A Brevia Beginning. Michelle Major

me for a drink?”

      Lexi turned her head. “I think...” She paused and glanced back over her shoulder. Jon had disappeared into the kitchen again. “I’m going to head home now.”

      Misty shrugged. “Your call. Nice work tonight. Scott thinks you’re too slow but I could see you busting your hump the whole time.”

      Lexi felt color rise to her cheeks. Scott thought she was too slow. She’d been worrying about how to help him, and he’d been talking trash about her. She swallowed against the embarrassment rising in her throat. “Have a good night, Misty,” she said. Grabbing her purse from the hook, she headed for the back door.

      She wrapped her arms around herself against the cool night air. Fall temperatures were dipping, even here in the South. She hurried to her car, and once back in her apartment, slipped off her shoes. Her feet ached, her shoulders were sore. Most of her body hurt from using muscles she’d never dealt with before. She wore heels as an attorney but never spent hours standing.

      Even though it was late, she ran a bath and slipped into the warm water, letting it soak away some of her aches and pains. She liked to be clean. That was one thing she did remember from the time before Robert Preston had adopted her. She’d spent a lot of time dirty.

      The bathtub in Julia’s apartment might not be large or fancy like the deep soaker she’d left behind, but it did the trick. By the time she put on her soft cotton pajamas, she felt relaxed again.

      She’d padded to the kitchen for a glass of water before bed when she heard the soft knock on the door. This time she didn’t worry that it might be her father. From the way her stomach dipped, she knew who was waiting on the other side.