Page 113 of Fortune's Control
“There won’t be an annulment or a divorce. We won’t use those words.”
“We will use one word.”
My eyes narrowed. “What’s that?”
“Three words.”
I relaxed. “I love you.”
“Shane, will you go swimming with me now?”
“Hell, I’ll go every day, starting now.”
39-Lilah
“Stay here with Aiden while I’m gone.”
I shook my head, indulging him. “Where would I go? We’ll be working numbers, and you know that’s my favorite thing.” Shane beat his chest. “My second favorite thing.”
He gave me another kiss, hungry and wonderful.
“It won’t be long. A hardware run in Gainesville.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Thank you for not taking me along.” I kissed him again.
“I still might.” Kiss.
“Okay, you can stop now. There’s decent and upstanding, and then there’s you two.” Aiden inserted his hands between us and gave a gentle push.
Shane grunted his annoyance. “I’m saying goodbye to my wife.”
“No, a goodbye is a handshake or a wave. You’re trying to offend my innocent eyes.”
The sound of Shane’s truck horn drifted through the storefront’s open door.
“Don’t go anywhere alone. Stay with Aiden the entire time. You understand me?”
I didn’t protest as he wasn’t wrong, and I’d lose the inevitable battle. “We’ll meet you at home later.”
“I’ll stay if you aren’t there,” Aiden promised.
We sent Detective Moore the video footage two nights agoand received a single thumbs-up emoji in response, which was expected. He indulged me because it was easier than arguing.
“Enjoy your numbers,” Shane said, and kissed me one last time.
“So you two are in love now, huh?” Aiden made a heart shape with his hands. “You’re good for him. Hell, you’re good for the entire town.”
I appreciated his compliment, but it wasn’t true yet. “Tell me that once we get the grant approved. How’s business?”
“My sixty-year-old model train hobbyist hasn’t opened shop yet, which is annoying. Also, I put together those receipts like you wanted.” Aiden handed over a smashed-up shoebox. “These are from the renovation work. I saved them all.”
I removed the lid, hoping to find a neat stack of receipts and invoices. “Aiden, there’s gum smeared across this one.”
He peered inside. “Oh, yeah, that’s my bad. Let’s hope it doesn’t trigger an audit because that would end horribly for me.”
To a mere acquaintance, Aiden might appear immature, but I quickly learned why his friends cared so deeply. He made it impossible to dislike him, to the point you became a fan. Well, for everyone but Emma, whose perfectionist personality didn’t match his easygoing ways.
“I’ll save you from the audit. Let’s get to work.”
