Page 106 of Heating Up (Nugget)
It was a vicious cycle.
He didn’t try to stop her as she walked down the hall toward her bedroom. Perhaps he too recognized they’d come to the end of what had been the happiest time in Dana’s life.
* * *
Aidan wanted to chase after her, but it wasn’t right. They’d started out as roommates first, lovers second. She should be able to take a night off from him when she wanted to, especially when she was angry that his ex was suddenly back in his life.
He planned to nip that in the bud right now. In his bedroom he got his laptop, opened his email, and began typing.
Sue,
You left me to marry Sebastian. I’m involved with someone else now. It would probably be best if we don’t have contact with each other. Just know that I wish you the best and want you to be happy.
Aidan
He hit the Send button and felt a pang of guilt. Was the note too harsh? No! His problem was not being assertive enough. The thing with Sue was that she got him to do things he didn’t want to do by maneuvering and manipulating until it was easier to give in. Like leaving him for Sebastian. Aidan now believed it had been a ploy to get him to marry her. Well, it had failed miserably. The cowardly fact was that by marrying Sebastian, Sue had let Aidan off the hook. He’d stayed in a relationship that wasn’t right for him to avoid hurting her and his family. He’d meant well, but now he needed to make things right, which included a come-to-Jesus talk with Sloane. What was she thinking, giving Sue his house number when she knew about him and Dana? His sister wasn’t cruel, but his estimation of her had slipped a notch.
Aidan let out a yawn and decided to follow Dana’s lead and call it a night. Tomorrow he reported for twenty-four-hour duty at the firehouse. At least they’d made some headway on the case. If things panned out the way he hoped, they’d be able to tie Rigsby to the fires.
Aidan took a quick shower, brushed his teeth, and headed to bed, taking a short detour to Dana’s room. There he stood, poised at her door, listening to hear if she was still awake. For a second he considered knocking but decided he should let her sleep. They’d talk in the morning, before he left for work. He’d assure her that Sue wouldn’t be calling anymore.
But by the time he dragged himself out of bed the next day she was gone. If things weren’t too busy at the firehouse, he’d pick her up at Nugget Realty and take her to lunch.
In the kitchen he put up a pot of coffee and while that was brewing called Sloane.
“Why’d you give Sue my home number when you know I share the house phone with Dana?”
“She was desperate to find you, something about your condo,” Sloane said. But Aidan knew it was bullshit. All day Sue had been leaving messages on his cell about how she missed him, how she’d made a mistake marrying Sebastian, blah, blah, blah.
He wouldn’t out Sue to Sloane because he still felt loyal and didn’t want to embarrass her in front of his family. And a part of him felt horribly guilty for not being able to love her enough.
“She has my cell number, Sloane. Her calls scared Dana. With all Dana’s been through in the last month . . . she doesn’t need this crap.”
“We don’t even know it was Sue,” Sloane argued. “It sounds more like a prank than something Sue would ever do. She doesn’t even know you’re dating Dana.”
“Unless it’s a member of our family, don’t give my home number out ever again.”
“Jeez, Aidan, I didn’t do it to upset Dana. I know how protective you are of her. I spent the night of the Nugget Realty fire watching over her because you asked me to. You know that because you called a dozen times. Sue was just so insistent that she needed to get a hold of you.”
“I took care of that. In the future, I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t act as a go-between. Sue knows how to reach me. If I’m not answering my phone, there’s a good reason for it.”
“I’m sorry, Aidan. Really, it was all very innocent.”
He knew it wasn’t. She and the rest of his family had made their allegiance to Sue well known. “I’m done talking about it.”
“What’s going on with the case? Dana said you got something last night.”
Aidan told her how they’d gone to Rigsby’s house to talk, but he’d lawyered up. “On our way out I saw a pair of work boots on the porch that may match footprints I collected at all three scenes. We got a warrant.... Long story short, forensics is trying to determine whether the boots match the prints. It’s not a slam dunk by any stretch, but between the boots, the shirt, and the lighter, we might have enough to make the charges stick.”
“It’s definitely something if it pans out. Are the boots worn?”
“Worn enough so that the soles should have their own unique wear and tear. If the forensic guys also happen to find gasoline residue on them, we’re in business. But Sloane, that’s all confidential.”
“I know.” She sounded offended. “In this town, though, it’s hard to keep a secret.”
Aidan looked at the clock. “Hey, I’ve got to get to work.”
“All right. Let me know what you hear back from the lab.”
