

watch Harper, and I will go to work with you on Friday night.”
    “Absolutely not.” Hopefully she didn’t sound as panicked as she felt. Apparently she did, because Jason stopped walking. He was wearing his cop look when he stepped in front of her.
    “And why not?” he demanded in his cop voice sternly.
    “Stop talking to me like you just arrested me!” Cyndi snapped, scrambling to buy a little time while she could come up with a believable response.
    “Cyndi…” There was a warning in his voice she had heard many times over the years. It used to drive her crazy, but now she was only mildly annoyed.
    “Wouldn’t it be sort of pointless to pay a babysitter for Harper so I can work? The sitter will cost more than I make.”
    “Quit your job.”
    “You know that’s not going to happen.” She started moving again, walking around the stoic figure of her husband. She prayed Jason would let the subject drop, but she should have known better. In two long strides, he was in front of her again, arms crossed, boot-covered feet shoulder-width apart. His interrogation stance. She had seen a couple of videos of him doing interrogations, and Jason always took that position when he was close to getting the information he wanted. He wore military style boots everywhere. It was one of his ‘readiness’ things. He always had to be prepared for anything, and flip-flops wouldn’t be good survival footwear.
    “You make fifty bucks a week. I am pretty sure we could survive without it.”
    “It’s not about the money, Jason. I told you that before.”
    “Then what’s it about?”
    His piercing gaze bore straight into her, but Cyndi stood her ground. “I’m not one of your suspects you need to interrogate. I am your wife.” He needed to listen to her, and she wasn’t going to back down.
    “It is about me having something all my own. My days and nights revolve around you and Harper, and I wouldn’t ever want to change a thing. I love you both with all my heart, but I still need something that is mine. Please try and understand that, J.J.”
    “Can’t you get a day job, then? Maybe work in a supermarket or something?”
    “And then there would be the problem of who would watch Harper. Friday nights are perfect. You’re home, she is with you, and the money I make is actually a contribution to our household.”
    “I don’t like it. You’re too vulnerable.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not weak, and I’m not a child.”
    “You don’t know what men are capable of, Cyn. I’ve seen…”
    “I know. You’ve seen some terrible things. I get that. But you can’t keep Harper and me locked away in a tower.”
    His face softened slightly with a half-smile as he reached up and pushed her wind-blown hair behind her ear. “I know I can’t, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to.”
    Standing on tip-toe, she kissed her husband on the cheek. A series of cat calls and whistles sounded from the beach where a group of middle school boys were playing sand soccer. Jason growled but Cyndi laughed and waved as they walked on. Maybe it was time to start thinking about another child.
    “Hey, Jay, you ever think about us having another baby?”
    “Would you quit your job if we did?”
    She thought about that for a second. Quitting her job would be an absolute. No one wanted to see a clumsy pregnant woman with bloated ankles pole-dancing or shaking her tassels, despite how big her boobs would get.
    “I suppose I would.”
    Jason looked at his watch. “Well, let’s go home and get started, then.”
    Cyndi laughed and kissed her husband on the cheek. “I didn’t mean right this minute. I simply meant it was something we should think about.”
    “I thought about it. I like the idea. Harper needs a little brother.”
    “A little brother? You think the next one will be a boy?”
    “Why not? We already have a perfect daughter. I’d like a son. Maybe we will get lucky.”
    “I think good luck would be a strong, healthy