Page 22 of The Night Ride
Chapter seven
Fuckmesideways!
Beth was still the most gorgeous woman on the planet.I wasn’t certain how, but she’d grown even more beautiful in the past five years.That inky hair was shorter, just barely past her shoulders and I ached to run my fingers through it.But it was her soulful hazel eyes that grabbed me by the throat and wouldn’t relent.
And she wanted nothing to do with me.
I didn’t blame her for keeping her distance.I bungled our relationship—horribly—the last time we were in each other’s company.I could recall that night with perfect clarity.The only night I’d ever held her in my arms or tasted her.
“We need to help her deal with whoever is stealing from her.”I dared Lucas and Wyatt to disagree with my statement.
Wyatt sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.“Fuck, you’re right.But we’re running out of leave time to complete this mission.We could all stay and finish up here.Then I could deliver Paige and Nora’s letters once I retire in three months.”
“To hell with that!”Lucas exclaimed like he was offended by the suggestion.
I ignored Lucas and looked at Wyatt.“I know.I’ll stay behind.You guys can head to the next destination.”
“Fuck, we’re supposed to do this together.”Lucas scowled with grief in his eyes.We were dealing with Evan’s loss as well as could be expected.
“As much as we all want to do that, life continues mess with it, and we’re dealing as things come up.Do you think Evan would want us to leave one of his sisters like this, with someone stealing from her?”
“No.It’s just…we’re all going our separate ways,” Lucas said with a sigh.His malaise wasn’t only about Evan.It was also about the family we’d made as a team dispersing.
“We’ll always be brothers from other mothers, Lucas.I think Evan would want us to complete the task and wouldn’t necessarily be in a quandary over how it was achieved.He would understand our desire to help where we could,” Wyatt stated with somber eyes.
“I’ll stay behind.”I offered again.It was my chance to atone.
“Why you?”Lucas asked and glanced at Beth in the living room making up the couch.There was a hint of interest in his eyes I knew all too well.Like hell I would leave him here with Beth.
“Because I’m the best one when it comes to comms and electronics, and you know it.So don’t argue.I’m staying.You two head out in the morning.”
“You planning to meet up with us?”Wyatt asked with understanding in his eyes.Fucker always had seen more than he let on.
Yet he had asked a question that I didn’t have an answer for.Because maybe there’s a part of me that wanted to atone not only to Evan but to Beth as well.“Hopefully, I’ll be able to meet you somewhere in California.It depends on how quickly we can capture the culprit behind the missing funds.”
“Good enough.”Wyatt nodded.“Lucas and I will head out at first light.You should take the guest bedroom since you’re staying.I’ll bunk on the couch and Lucas can take the sofa bed in the office.”
“Hey, don’t I get a say?”Lucas held up his hands with a frown.
Wyatt shook his head.“Not in this you don’t.Aiden’s right.He’s the best when it comes to this type of shit.We’ve got a hell of a long ride coming up, so we should finish our dinner, thank our hostess, and get some shut eye.”
“Aye, aye, sir,” Lucas begrudgingly saluted Wyatt with an exasperated sigh.
Beth waltzed back into the kitchen and started putting leftovers away.
“Thanks for dinner, Beth.Anything we can do to help?”Wyatt asked as he rose with his empty plate and carried it over to the sink.
She took the plate from him.“No, I’ve got it.And I’m sorry I’m not the greatest hostess tonight.It was sweet of you guys to come all this way.What time are you planning to head out in the morning?”
“Lucas and I are leaving at first light.”Wyatt informed her as she put the dishes in the dishwasher.
Beth stopped what she was doing and glanced at the three of us, but she didn’t look at me directly.“And Aiden?”
“I’m staying.I’ll get those cameras installed and help get to the bottom of the theft before I head out.”
“But I don’t want you.”
A punch of unexpected lust her sharp words conjured rushed through me.There had been another time and place when she had wanted me.When she’d clung to me like a second skin and had felt at home in my arms.When I had entertained thoughts of permanence with a woman a decade my junior.
