Justice by Piper Davenport

“I’m a hyper-administrative enthusiast. There’s a difference.”
    “My apologies,” Payton said, still giggling.
    “Do you really think he’s going to lock on?”
    “Oh, honey, he locked on back in high school, he just wasn’t mature enough not to let go for a little bit. Now he is, and believe me, he’s not going anywhere.”
    Macey secretly hoped she was right but wasn’t about to say it out loud. She didn’t want to jinx it. “What are your plans today?”
    “Way to change the subject,” Payton said with a grin. “I’m helping Mom out with party planning. You’re coming right?”
    “To Molly’s birthday?”
    Molly was Payton’s youngest niece and heavily into all things princess.
    “Yes. You have to wear your Ariel costume, don’t forget.”
    “Because I’m a red-head, I have to be Ariel?” Macey deduced.
    “Yep.”
    “But my favorite is Cinderella.”
    “Bailey’s Cinderella,” Payton said.
    “Can I be Elsa?”
    “Molly’s Elsa.” Payton giggled. “Can’t upstage the birthday girl.”
    “Oh, all right. Lame.” She smiled. “What about Merida? Can I be Merida?”
    “You will have to ask the birthday girl’s mother. Anna has written a very specific list and you know what she’s like if the list is not adhered to.” Payton raised an eyebrow. “She acts like you.”
    “Screw you, Pay.”
    Payton laughed. “I can’t believe I’m going to dress in a princess costume. God, I hate princesses.”
    “Don’t I know it.” Macey grinned. “Could Lara Croft Tomb Raider slide into the princess category?”
    “I don’t think Mom would approve of me showing up to a four-year-old’s birthday party in all leather.”
    “No, save that one for your first date,” Macey said.
    Payton giggled. “Good advice.”
    “I’ll more than likely be wherever Dallas is tonight, so don’t rush home.”
    “Okay, going to grab a shower and then I’m out of here.”
    “Have fun,” Macey said, and headed to her bedroom.
    * * *
    Dallas arrived seventy-two minutes later (Macey timed it), tools and parts in hand to fix her door. As much as she appreciated his lack of procrastination, she really wanted him to pay attention to her before the door, so she moved in front of him and raised up on her tiptoes to kiss him.
    “You are seriously distracting me from my mission, babe,” he said after a tongue-filled kiss.
    She grinned and cocked her head. “Do I hear complaining?”
    Dallas laughed and kicked his supplies out of their path. “Not from me.”
    Macey tugged him toward the sofa and pushed him down before straddling his hips. “At the risk of sounding pathetic, I missed you.”
    “It’s not pathetic.” He settled his hands on her hips. “I felt the same way.”
    Leaning forward, she kissed him. “Best boyfriend ever.”
    “I’m not your boyfriend, babe.”
    “Oh, right. Sorry . My man is the best boy—I mean, man , ever.”
    Dallas chuckled. “Are you going to let me fix your door now?”
    “One more kiss.”
    “Blackmail.”
    She giggled. “Totally.”
    Dallas kissed her again and then went about fixing his destruction.
    Macey headed to the kitchen, but after the sixth bang, and eighth or ninth creative swear word, she decided to investigate. “Everything okay?”
    “Yep.”
    She smiled at him kneeling on the floor, the door between his legs. “Can I help?”
    “No.” His eyebrows drew together as he concentrated on a screw that didn’t seem to want to stay put.
    “Are you sure?”
    Dallas dropped his head onto the door and took a deep breath. “Mase. When a man is trying to fix something, and it’s giving him a fucking headache, that man does not need his woman asking if she can help. You can help by leaving me alone and letting me finish the job.”
    Under normal circumstances, Macey might have taken offense to his words and tone, but for whatever reason, his irritation seemed to catch her funny and she giggled.
    “Really, Macey?”
    “Well, I’m sorry,” she