Chapter 2
Chapter Two
“Where did Haley go?”
This was one of her favorite games. Run and hide from Uncle Chase. Especially when he’d only been looking at his phone for like half a second and then, boom—she took off and made him look negligent.
“Is Haley in the kitchen?” Chase glanced behind the island. “Mama’s going to be home any minute.” It was after eight already.
He heard a giggle and followed it to the hall closet. Haley was crouched down under the shelf.
And the smell hit him. Dang. His eyes watered, but he held back any comments. Didn’t want to make the kid self-conscious about bodily functions. “Let’s get that diaper changed.” Haley tried to wriggle out of his grasp, but he held onto her. “Nope, some things just gotta be done.”
There was a knock at the apartment’s front door. Was that Ruby? Did she forget her keys?
Holding the stinky toddler under his arm, Chase went over and opened it.
But it wasn’t Ruby. It was Devon, her older brother and Chase’s bestie. “Hey, Aurora said you were here with my niece.”
Chase stepped aside to let his friend in, then shut the door. “Perfect timing. She’s got a present for you.” He held up Haley, and Devon gagged.
“Dude, no fu—freaking way. You’re the babysitter.”
“But you’re blood. Her shit shouldn’t smell as bad to you.”
“Don’t say ‘shit.’ She’s going to repeat it.”
“You’re the one repeating it.”
Devon and Aurora lived a few floors up from Ruby. Chase had his own place a couple miles away, but he found himself in this apartment building so often he wondered if he should just move here to join the party.
Chase and Devon had met last year at a local boxing gym.
They’d become fast friends, bonding over their shared military background and the close ties of Devon’s family to the police community.
Devon was now a bodyguard for Bennett Security, and Chase had helped out—unofficially—on multiple situations for that company.
A few times, his friend had even hinted that Chase should quit the force and come to the private sector. But Chase loved his job. He had his eye on the next detective exams, which were coming in a couple months.
Devon pulled back Haley’s diaper and peeked inside. His eyes bulged, and he gagged again. “I swear, it’s getting worse as she gets older. How does Ruby do this every day?”
“So much for that Army Ranger toughness you’re always going on about,” Chase said. “Should’ve been a Marine like me.”
“Exactly. You should be great at shoveling sh—crap.”
“Fine, dude.” Chase rolled his eyes. “God forbid you ever have a kid.”
Devon got a weird look on his face. “I’ll change the effing diaper.” He grabbed Haley around the middle, holding her at arm’s length on his way to the changing table.
Chase was going to ask about that look on Devon’s face. But then his mind went back to what Devon had said a couple of minutes ago. “Wait, Aurora told you I was with Haley? I thought she was doing some wedding hair thing with Ruby.”
“Yeah, she was. But she’d already made it home when I got there.
” Diaper velcro ripped open, and Devon made a sound of disgust. “Aurora’s working on wedding stuff, calling vendors and basically freaking out about every little detail being perfect.
Because it’s Max and Lana, you know? They’re like her parents in some ways. ”
“Right,” Chase said in a monotone. But he wasn’t even listening. His brain was still focused on Ruby.
She’d said she’d be home before eight. It wasn’t like her to be late. A few minutes was one thing, but now it was 8:15.
He took out his phone and called her. No answer.
Chase went into Haley’s room, where Devon had replaced the diaper and was vigorously rubbing his hands with a wet wipe.
“Ruby’s late,” Chase said. “Did she say anything to you about where she was going tonight?”
“Nope. She doesn’t like explaining herself.”
“I’m worried.”
Devon set Haley by her toys on the floor. “Ruby doesn’t want our worries, man. I’ve learned that the hard way. She used to listen to angsty indie rock in her room when we were kids and always got pissy when I went in there. Only Kellen knew how to talk to her the right way.”
Kellen had been Devon’s twin. A cop like Chase, but for the LAPD. Kellen had died over two years ago now, and though Chase had never met him, he knew he would’ve liked the guy.
“And when I tried to cover expenses so she could stay home with Haley,” Devon went on, “Ruby hated that, too. She doesn’t like people hovering.”
“I’m still worried. She’s never late.”
Devon shrugged. “Maybe she’s got a hookup.”
“A hookup?” Chase wrinkled his nose. He didn’t like the sound of that. “If she had a date, wouldn’t she plan to be out later than eight o’clock?”
“Seriously? I doubt Ruby would allow herself an entire evening for a date. Even if she deserves it. I can’t remember the last time she’s talked about a guy.”
Relief loosened the tension in Chase’s shoulders, and then he felt guilty. Ruby did deserve a guy. Someone who’d treat her right, take care of her.
They watched Haley grab a board book and sit down to open it.
“Ruby’s not the only one who could use a hookup.” Devon elbowed him. “When’s the last time you got out there? Every time I turn around, you’re subbing in as a babysitter. If it wasn’t Ruby we were talking about, I’d think you were trying to impress her.”
Chase felt a surge of alarm. Devon was getting a little too close to the truth. “I remember when it was me bugging you about being a monk. I don’t think you appreciated that.”
“Exactly why I’m returning the favor.”
“I hook up plenty. I just don’t kiss and tell.”
Actually, he hadn’t been with anyone in months. And he knew why.
Chase had his eye on someone. A certain hair dresser with an infectious laugh, an edgy sense of style. Long, dark curls and stormy blue-gray eyes. A whole lot of personality wrapped in a sexy small frame.
He’d been having these feelings for a while, and he had zero desire to hook up with anyone else. Which sucked because that certain someone clearly had no interest in him. Not as anything more than a friend.
But Devon was right. Chase was in dire need of a new prospect, a one-night distraction, something. He loved sex, craved it, and this situation was getting sad. His dick was so fucking needy even his hand was asking for space.
It’s not you, man. It’s me. Carpal tunnel is imminent.
Would Devon be upset if he knew? Maybe not. Devon had slept with his boss’s sister, after all, and he knew better than to pull the over-protective brother card. But that didn’t help matters.
If Devon knew about this unrequited obsession, he’d feel sorry for Chase. And he’d tell Aurora because he told her everything. And pretty soon, everybody in West Oaks would know how pathetic Chase was.
Ruby would find out.
What if she thought he was kind to her daughter because of some ulterior motive? Devon had just been joking about him trying to use Haley to impress her. But would Ruby see it that way? Chase didn’t want to cheapen the very real affection he felt for that little girl.
No matter what happened, he’d keep on being Haley’s honorary uncle, regardless of any romantic inclinations he might feel for her mom.
So he just had to get over it. Maybe getting laid again would help…maybe. Even if the thought of going out sounded like a chore.
As the minutes ticked by, Chase tried not to worry about Ruby. But his eye kept drifting to his watch. He called her number again, but now it wasn’t ringing at all. It had been turned off.
Where was she?
Finally, Devon started to worry too. They called Aurora and Lana and were considering driving over to the hair salon to look.
Then Chase’s phone rang. He answered without even checking the screen. “Ruby?”
“Chase, it’s Shelby.”
Madison Shelborne. She was on patrol with Chase at West Oaks PD. One of his closest friends on the force.
He could tell from her voice something was up. “What is it?”
“Ruby Whitestone’s down here at the station.”
Chase’s hand went to his forehead. Devon was watching him closely, holding Haley against his side.
“Is she hurt?” Chase asked.
Devon’s eyes bugged.
“I don’t think so. She’s safe.” Shelby was keeping her voice down, like she didn’t want to be overheard. “But something’s going on. They say she witnessed an attack.”
His heart had leaped into his throat, choking him.
“What happened?” Devon whispered. He’d been trying to listen in.
Chase held up his hand. He couldn’t concentrate with Devon talking at him, too. “An attack?” he asked Shelby. “Where was this? When?”
“I don’t know the details. Just that it happened in an apartment building on the northwest side of town. And they’ve been holding her in an interview room for a while. A long while.”
“Whoa. Wait a second. Are you saying they’re considering Ruby a suspect?” Chase’s mind was spinning.
“I’m not saying anything. I shouldn’t be talking to you about this at all. But maybe you should get down here and find out for yourself.”
“Yeah. Thanks, Shelby.” He ended the call, feeling like he was in a daze.
Devon grabbed his arm. “What the hell is happening? Are they accusing Ruby of something?”
“I don’t know.” Chase remembered how Ruby had seemed anxious earlier. She’d brushed off his questions, but what if she’d been planning to meet up with someone? What if something bad had happened? The asshole might’ve tried to hurt her…and she’d defended herself…
Chase saw too much shit in his job. Too much darkness. His mind was going to all sorts of awful places.
He wiped a hand over his face. “I gotta get to the station and find out what’s going on.”
“Then I’m coming with you. I’ll ask Aurora to come down here to stay with Haley.”
Chase didn’t see how Devon could help, but he wasn’t going to say no. He had a really bad feeling about this. “Okay. Let’s go.”