Chapter 6 #2
“My very best. I promise.” Her breath caught a little when she spoke. She was deliciously responsive to my touch. Paige and I weren’t going to be just friends.
“You’re outta here already?” my partner, Elliot, asked a couple of days later.
“Friday dinner. Can’t be late.”
“I still need to finish the paperwork I’ve put off.”
We’d been burning the midnight oil with a case of a string of robberies, gathering evidence, and we’d been putting off a lot of things.
I faked a shudder. “I’ll do mine next week.”
Elliot hated paperwork as much as I did. He was fifteen years older, and we’d been paired since I joined the force. We made a good team.
My mind was still on our latest cases as I left the station.
Some left the work behind when they were off duty, but I’d never managed that.
However, I did make a concerted effort right now, because I was heading to Friday dinner.
My sisters always picked up on it if I was troubled, and I didn’t want to worry them.
Which was why I pushed all thoughts about the case to the deepest recesses of my mind when I climbed the stairs in Valentina’s terraced yard. This space would give any botanical garden a run for its money.
My three sisters were on the front porch of the ranch-style home, whispering and giggling. When the words sexy time reached my ears, I thought it would be smarter to announce my presence. I absolutely didn’t want to eavesdrop on their girl talk.
“Girls, change the subject. I will pretend I haven’t heard anything.”
Hailey whipped her head in my direction, tilting it slightly. “You look like someone pissed in your cereal, brother.”
Hailey was our youngest sister. She looked a lot like Mom—shorter than Val and Lori, and with dark brown eyes, like me. The rest had inherited the green eyes that were part of our Irish heritage from Dad’s side.
“Trouble at work?” Val chimed in. Lori wasn’t saying anything, but I knew that didn’t mean she was staying out of it. Especially when she was exchanging glances with both Val and Hailey. They were cooking up something. In any case, I still had to work on my poker face and putting my day behind me.
“Girls, no need for an intervention.”
Hailey smiled, holding up a finger. “This would be an ambush.”
“It’s just work stuff. I’m gonna head inside, leave you to finish your girl talk.”
“We’ll come inside in a minute,” Val assured me. “Hailey just needs some advice, and we’re trying to keep girl talk away from sensitive manly ears.”
“Excellent strategy.”
My nephew was inside the house, playing a game of darts with Graham. I joined them.
“Girl talk still going on outside?” Graham asked.
“Yep.”
“Accidentally walked in on it earlier. I’m scarred for life.”
“Join the club.”
Jace arrived just in time for dinner. So did Landon with his wife Maddie and their one-year-old daughter Willow. Landon told us about his latest investment deal while we ate.
The conversation then inevitably turned to Lori and Graham’s wedding, as it had done every time we were together over the past few weeks. Val was relentlessly teasing us about Pippa’s matchmaking games.
“Actually,” I said, “I’m bringing someone.”
Jace looked shocked. “What? But we’re supposed to stick together. Strength in numbers and all that.”
“Who is she?” Lori asked.
“You don’t know her. I met her recently and invited her.”
“Has she said yes yet?” Jace inquired.
“She’ll say yes,” I said confidently, even though I hadn’t heard from her in a week. I hadn’t insisted, deciding to be a gentleman and wait patiently. Except… I wasn’t exactly known for my patience.
“Well, let me know as soon as she does, so I can change that in the seating chart,” Lori said.
“Looks like you’ll be on your own, brother. Don’t count on me and Val to save you from Pippa. We’ll be busy with wedding stuff.”
“Hailey, you’re enjoying this far too much,” Jace declared.
Hailey patted Jace mockingly on the shoulder.
They were the youngest. Growing up, I couldn’t tell which one was the worse influence.
But by the time they were teenagers, things changed.
Jace turned into a fierce guardian to our sisters.
Our little Hailey didn’t grow up to be a troublemaker.
She was sharp and focused, paving her way through life with a sledgehammer.
Lori and I were the middle kids, though I’d always considered myself part of the older group.
Partly because Val and Landon were twins, which made me the second oldest, but also because I’d been in charge of watching the younger ones, being an authority figure and all that.
After dinner I decided that I was going to get an answer from Paige tonight. I went out on the porch and called her. She didn’t answer, but as soon as I disconnected, she called back.
“Sorry for missing the call. My phone was at the bottom of the bag. Took forever to find it. I’ve been meaning to call you this evening.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Uh-huh.”
“I’m warning you, saying no isn’t an option.”
She laughed softly. “That’s quite some swagger you’re flaunting.”
“Just being upfront.”
“I see. Well, now that makes me want to say no just to hear your reaction.”
“So you’re saying yes?”
She laughed again. “I’m bad at playing this game.
I’ve cleared out my schedule for next Saturday.
Took some time, because one of my close friends is flying in for the occasion, but I’m meeting her on Friday instead.
But you were right. As soon as I mentioned the wedding, I was forgiven. When are you picking me up?”
“Three o’clock.”
“I’ll be ready.”
I couldn’t suppress a grin when I returned inside the house and told my sister, “Lori, add a plus one to your list.”