He cranes his head from side to side until his neck pops. “Need some advice. And before you even think about gloating about that, you should know that I saw Hayden’s car in your driveway well past midnight twice last week. Nothing my ass, bro.”
“What the hell were you doing over here after midnight?”
“I wasn’t, but good job being gullible like usual.”
“Fucker.”
“You know it.” He smirks and I chuckle, knowing that’s the extent of his goading. Unlike Jinx and Amelia, Aiden knows how to mind his own damn business.
“Thought you were working on something big out of town anyway,” I say.
“I was. Just some minor cross-agency shit. Nothing serious.” He leans forward, elbows on his knees, and scans the yard, a distant look in his eyes. “But I do have a meeting down in Milwaukee next week. I don’t know the details, but they’re recruiting help on a couple of big cases and they want to pull me in.”
“What’s Bren think about that?” Bren Bishop is the county sheriff, who also happens to be Aiden’s oldest friend.
“He’s actually the one who mentioned it to me. Wanted to know if I’d be interested before he gave them the go-ahead to reach out to me.”
“Is that what you need advice on? Whether or not you should go?”
“Oh, I’m going. No question about it. I guess I’m just trying to prep myself for working in the friggin’ city. I mean, these cases are pretty intense from what I’ve heard.”
“Ma’s gonna flip.” She’s never liked him being a cop, because it means she worries about him a little more than the rest of us. She’s managed to keep her blood pressure within normal range when he’s working locally, but every time he leaves to help another agency, she breaks out the rosary. Milwaukee might put her in an early grave, worrying it’ll do the same to him.
“Yeah, no kidding. That’s why I’m not going to tell her. Obviously, she’ll know I’m on assignment somewhere, but she doesn’t need to know I’m going undercover in the inner city.”
“Holy shit, is that what the assignment is? Undercover?”
“I assume so, but I’ll know more next week.”
“Wow.” Not sure I’m a big fan of him heading to the city, either, but Aiden’s damn good at what he does. If they want him, they must need him, and that’s the kind of shit he lives for. Helping when and where he can.
“Not gonna lie—it’d be a nice break from Craig, too.”
I chuckle. “I still can’t believe he and Rach actually split. I know they had their fair share of problems, but they were always one of those couples I thought would make it work no matter what.”
“Yeah, no kidding.” He shakes his head and takes another sip. “Kinda like you and Hayden.”
I damn near choke on my beer and he lifts a shoulder before I can even respond.
“She’s good for you.”
I laugh again, not because the comment is funny, but because it’s him saying it. “You’re going soft, dude.”
“Not as soft as you.” He flashes a smirk, but the expression quickly fades. “So, what’s this ‘was being the operative word’ shit? What’d you do?”
“Told her we need to slow down so she can be sure this is what she really wants.” In a nutshell. He doesn’t need the details on Hayden’s issues, and I’m not about to disrespect her like that.
“Make it work,” he says steadily, glancing my way with serious eyes.
“The ball is in her court now.”
“Fuck that ball, bro. You’ve been in love with that woman for half your friggin’ life.”
I snort. “Not quite that long.”
“You know what I mean. I get that you want to give her time, I assume because she was in another relationship for so long, but if you sit around waiting for her any more than you already have, you’re just asking for her to walk away permanently.”
Yeah, I know. But… “I don’t want her here just because she thinks it’s what’s best for Jett.”
“Dude, I’ve seen her. She’s not here just for Jett.”
“When the hell did you see her?”
He hesitates and rubs a hand over his beard. “A couple weeks ago at your office.”
“And why exactly were you at my office?” Especially when neither Greta or I have even been there much over the past couple of months.
“Now that Greta’s gone, I guess I have to tell you.”
“I’m waiting…” And mildly annoyed about it, too.
“She let me use your shit for my side hustle.”
“What side hustle?”
“Just some PI work. Bren doesn’t know. Not that he’d really give a shit, but I don’t want to make waves with the other guys.”
“This town is really friggin’ small, man. How much private work can there be?”
“You’d be surprised.” He lifts his beer and sniffs. “In fact, I got a text a while back that struck a little too close to home.”
“How’s that?”
“Wanted me to poke around on you.”
“The fuck…” I sit forward in the chair, the hair on the back of my neck rising. “For what?”
“Wanted to know if you were fucking his fiancée.”
“Are you kidding m—” My words come to a screaming halt. “Lane Kelsie tried to hire you?”
He dips his chin. “Yup. I don’t advertise my name everywhere, just the service. He must’ve found me on Craigslist or something. He was a little surprised—and pissed—when I responded with He’s not, but he should be.”
That motherfucker.
“Don’t let her get away again, man.” He shakes his head, that distant look settling into his eyes once more as he finishes his beer and sets the empty bottle on the table between our chairs. “And I plan to continue using your printer and shit, so don’t be surprised if you catch me in the office from time to time.”
“Oh, really?” I laugh, even though his comment about Hayden is still processing. “You could have asked me. I might’ve even given you a key.”
“I asked Greta. And I had a key made for myself, too, so we’re good.”
“You have a fucking key?” This guy, I swear.
He gets to his feet and nods. “Yup. Know the security code, too.”
Jesus Christ. “Why am I not surprised?”
“Because, not only am I older, I’m smarter, too.” He winks and starts toward the steps.
“Don’t forget your beer, asshole.”
“Nah, I brought it for you. Figured you needed it.”
Okay, so maybe he’s not an asshole. “How’d you figure?”
“No car in your driveway last night,” he calls over his shoulder.
What the… “I thought you were just giving me shit about that?”
He turns as he gets to his truck, a wide smirk on his face. “Guess you’ll never know.”
What a prick. I don’t know what I’d do without him.
And he’s right about Hayden. I don’t want to lose her, either. But I stand by what I said last night. I want her to know without a single hesitation that I am it for her. No toothbrush in my bathroom or panties in my drawer. I want all of her.