Page 11 of Barbed Wire and Burglary
“So is A.J. Pike.” She couldn’t resist putting in a plug for her boyfriend. “I know you don’t trust many people, but he’s as good as they come. Pure gold.”
Aaron’s smile disappeared. “What have you told him about your job?”
“Very little.” She wrinkled her nose. “He thinks I’m a perfumer.”
He gave her a rigid nod. “It needs to stay that way.”
A disbelieving sound escaped her. “Did you miss thepart about how I’m considering making this assignment my last one?”
“Not at all.” His expression tightened. “If you want to ditch our family, I reckon there’s nothing I can do to stop you.”
“I’m not ditching you.” She was aghast that he would think that. “It’s the last thing I’d want. You and Uncle Cary are all the family I have left!”
Her brother shrugged again. “You’re the one talking about making earth-shattering changes to your career. What were you hoping I would say?”
“That you’ll still be my brother after I leave Diamondback.” Her voice cracked.
“Of course.” His expression was difficult to read.
“Stop doing that,” she snapped.
He surveyed her dispassionately. “Doing what?”
“Shutting me out. I’m baring my soul to you here!”
“Okay.” He lowered his arms and faced her squarely. “You want the truth? Well, here it is. I’m not cutting back my work schedule or making any other major changes to my career until I figure out who crashed our parents’ helicopter. I won’t stop until I find them. If that means putting up with Uncle Cary’s peculiarities awhile longer, then so be it.”
Aha!She waved a finger excitedly at him. “So, you admit he’s weird?”
“A little, I suppose.” His voice was dry. “But he’s in the driver’s seat of the company whose resources we need to find our parents. Working for him allows you and me to stay out here. In the game,” he added in a fiercer voice.
“You should’ve been our next CEO.” To this day, she didn’t understand why he’d turned down the job. Their uncle had been a silent partner up to that point. Aaron’srefusal to step into the role of CEO had forced him out of the proverbial woodwork where he preferred to be.
Her brother shook his head. “Serving as a police officer puts me in a better position to continue investigating our parents’ disappearance.”
“They’re gone, Aaron,” she declared softly. “Please assure me you understand that.”
His expression hardened. “I thought we agreed to disagree on this.”
“We did, but that was while we were still hoping they would be found alive, but that didn’t happen. They’re gone,” she repeated. “Until you accept it, you’ll never be able to move on with your life.” That’s what her counselor had told her.
“I’m not trying to move on with my life,” he pointed out tightly.
“I know.” That was the problem.
“But I won’t keep you from moving on with yours,” he sighed, reaching out to tap the tip of her nose. “If you really want to.”
She slapped his hand away. “I’m not leaving you behind, if that’s what you mean.” She would keep telling him that until he believed her. “Why else do you think I invited you to join A.J. and me for games and pizza? I want us to get back to doing stuff together, Aaron. It’s been too long since the last time you and I relaxed and enjoyed an evening off like a real family.”
He studied her for a moment. “I would if I could. But like I said, I’m on duty this evening.”
“If you want, we could play a game together now.”
He shook his head. “I’ve gotta be on a conference call soon with Uncle Cary.”
“About?” she prodded, irritated she wasn’t being invited to join them.
“Diamondback’s financials. Nothing urgent. Just the usual update.” He sent a dark look in the direction of the living room. “If you weren’t entertaining a visitor, you could’ve joined us.”
