explanation. We knew the road back into her heart wouldn’t be easy.”
“What if there isn’t a way? What if I just fucked up the one chance we had at being happy, all because I couldn’t fucking think past my own fears? Shit, I should have just told her that day she woke up.”
“We both know why you didn’t. And despite everything, she’s still in love with you. It’s written across her face. Why do you think she’s so upset? She cares.”
“The girl has a hell of a memory—and temper. Neither is going to help us win her back.”
“Nothing worth fighting for is ever simple.”
Roman exhaled, allowing his head to bow toward his chest. The man looked as broken as Aiden knew he felt.
Aiden gave his thigh a squeeze. “We’ll work this out. Promise.”
“She’s on that list, Aiden. If we don’t catch his sorry ass, he’ll kill her. And it’ll be on us.”
“Not going to let that happen. Period. Besides, she’s not an easy target. She’s trained, fights like a damn badger and is one hell of a good shot.”
“Hard to hide a gun in the clothes she’ll have to wear.” He scrubbed a hand down his face . “She can’t be left alone. Ever. Not even for a minute.”
“Not my first rodeo. Yours or hers, either. We’ll get this creep. Now start the damn truck. We only have an hour to get everything ready before we pick up her stuff then her. And it’d be rude to keep the lady waiting.”
Roman revved the engine, heading out of the empty lot. They went through the motions, gathering supplies before heading back to the precinct. Powell met them with a suitcase of Ms. December’s belongings and a tablet, not so subtly reminding them this was a joint endeavor and to keep him informed. Then they’d headed to Scarlet’s, parking in front of the small bungalow she owned. Roman sat in the seat, staring at the front door for five minutes before Aiden punched him on the shoulder.
“You’ve been here a thousand times. She probably already knows we’re out here. Now, we just look like fucking stalkers. Just man the hell up, already.”
Roman glared at him. “Fuck you.”
“Anytime. Anywhere, buddy. But it’s not me you have to convince.” He pointed at the door. “She’ll understand, Roman. She might be angry for a while, standoffish. Hell, I’ll considerate it lucky if we only have to grovel at her feet—but she’ll forgive you. Us. That’s what love’s about. Now, go. I’m right behind you.”
Roman huffed, slamming the door before striding up the walkway. He pounded on the door, palming the wall as he waited, muttering under his breath. Aiden smiled. Roman always was an extreme kind of guy. But that was part of his charm.
Scarlet yanked open the door, glaring at them as she crossed her arms on her chest. She wore a form-fitting red dress with a matching velvet shawl and thigh-high boots. The outfit hugged every damn curve of her body, highlighting her firm breasts and sexy ass. Aiden forced himself to swallow. Shit, he’d thought she looked hot in jeans and a tee. Dressed like this—the girl would turn more than a few heads.
She scowled at both of them, tapping her leather-booted foot on the floor. “You don’t have to break the damn thing down, especially since you’ve been sitting out there just staring at the house.” She grabbed a purse off a side table to her right and a small bag from the floor as she pushed past Roman.
Aiden snagged her arm, careful not to grip too tightly. “I thought you were going to pack?”
Scarlet looked at him, glancing at where he held her arm, but she didn’t try to pull away. “I did.” She held up the bag. “This is it.”
“One bag? I thought women took everything they owned with them?”
She smiled sweetly at him. “I’m going to Glade Manor. That means I’ll basically be naked for the foreseeable future. This dress is the least revealing outfit I’ll wear until we close this case. I didn’t need much.”
Her words hit his
“What if there isn’t a way? What if I just fucked up the one chance we had at being happy, all because I couldn’t fucking think past my own fears? Shit, I should have just told her that day she woke up.”
“We both know why you didn’t. And despite everything, she’s still in love with you. It’s written across her face. Why do you think she’s so upset? She cares.”
“The girl has a hell of a memory—and temper. Neither is going to help us win her back.”
“Nothing worth fighting for is ever simple.”
Roman exhaled, allowing his head to bow toward his chest. The man looked as broken as Aiden knew he felt.
Aiden gave his thigh a squeeze. “We’ll work this out. Promise.”
“She’s on that list, Aiden. If we don’t catch his sorry ass, he’ll kill her. And it’ll be on us.”
“Not going to let that happen. Period. Besides, she’s not an easy target. She’s trained, fights like a damn badger and is one hell of a good shot.”
“Hard to hide a gun in the clothes she’ll have to wear.” He scrubbed a hand down his face . “She can’t be left alone. Ever. Not even for a minute.”
“Not my first rodeo. Yours or hers, either. We’ll get this creep. Now start the damn truck. We only have an hour to get everything ready before we pick up her stuff then her. And it’d be rude to keep the lady waiting.”
Roman revved the engine, heading out of the empty lot. They went through the motions, gathering supplies before heading back to the precinct. Powell met them with a suitcase of Ms. December’s belongings and a tablet, not so subtly reminding them this was a joint endeavor and to keep him informed. Then they’d headed to Scarlet’s, parking in front of the small bungalow she owned. Roman sat in the seat, staring at the front door for five minutes before Aiden punched him on the shoulder.
“You’ve been here a thousand times. She probably already knows we’re out here. Now, we just look like fucking stalkers. Just man the hell up, already.”
Roman glared at him. “Fuck you.”
“Anytime. Anywhere, buddy. But it’s not me you have to convince.” He pointed at the door. “She’ll understand, Roman. She might be angry for a while, standoffish. Hell, I’ll considerate it lucky if we only have to grovel at her feet—but she’ll forgive you. Us. That’s what love’s about. Now, go. I’m right behind you.”
Roman huffed, slamming the door before striding up the walkway. He pounded on the door, palming the wall as he waited, muttering under his breath. Aiden smiled. Roman always was an extreme kind of guy. But that was part of his charm.
Scarlet yanked open the door, glaring at them as she crossed her arms on her chest. She wore a form-fitting red dress with a matching velvet shawl and thigh-high boots. The outfit hugged every damn curve of her body, highlighting her firm breasts and sexy ass. Aiden forced himself to swallow. Shit, he’d thought she looked hot in jeans and a tee. Dressed like this—the girl would turn more than a few heads.
She scowled at both of them, tapping her leather-booted foot on the floor. “You don’t have to break the damn thing down, especially since you’ve been sitting out there just staring at the house.” She grabbed a purse off a side table to her right and a small bag from the floor as she pushed past Roman.
Aiden snagged her arm, careful not to grip too tightly. “I thought you were going to pack?”
Scarlet looked at him, glancing at where he held her arm, but she didn’t try to pull away. “I did.” She held up the bag. “This is it.”
“One bag? I thought women took everything they owned with them?”
She smiled sweetly at him. “I’m going to Glade Manor. That means I’ll basically be naked for the foreseeable future. This dress is the least revealing outfit I’ll wear until we close this case. I didn’t need much.”
Her words hit his
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