Page 44 of Refuge for Ailsa

“Thanks.” Both men stared at Tavish. “What?”

“She was coming onto you!” Conor said with a grin.

“She was not.”

Morris shook his head in disbelief. “She was too. Are you blind?”

“No. I’m not blind. I’m just… Do you really think she was coming onto me?”

Both men answered in unison, “Yes!”

“Well, she’s barkin’ up the wrong tree. I have a girl.”

Conor nodded. “You sure do. What have you two been up to?”

Maybe telling them would help. They were law enforcement, after all, and they might have some insight. “Something really weird happened.”

Conor’s brow wrinkled downward. “Yeah? Like what?”

It took a few minutes, but Tavish explained what had happened with the odd man. When he finished, he glanced from Conor to Morris and back. “So? Do you think there’s anything to be worried about?”

“There’s absolutely something to be worried about,” Morris answered without hesitation.

Conor nodded. “Absolutely.”

Tavish leaned back into his chair. “Yeah, all my instincts told me the same. I don’t want to think that, but it looks like that’s the case. If Harley can run down the guy with facial recognition, we’ll get answers. But if that doesn’t happen, I… What’s my next move?”

“I have no idea.” Conor doodled with his fork as he spoke. “You really need to find him. How’s Bentley’s case coming along?”

“Don’t know. I guess I should check. But as long as he’s in prison, he can’t collect any insurance money caused by a crime he committed, so he’d have to get out to get the payoff.”

“Yeah, and if Ailsa testifies toward a conviction, that’s the end of that.” Morris sighed. “You really need that guy’s identity.”

“Yep. I really do.” If they could find him, they could stop him. They could get to the bottom of the mob story. And Ailsa would be safe.

Fuck his run-of-the-mill encounters with poachers and pot growers. This would be the investigation that would define the rest of Tavish’s life, and he hoped he was up to the task.

CHAPTER7

As soon asthe door opened, Starlight was there, greeting him in her over-the-top way. “Hey, girl! Where’s Ailsa?”

Movement caught his eye, and he watched as she shuffled out of the bedroom, her hair all crazy and messy. “Been sleeping. What did you bring for me?”

“I brought their roast chicken, some roasted potatoes, and green beans. Oh, and rolls.”

“Sounds delicious. It smells great too.”

He busied himself getting out a plate and utensils, then plated everything in the takeout containers. “Here you go, princess. A hot dinner that neither of us had to cook.”

Ailsa chuckled. “Mmmm. That’s my favorite meal! How did you know?”

“Lucky guess, I suppose.” He sat down in the chair adjacent to hers and watched as she ate. She was so delicate and fragile looking, but he knew she was as hard as steel. “So did you find everything you were looking for?”

“Yeah. Listen, those condoms in there? You need to toss those puppies. They’re terribly past-dated.”

“You realize I forgot to wear one Tuesday night, right?”

Ailsa’s eyes went wide. “What? No. I did not. You weren’t wearing one?”

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