Someone Bad and Something Blue Read Online Free Page A

can’t.”
    â€œWhy do you see it as a competition?” he asked.
    â€œBecause it’s always been a competition between us.”
    â€œSo is this why you agreed to our date? To one-up Ava?”
    â€œAs many times as I’ve tried to lie to you, I can’t do it.” I paused. “I didn’t agree to this date because I wanted to use you. I wanted to spend time with you. However, your plans for tonight put me in a great spot. It’s shameful, but I must admit that.”
    â€œGlad you shared that with me. I know that was hard for you.” He grinned.
    â€œIt is. I love Bella. I don’t want anything or anyone to harm her, including myself.”
    â€œYou won’t, Angel. The ladies at church can’t stop singing your praises. Remember, I was with you when you stuck your neck out to save Ava. You’re a great woman, a great sister, a great mom.”
    â€œYou didn’t say great girlfriend.” More of my side glance.
    â€œWoman, don’t play with me. We were in the middle of having a serious moment together and then you threw a joke in there.”
    â€œI wasn’t trying to joke. That was my bad attempt at flirting with someone I actually wasn’t paid to pretend to like.”
    â€œI see.” He pulled me closer to him and then . . . “Would you mind if I kissed you now?”
    â€œI don’t mind.” I nodded, while my knees became jelly as he leaned toward my lips.
    â€œAre those roses for me?” Bella asked and scared the Goodness Gracious out of me.
    The back of my head hit the wall. “Ouch.”
    â€œAre you all right?” Justus grabbed me up.
    Bella grabbed my knees. “Sorry, Mommy.”
    â€œIt’s all good, everyone. I just lost my head for a minute.” I blushed, after glancing at Justus. “So are you finally ready, birthday girl?”
    â€œI am, but I have to ask Mr. Morgan a question in private.” Bella wrinkled her nose. “Is that okay, Mommy?”
    I smiled at her, trying to hide my curiosity. “It’s your day. Whatever you want, but don’t take too long. You still have to honor your bedtime schedule.”
    She rolled her eyes, then smiled. My little sister, Whitney, who also lives with us, does the same thing. When Whitney does it, she pisses me off, but when Bella does the same thing, it tickles me. The Mom Double Standard was my term for my hypocrisy.
    I left the foyer for the living room so that Bella and Justus could talk. While I waited, my smart phone buzzed. I checked the caller ID. It was Big Tiger, my favorite contractor, honorary big brother, and the best bail bondsman on my planet.
    â€œHi, Tiger. I don’t have much time. We’re about to take Bella out for her birthday.”
    â€œCool. Tell Little Princess happy birthday and I have a gift for her at Mama’s. . . .”
    Mama’s referred to BT Trusted Bail Bonds main office in Decatur, which also doubled as Mama D’s Soul Kitchen Restaurant in the back. His mom, Mama D, was also co-owner of the bail bondsman office.
    â€œWhy don’t you, Whitney, and Bella stop through? You know it’s Fish Fry Friday. Mama serves Bella’s favorite peach cobbler. I’ll make sure that Mama holds a pan for the baby.”
    â€œThat’s sweet, but actually Whitney isn’t coming with us. Justus is.”
    Silence.
    More silence.
    Last summer when I was investigating my brother-in-law Devon’s murder, Big Tiger and I were almost killed. Tiger blamed Justus for the near-death experience. For a short while I did, too, but that was my ego talking. Needless to say, Tiger hadn’t liked Justus since then.
    â€œTiger, are you there?” I asked.
    â€œI thought you weren’t going to give the pastor the time of day,” he said. His voice had changed to deep and selfish.
    But I wasn’t going to let him get away with it. Tiger was the poster child for bad relationship