Ainsley didn’t freeze, however. She moved to his side, sliding her hand into his as his brothers came in to flank him. He shouldn’t have been surprised that just the feel of Ainsley next to him calmed him, or the idea that his brothers stood by his side to help. But he was shocked, just a little.
“He was with me that night. With me,” Ainsley blurted, and Loch held back a curse. If Riker were watching the investigation, there was no way Loch would be able to push her far enough away now. No matter what he did, Riker would know that Ainsley was important to him. Though it wasn’t as if he could truly get away with the lie. She was in every part of his life, just like they’d fought about before. Pushing her away had been idiotic, and just because he’d gotten scared as hell when it came to Ainsley, that didn’t mean he had to keep making the wrong choices when it came to her.
Fox cursed under his breath, pulling Loch out of his thoughts. “Ainsley. You don’t need to lie. He didn’t do it.”
Loch was truly close to thrashing his brother at that moment. Ainsley’s cheeks went bright red, and he squeezed her hand, giving her a look that promised he’d kick Fox’s ass later for those words. They were in front of the cops for fuck’s sake, Loch would have thought his brilliant brother wouldn’t keep putting his foot in his mouth. Apparently, he was wrong.
Ainsley turned on Fox. “I’m not lying. I’m not an idiot.”
“She’s not lying,” Loch put in, aware that Shannon and Renkle were listening to everything he said. “We were together at the bar with the rest of the family during the first part of the evening, then here together, alone, until right before I showed up at the gym and talked with the authorities when I found out what happened. You don’t need to know the exact details, do you? Because that’s between Ainsley and me. I can give you the names of the people who saw me at the bar that night, as well as the info from my security system of when I turned it on and off when we got to my place.”
“A security system you put in from a company you own,” Renkle added.
Shannon glanced at his partner before looking back at Loch and Ainsley. “No details about what went on during that night after the security system was turned on are needed. But the details you said you’d offer would be helpful.”
“No problem.” It wasn’t, but that didn’t mean any of this would be easy. Riker was setting Loch up, he knew it. But he didn’t know what he could legally do about it except cooperate with the police. However, telling them his theories wouldn’t help, it would only make him look like a madman who didn’t want a target on his back.
“Convenient timing, though,” Renkle said quietly, his gaze darting between Ainsley and Loch.
“There’s nothing convenient about this. And if you’re done, why don’t you go find out who killed Dennis, because you’re not going to find that person here. Oh, and you could have asked me this before when you were talking to me, but you didn’t. You didn’t ask for an alibi or even touch on where I was before, so I don’t know what’s going on now or why you’re asking all these questions, but if you need anything else from me, you can talk to my lawyer.”
Shannon just nodded, while Renkle glared.
“Good to know. We’ll be in touch,” Shannon said. “Ainsley.” The man nodded at her before doing the same to Loch’s brothers and then turning to leave.
“Stay in Whiskey, Loch. You know the drill.” Renkle moved out of the door first, sliding past Shannon, who let out a sigh Loch didn’t think he was supposed to hear.
Loch quickly locked the door behind the two, dealing with the alarm while Dare looked out the window, watching the detectives leave.
“Renkle gives cops a bad name,” his former-cop brother said with a frown. “I was never like that.”
“You’re not an asshole.” Loch turned to look at his family, at Ainsley, and wondered what the hell had happened and why it had happened so fast. He was just glad that Misty hadn’t been there to witness any of that. If she had been, he’d have found a way to keep her out of hearing range, or his brothers would have. Because there was no way Loch would let his daughter get close to this. As it was, he sent a quick text to Marnie’s parents to check in, and they replied back that everything was well but that Misty might be on cake overload.
His lips quirked into a smile for an instant before the reality of the rest of the situation washed the expression from his face.
“Misty?” Ainsley asked, her voice shaky.
“Yeah. Apparently, she had too much cake.”
“Not a thing,” Fox put in.
“You won’t think that once your kid is older,” Dare said quickly. “What the hell is going on, Loch? Why are the cops questioning you like they are?”
“Because they think I have something to do with Dennis’s death.”
“Are they that hard up for hits?” Fox asked. “And before you say anything, this isn’t going in the paper. I don’t care if I’m supposed to look for breaking news, I’m not going to be the brother who puts lies in the paper just to get reads.”
Loch pinched the bridge of his nose. “It honestly didn’t cross my mind.”
“Just making sure. Because Whiskey is a small town, and I don’t like that they’re questioning you like they are. It doesn’t make any sense.”
It did if Riker were somehow behind it. Or… “They’re out of options and don’t have a lead, so they’re going after the guy who owns the place where the body was found and who knew the man. I had nothing to do with it, though. I was with Ainsley when it happened. They have nothing on me, and when they start looking in another direction, they’ll realize that.”
“They’ll lay off you soon. You’ve done everything right. They have nothing on you. But keep with the lawyer just in case. This is the ex-cop talking,” Dare said.
“It’ll be fine.” Loch met Ainsley’s gaze, aware that she was staring at him, her eyes wide, but there was no fear there. Just anger.
That was his Ainsley.
“It’ll be fine,” he repeated, and she gave him a tight nod. That gesture let them both relax, at least from the way her shoulders dropped a fraction.
“So…” Fox’s voice trailed off, and Loch had a feeling he wasn’t going to like the words coming out of his brother’s mouth. “Are we not going to talk about the whole sex thing? Because I think we should talk about the whole sex thing.”
Dare cleared his throat, raising his hand. “I know we have other serious things…far, far more serious things to talk about, but I would also like to know about the whole sex thing. And I would venture to guess, so would our women."
Ainsley blushed even harder, and Loch growled.
“Get out. We’ll talk tomorrow.” He paused, then looked at his best friend. “Not you, Ainsley. You, stay.” He needed to talk to her, but he had no idea what he was actually going to say.
His brothers shared a look but left, giving him hard hugs on their way out. No doubt they’d acquiesced so quickly because they wanted to tell their women what they’d learned—and not just about Ainsley. Loch’s life was already complicated, but he had a feeling it was going to get worse.
When his brothers were gone, that left his best friend standing in front of him, her face pale, her hands shaking. “Ainsley…”
“I…I think I need…actually, I don’t know what I need. Because, that…I have no idea what just happened.”
He held open his arms, needing her close and not knowing what else to do. “Come here.” She practically ran to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Her warm weight was a comfort he didn’t know he needed. He remembered that she was his everything, even if he didn’t want her to be, at least not then, not when everything could break. “Stay.” He looked down at her. “In the guest room,” he clarified. “Where you usually sleep. We’ll figure out the rest later. But, stay.”
He needed her safe, needed her under his care until he figured out the next step. And when she nodded, his heart sped up, but his shoulders relaxed. Tonight, she would be safe. Ton
ight, he could think.
He’d figure out tomorrow when it came.
He hoped.
Chapter 9
Ainsley had settled in Loch’s guest room, exhausted yet wanting to know more. But she knew she couldn’t do anything about it. Not yet. The fact that she’d slept there because she was scared for him and he’d looked scared for her meant something, but she didn't know what exactly. They hadn’t talked more beyond making sure she was ready for bed and knew where her toothbrush was. She’d slept over countless times before while watching Misty, and even before then when she’d slept on his couch after a long night of movies.
It hadn’t meant anything then because they were friends, and that’s what friends sometimes did. The fact that she had a few spare changes of clothing in the guest room, her own drawer, and her own toothbrush meant that maybe Loch was right. Perhaps she had inserted herself into Loch’s and Misty’s lives too much.
But it wasn’t like she truly wanted to change that now.
She’d tossed and turned most of the night, unable to sleep with him so close with so many unanswered questions between them. She still couldn’t believe everything that had happened the night before. And she was still trying to process it all: the fight, the yelling, the cops, the fact that his brothers now knew about them…
It was all a little too much, but it wasn’t as if she could hide from it.
Once she was alone with Loch again, she’d find a way to calmly talk about what was going on between the two of them, as well as the important things that were happening in Whiskey. He was hiding something, she knew that. And he was holding back because he was trying to protect her. That much was clear. Loch was always trying to protect her, no matter how many times she told him she could take care of herself. She’d taken his self-defense courses—classes he’d started at the gym because he hadn’t liked her walking alone at night even in their seemingly safe town. She still took them when he offered them to keep her skills fresh, and he helped her outside of them so she was always prepared.
She didn’t know what exactly he feared when it came to her safety, but not only were they friends, but she also liked spending time with him for reasons she’d kept to herself for ages. She wished she knew what would have happened if his brothers hadn’t shown up, or if the police hadn’t come soon after.
She needed to know what Loch was hiding, and what he might have said if they’d had more time.
And she needed to know that he would be safe. Because given how she’d felt with the cops asking him questions and making it sound as if he’d been the one to kill Dennis, she didn’t know if he truly was all right. It all had to be connected: his secrets, Dennis, Loch pushing her away. How, she didn’t know, but she’d find a way to make him tell her. She didn’t have another choice.
Ainsley sighed and parked her car in front of Melody’s home, the stunning stonework making her marvel as usual. Melody had recently moved to Whiskey to stay with her grandmother, Ms. Pearl, who happened to be a fixture in the town and part of its more recent history. Fox lived there now as well, and soon, there would be a baby in the home also. Ainsley couldn’t wait. She adored babies, and she loved the fact that Fox and Melody were head over heels in love with each other even more.
Tonight, Ainsley would be spending the night because the girls wanted some time with her. No doubt her friends wanted her there because their men had told them what had happened at Loch’s the night before. Melody didn’t mind since she needed friends to talk to about the whole situation. Friends who weren’t Loch. Other women in the past hadn’t understood her relationship with Loch and always tried to either hone in on it or get him for themselves. She’d never been jealous, not really, especially since she’d never been strong enough to tell him her feelings. However, she hadn’t liked it when the other women dropped her as soon as Loch failed to show them any attention—or at least the attention they wanted.
Kenzie and Melody were different, and not because they’d found their futures with Loch’s brothers. Ainsley had a feeling the two wouldn’t have batted an eye at her friendship with Loch and wouldn’t have pushed Ainsley away just to try and get closer to the man even if they had remained single.
Ainsley knew the two women had noticed her feelings for Loch, but they never pushed.
Tonight, however, there would be pushing. She knew it. And tonight, for the first time, Ainsley might be willing to open up.
She hoped.
That morning, after Melody had texted, sweetly demanding that Ainsley stay the night for girl time, Ainsley had mentioned it to Loch on their way out the door, and he’d given her a tight nod. He’d seemed happy that she wouldn’t be at home alone, and since he wouldn’t answer why, she’d rolled her eyes and left, annoyed that he was so damn protective yet wouldn’t explain.
So, she would stay with Melody and Ainsley and Ms. Pearl, safe under lock and key for the night while she figured out what the hell to do next. But to do that, she needed to get out of the car and actually talk to everyone.
Melody opened the door with a wide grin, her little baby bump so adorable it was all Ainsley could do not to reach out and put her hands on it to feel her honorary niece. Ainsley held back the sudden lump in her throat at the thought.
Everyone was pairing off, moving on with their lives and becoming adults in the real sense of the word, leaving Ainsley just a little bit behind. Not that she planned to feel sorry for herself for too long about that. She had a career that she loved, and while she might not have the full-blooded siblings others might have, at least not anymore, she did have Loch and his family.
As long as she didn’t lose him because of their one night together and whatever else was going on in his head.
“You can touch the bump if you want,” Melody said after closing the door. “It’s okay. I mean, if strangers start coming up to me and touching the bump, I might start a fight, but you’re family.” She winked, and that lump in Ainsley’s throat tightened even more before her whole body warmed at the words.
“Yay. You’re getting so big. Not that you’re big, but...you know what I mean,” she quickly added.
Melody snorted. “I do. Fox said something similar this morning, however, and I had to hurt him for it.”
Ainsley winced. “Yeah, probably not the best thing to say to a woman who’s in her second trimester.” She quickly set her bag down on the floor and put her hands on the bump, sighing softly. She didn’t feel a kick or even movement, wasn’t even sure that would happen at this stage since the things she knew about pregnancy came from television and books—she taught chemistry and not biology for a reason, after all—but she still felt the connection. “You have a person growing inside you. That’s so…cool.”
“Cool is a word for it,” Melody said with a laugh. “I’m hitting the craving period. Though, apparently, that can happen at any time during the pregnancy. I’m also starting to have to pee every ten minutes, but that could just be all in my head, knowing me.”
Ainsley pulled her hand away, laughing for real for the first time since her night with Loch. She didn’t want to think about that since she didn’t have answers, but then again, she couldn’t do much about that tonight since she and Loch would probably be the main topic of conversation with her friends. That and the investigation that set her stomach on edge.
“Maybe your mind is just getting your body prepared for when you’re waddling down the hall with the baby actually pressing on your bladder.”
Melody winced. “Ugh, I’m so not looking forward to that part. Plus, the whole childbirth thing scares the crap out of me, but I’ll do it since I can’t wait to be a mom.” Her eyes shone brightly as she spoke, and Ainsley couldn’t help but smile. “I know I’m going to make mistakes, and I probably won’t be any good at it at first, but Grandma Pearl is already teaching me so much. Plus, Fox’s mom is amazing. And I know Kenzie is learning too since she’s not only in Nate’s life, but I know she and Dare are ready to start trying soon, as well.�
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“There will be a few new Collins babies before we know it. Plus, Tabby is due soon, too.”
Melody grinned. “I’m glad she’s doing it first. It sort of gets the pressure off me, I guess. Though that makes me feel like a dork for saying so.”
“Or maybe you’re just like every other woman who is about to be a first-time mom. You’re nervous and excited all at once. I can’t wait to hold that baby in my arms. Just saying.”
“Well, you’ll be its honorary Auntie Ainsley, so expect lots of baby holding.” Melody gave her a wicked grin. “Of course, from what I hear, maybe the title won’t be so honorary.”
Ainsley closed her eyes and groaned. “Of course, Fox told you.”
“Dare told me, too,” Kenzie said from behind her.
“And since I can’t be left out of a secret, I know, as well,” Ms. Pearl said on a laugh as she came to Ainsley’s side. The older woman hugged her waist, and Melody leaned in without putting her weight on Pearl’s slight frame.
“Goodie.” Ainsley groaned when the others laughed, then let them lead her to the living room where assorted cheeses, dips, chips, breads, cookies, and other appetizers were laid out. The girls had gone all out, and Melody’s stomach growled just looking at it all.
“Don’t be like that,” Kenzie said, hugging her close. “We won’t talk about it if you don’t want to, but it seems like a big deal.”
“It is a big deal,” Ms. Pearl added as she sank into her high-backed chair that Ainsley knew was beyond comfortable. That was Ms. Pearl, class and comfort all in one streamlined package. “But, because it’s you. Because it’s Loch. Not because it’s a bad thing. And I would love to hear all the details because I’m not as young as I once was, and hearing the scandalous tidbits is about the only thing I get these days.”
“Grandma,” Melody warned, her eyes dancing with laughter.
“What? Loch is a big boy.” Ms. Pearl’s eyes widened in mock horror. “I mean…oh, you know what I mean.”
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