Page 14 of Falling for Carla

“Yeah, well, I’m here to see you guys. Forgive me if I was distracted by some woman better looking than your ugly mugs,” I said.

“I don’t think it was just her face you were looking at. Those legs are something else,” Hamilton remarked.

I shot him a look and he caught me at it. “You don’t want me looking at her,” he said in a low voice. “That’s highly suspect.”

“Spare me the cross-examination, Ham. I didn’t go to law school like you did. I’m just a simple cop,” I said.

“A former cop who wants to have a fling with that brunette,” he said. I didn’t deny it.

“I stand by my original statement. Fuck off,” I said, and took a drink.

Meanwhile, the conversation flowed around me and I kept my eye on the man who had been watching Carla, the one she had finally taken notice of. I saw her bristle, her guard up. She was a smart cookie, this one, clever enough to recognize a threat in a crowd, something most people would overlook.

She had a good head on her shoulders, but I couldn’t figure her out. Why would the daughter of a notorious criminal want to become a cop? To help them out with the law? That didn’t track, especially not after she told me she moved out here to get away from that life. Not to mention the fact that a lawyer or a judge would be in a better position to assist the family than a rookie cop. She was something of a puzzle to me, and I wanted to figure her out.

But the topic drifted back to me, and Kyle teased me back into the conversation.

“I need a qualified detective’s opinion on this,” he said. “If you were a busy man, a new father, and found yourself losing your keys constantly, where would you keep them? Because I’ve tried keeping them on the same hook I always did and that is not working.”

“You need a detective to tell you to put them in your shoe? You won’t forget them if you step on them, man,” I said.

“My shoe. That’s genius. I had tried my pocket, like in my jacket, but I don’t always take a jacket.”

“You must be really sleep deprived,” Aaron said. “I know when I’ve been out late a few nights in a row I start to lose shit, but not my keys, and not every day. Pace yourself. Get some rest. I know your woman is sexy but—”

“The babies are keeping them awake, horn dog,” Hamilton groaned. “They’re not burning up the bedsheets, they’re doing feedings and rocking screaming kids.”

“Oh,” Aaron said, sheepishly.

“Twins, genius,” I said. “They probably don’t synchronize their sleep cycles. So one of them’s basically always awake.”

“Do I detect a note of ‘there but for the grace of God go I’?” Kyle asked sarcastically, “because I’ve never been happier.”

“I know. And I’m grateful every day that you are. You’re one of the best men I know, and you deserve every good thing. I just happen to enjoy a different lifestyle,” I said. “To each his own.”

“And your own is staring at some woman across the room half the night and ignoring us,” Aaron pointed out. “But you haven’t got the balls to go talk to her.”

“Dude, never insult a cop,” Hamilton said.

“But you told me never to insult a lawyer,” he said with a crooked grin.

“Also good advice. Listen to it,” Hamilton told him.

“Besides, he’s not a cop anymore. He’s just a professor like the rest of us. Berkley Bachelors. Except for Kyle, God rest his soul.” Aaron laughed mischievously.

“I’m not dead,” Kyle said.

“No, you’re just tired beyond human endurance,” I said. “It pains me to say it this early, but go home, man. Get some sleep.”

“Not to break up the party early,” Aaron said. “But I have a date.”

“It’s ten-thirty. Who goes out on a date at ten-thirty?” I asked.

“Well, old man,” he chuckled, “people who aren’t going out exactly. We’re staying in.”

“Have fun. Use a condom,” I said.

“I always do,” he quipped. “Unlike some people.”

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