Page 11 of S.O.S. Billboard

Sarge was a bit…OCD, and the thought of a “him-versus-poop” scenario was extremely amusing.

Brigid laughed alongside her. “He assures me he’ll be fine, but the guys are already giving him some razzing; leaving clothespins for his nose on his desk.”

O’Shea knewthatpoking wouldn’t end until the day the baby was delivered.

“Who’s going to be the Godfather?” she asked. O’Shea assumed it would be Del, Sarge’s boss and best friend.

“We thought about asking Del,” Brigid confirmed, “but he and Brina have their hands full with four-year-old Liam and their new baby, Lilah, so I didn’t want to burden him any more than he already is. Prez and Maygan are busy with their teenagers, and I…” Brigid grinned. “This isn’t for public consumption, but…I have an inkling they’re pregnant again, too. Which is pretty darned quick since Aisa is only six months old, but they’d said they wanted more kids ASAP. They’re just not saying anything yet.”

“That’s so fantastic,” O’Shea gushed. “Your babies will be besties. So that leaves the Godfather position for…?” O’Shea was curious who they picked.

“Wiley, one would think. But he and Solina aren’t exactly kid oriented. They’ve already let it be known there’ll be no offspring from them, which,” Brigid took a breath, “told me that the best man for the job will be Billboard. He’s the greatest uncle any of thecurrentkids could wish for. He babysits at the drop of a hat, and brings the lot of them for excursions without being asked.”

Just the mention of Billboard’s name had O’Shea’s heart beating a little harder.

“How is Billboard, anyway?” she asked, aiming for nonchalance.

“Great. He was off in the burbs trying to track a missing kid today, but the guys just got word he found the boy and all is well.”

“I’d expect nothing less from him. He was never one to give up. Is he…seeing anybody?” O’Shea hoped she’d kept her tone casual enough not to raise suspicions.

“He is, actually,” Brigid grinned. “Do you remember meeting the Devons’ brothers?”

O’Shea tried not to let her disappointment show, and answered as steadily as she could. “Sure. Two of them, anyway. I’ve met Daire and Brent.”

“Well,” Brigid continued, “their younger brother Jamie met a woman named Daisy, who he subsequently married, but in the interim, Daisy’s old roommate Peggy hooked up with Billboard. They make a really cute couple.”

Well, shit.

What had O’Shea been thinking? That someone as fine as Billboard would be lacking for female attention?

Idiot.Of coursehe was dating someone.

O’Shea’s chest suddenly felt heavy. Maybe Boston wasn’t such a good place for her to think about settling after all, because… How would she handle seeing Billboard, her fantasy man, with his girlfriend every day?

“That’s great,” O’Shea managed, hoping she sounded normal. “And how’s Perk?”Yup.The subject needed to be changed.

“Footloose and fancy free,” Brigid told her, getting a speculative look on her face. “I don’t suppose—”

“Nope.” O’Shea shut that one right down. “There’s zero chemistry between us. He feels like…brother material.”

Brigid laughed and backed off. “Okay. I’ll behave myself. But there are a lot of cute guys in my precinct. You’ll have to visit me at work and see if any of them catch your eye.”

O’Shea rolled those orbs. “I’m not on the market,” she told her friend, definitively, because, yeah, it was going to take her a while to get over Billboard not being available. She’d had a fantasy that when she traveled north, she’d see BB again and he’d fall head over heels for her this time.

Some fantasy. It hadn’t even merited its own incidental music.

“Fine.” Brigid’s voice brought her back to reality. “But if you think you’re simply going to immerse yourself in tourist shite while you’re here, you can think again. SOS and company will make sure you experience all the right stuff.”

The “right stuff” would have been Billboard. But now, knowing he was unavailable, O’Shea supposed the quicker she ripped the band aid off and saw him, the faster she’d be able to move on.

“On that note,” Brigid told her giddily, not knowing where O’Shea’s mind had gone again, “I managed to put in for the next two days off. One of the detectives owed me for covering a weekend shift last month, so I hit him up, and it’s all set.” Brigid looked like she might bounce out of her seat. “So what do you want to see first?”

“First?”

O’Shea had to make something up on the run, because initially her premier goal had been to see Billboard. “Umm, how about a walk around Boston Common, then we’ll grab something to eat. I could use an early supper. Other than breakfast, I’ve only had peanuts on the plane.”

Brigid snapped her fingers. “Mizzay’s already told me she’s got a reservation in place for our favorite restaurant tonight. She was going to see how many of the team could join us forfood. I know Sarge is free. He finished with his case today. And obviously Billboard has wrapped up his missing person incident. Mizzay may have to bring Rory, but you’re going to love her. She’s really blossomed being under Mizzay’s care.”

---