by Apryl Baker
“Do you need more, Laney?”
“Yes, please. Cosmo.” She smiles.
“Want anything else, Aedan?”
“Water, please. Want to order food too? A couple samplers, nachos, or sandwiches?”
“Sure.” I grab Aedan’s credit card from my wallet, because I still have it from months ago. I’ve tried giving it back and he won’t take it, and I know better than trying to pay for anything. That causes an argument. I’m sure it’s the mentality that he’s the guy and he thinks he should pay for everything. I’ll pay him back. He just doesn’t know that yet.
I give the bartender my order, and he gives me the drinks and number to place on our table so they know where to deliver our food. I make it back to our table, and Sam is getting loud. Aedan just shakes his head and laughs. He walks over and takes a drink of water.
“Um, should we cut him off?”
Aedan laughs. “No, he’s not even drunk. That’s his act to get people to play him. They think he’s drunk, so they feel confident to bet against him.”
“So that’s how you got thrown out?”
“Yes, but I told him to behave since we’re trying go unnoticed.”
“That’s going unnoticed?” We laugh at his craziness. “Are you having a good time?”
“Yes, you?”
“Very much so.” He pulls me into him and kisses me. PDA isn’t Aedan’s thing, but he is claiming me as his tonight and I let him. “Thanks for doing this. It’s nice to hang with Sam and be able to relax a bit.”
“You’re welcome. We all need to have some fun.”
“Do you and Laney want to play teams, or do you want to take turns playing one on one?”
“Go ahead and play again. I don’t know if she’s sober enough to play. She’s a lightweight, and Sam keeps buying her shots.”
He chuckles. “Okay,” he says and kisses me again. “I love you.” He places his hand on my cheek.
“I love you too.”
He walks back over to the pool table, racks the balls, and breaks them. It might be late when we get out of here tonight, but I don’t mind. We’re just four friends having a good time.
***
Aedan
I could throttle Jesse some days, but I take a deep breath and I’m able to calm myself before I lose my temper with her. Why she thought it would be a good idea to go out and have a good time tonight is beyond me, but I’m glad she did. We all needed this time to act our age, not like people who are worried about what’s lurking around the corner.
I’ve had Kevin check out every place we’ve gone to before we arrived, but that’s something Jesse doesn’t need to know. She doesn’t need to know how worried I am for her safety, but I will keep her safe if it’s the last thing I do.
We pull up to an all-night café for coffee and to rehash how I beat Sam for once. We help the ladies out of the SUV and walk into the diner, where an older lady with bright white hair seats us in a booth.
“I’m kind of hungry,” Sam says to no one specific.
“Me too. I’m craving fries,” Laney chimes in.
I look at Jesse, wondering if she’s going to eat too. “Just coffee for me.”
“I think I’ll have a slice of pie and coffee.”
“Oh, that sounds good. I might have a bite of yours,” she replies.
I’ll order two slices because one bite turns into five.
“What can I get you tonight, folks?”
“I would like an order of fries and a Coke,” Laney offers.
“Coffee with cream, please,” Jesse says.
Sam looks at me and I nod. “I’d like a double cheeseburger with everything except onion with an order of fries and a Coke.”
“And you, sir?”
“Two slices of apple pie and a coffee, black.” Jesse looks at me and smiles.
The waitress repeats the order to confirm that she got everything, then goes on her way.
“You two need to get a room,” Sam muses and makes a gagging expression.
“You’re not too far behind, buddy.” I wink, and he knows that I’m right.
Our food arrives ten minutes after the waitress delivered our drinks. We eat in comfortable silence. Afterward, we drop off Sam and Laney at Jesse’s house, and Jesse and I go to my house—our house. She runs upstairs, and I head to my office to check for developments.
I sit back in my chair. Jesse was right about needing a night out, but I won’t let her know that. I haven’t had a night out like this that hasn’t involved work in a while. Before the drama, before I made myself a part of Jesse’s life, I would get a booty call, or go on a hookup site. I don’t need to do that now.
“What are you thinking about?” Jesse asks as she walks in.
“You.”
“Oh, nothing bad, I hope?”
“The opposite, actually. I was thinking how good you would look spread out in bed, as I lick every exposed part of your body.”
“I’ll race you upstairs.” She turns and runs out my office, and I can hear her giggles echo through the foyer.
I shake my head and take my time walking up the stairs. Once I reach the bedroom, I find Jesse waiting for me, and she’s nude, spread out for me.
“I didn’t know which side you liked better, so I picked this one,” she purrs as she lies on her back.
“I like that one the best.” I wink and slowly undress. “Anticipation.” I turn out the lights and come to bed.
***
My sweaty t-shirt clings to my body as I jerk up in bed. A nightmare deprived my body of the sleep it desperately craves. I glance at the clock on the nightstand, and it reads three a.m. Two hours of sleep isn’t enough. I force myself to sleep, I toss and turn, and sleep a half hour here and an hour there. Soon my five-thirty alarm rings, waking me the rest of the way up.
I roll out of bed, hoping I didn’t wake Jesse with my restlessness. I turn to look at her. In the soft moonlight, she’s sound asleep. We don’t have plans today, so I could lie back down and try to sleep, but there’s no use. I push myself to my feet, head to the bathroom and get ready for the day ahead.
The coffee maker is slow this morning, or I’m too impatient. My body is craving the caffeine. The hot shower I took helped wake me up, and now I need coffee to wake up my mind. While it finishes, I pull slices of bread out of the fridge, get the peanut butter out of the cabinet, and make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It’s not the best breakfast, but it has protein.
With a sandwich and coffee in hand, I go to my office and set everything down on my desk. I turn on my desk lamp and eat the sandwich while my laptop boots up. I look at the open files on my desk, hoping one day I’ll never see these files open again.
I check through my work email and nothing has changed since I last checked it six hours ago. I open the files on the company server that we have for Chantelle and Chet. Nothing has been added since yesterday. The search for these two is driving me to the point of obsession, but I need to stay alert because one little mistake could cost someone their life. However, I need to stop letting those two control us. We need to live…
I pull up an events calendar for the Denver area, because I want to get out of the house and do something different. Something new for both of us to experience. I scroll down through the list of things to do and the Denver Botanic Gardens is at the top. The garden is a nature preserve along Deer Creek. There’s a lot to do in one location. I think it’s a good start for the day. Throw in a picnic lunch, and it would be perfect with Jesse there. I click on the website with the schedule of times and plan our day.
My office phone rings as I’m reading the last bit of information on the gardens.
“Hughes,” I answer.
“Hey, I tried your cell.” Sam cuts me off.
“I left it upstairs. Sorry. What’s up?” It’s six a.m. I’m surprised he’s up.
“I think I found Chet.”
I drop the pen in my hand and sit back in my chair. “No shit.”
“Yeah. I got a hit on his description from a property manager downtown. He said a guy fitting Chet’s description has been seen going in and out of one of his properties.”
“Nice.”
“I’m going to check it out around ten a.m.”
“That’s fast.”
“Yeah, luckily I know him well…it’s my sister’s brother-in-law…and they are doing maintenance on that floor today.”
“Damn, couldn’t have timed that any better.”
“I didn’t think so either.”
“Let me know what you find out. I’m taking Jesse out for the day.”
“Will do. Have a good one.”
“Yep. You too.”
I hang up and finish writing down notes about the gardens, and I check my email again. There are a few things that I can do and I get to work on those small projects. After they are finished, I’ll pack a picnic lunch and wake Jesse up.
“Hey, babe. It’s nine-thirty,” I murmur, gently trying to wake her.
She pulls the covers over her head, and I tug on them, trying to get to her. I’m unable to pull them down, so I get under the covers and tickle her. She pulls away from me, but she’s unable to get away.
“Nooo. I don’t want to wake up.”
“I made plans for us.”
“Ugh…”
“Did you have something else planned?”
“Sleep.”
“Okay, I’ll be downstairs if you change your mind.” I’m disappointed that she would rather stay in bed than get up and do something. I get off the bed and turn to leave the room.
“Wait!”
“Yes?”
“Do you have coffee made?”
“Yes, dark roast.”
“Give me a few. I’ll be down.”
“Okay.” I smile as I turn back around and go downstairs.
Ten minutes later, Jesse walks into the kitchen with messy bedhead and PJs on. I get up from the bar and pour her a cup of coffee.
“Morning,” she mumbles says after her first sip.
“Good morning, beautiful.”
“Thanks for letting me sleep in.”
“You’re welcome.”
“What do you have planned for us?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“Okay, how do I need to dress?”
“We will be outside. It’s not too bad out for November.”
“Jeans and sweatshirt it is. Have you showered?”
“Yeah. I’ve been up a while, but I don’t mind joining you.”
“Good. My back needs to be scrubbed.”
“I can do that.
“No funny business, mister. I’m sore from last night. I think I might be walking a little to the side today.”
I chuckle. “I’m sure you’re not, but I’ll be a good boy and keep my hands above your waist.”
“And only on my back. I know how your hands operate.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I wink.
She finishes her coffee. “We can take my car today. I think she’s sad because she’s always sitting in the garage.”
“You want to drive?”
“No, you can. Someone just needs to drive my car…”
“If you want, you can drive to work.”
“Really?”
“Yes, you’re safe.”
“As much as I love that idea, I’d be lonely. I enjoy having you or whomever with me in the mornings.”
Thank God. I hoped that would be her answer. I want her to feel safe. She doesn’t need to worry about her safety. I do enough of that for both of us.
“That works for me too.”
“Race you upstairs?” I nod and she’s out of the kitchen. “Go!” She’s halfway through the foyer before I realize it. I’ll see how good I am when I get in the shower.
Chapter Eleven
Aedan
The apartment lead on Chet was cold. If it was him, he was just staying there as someone else. The place had been cleaned and no prints left behind. It’s one dead end after another. I wish the fucker would turn up dead in a ditch. It would make everything easier.
McCoy has been at his ranch in Idaho for a few weeks with Trent, and Jesse wants to see him for Thanksgiving, so after work today, we are going to see him along with Reese and Tierney. Sam’s flying out with us because a couple of the regular security guards asked for the holiday off and Sam approved it since I’m going to be there already. Jesse hoped that Laney would be coming with us, but she decided to spend the holiday with her aunt.
Craig sent up the latest reports on Chantelle and Chet. Their trails are cold. This case is cold. With everything we have, I’m thinking about filing this away until something else happens. They are long gone, and that is fine with me. They can stay far away from the McCoys.
I place the growing file in my desk drawer and email Ian for confirmation of tonight’s flight. We will fly in tonight. Saturday we will be going over the security at the ranch, and Sunday we’ll have dinner before we take Trent to the airport to fly home for Thanksgiving. We will fly back next Friday, when Trent returns.
My desk is cleaned off and I’m ready for a week of down time. I know we had a vacation four months ago, but it’s nice to take a break from the drama, from work, from worrying about who’s lurking around the corner. I look at the clock, and it’s time to head out. We need to get our bags from the house and pick up Reese and Tierney on the way to the airport.
***
An hour after landing in Idaho Springs, we arrive at the McCoy Ranch. When I first met Pearse, I didn’t think he’d own a place like this. He was all business and seemed to enjoy city living. Once I got to know him, I learned he had a love for the outdoors, especially this ranch. His beloved Maryetta spent the end stage of her cancer here. This place made them the happiest, and it’s free from the fast pace of the city.
We get the SUV unpacked and make sure everything is in order before Sam, Trent and I go over the security plans for the ranch. Since it’s in the middle of nowhere, I’m worried someone could come onto the property unannounced. I don’t like ambushes.
“Craig is looking into video surveillance of the entire property. It will take a few days to set up since there are so many miles to cover.”
“What are you thinking? Just a perimeter around the houses and stables?”
“I think that’s best. If we get too extravagant, I think we will spend a lot of time repairing it. A tight network would be best.” I circle the area on the map with my finger.
“Where is the control center going?” Trent asks.
“The main house. There should be enough room to add it to the security space already there.”
“I agree.”
“I’ll rearrange the area while I’m here this week to know for sure.”
“It’ll just be a dedicated CPU and monitors.”
They both nod in agreement.
“Tomorrow, let’s do a walk-around and get pictures of anywhere that might be an area of concern.”
“I noticed vehicle tracks on the east side of the property a few days ago when we were out on the horses, but McCoy said the neighboring ranch uses quads to get their loose livestock. I thought it looked too big to be anything like that.”
“We’ll look into it and make sure. I think that’s it for tonight. If you guys want to head out for a bit, I’ll be okay here.”
“You sure?” Trent asks.
“Yes, I figured you’d like to get out before you go home, especially since your baby is arriving soon.”
“Yeah, I’m sure Baily won’t let me go too far once she arrives.” He looks stressed.
“I can’t imagine.” I shake my head, because I couldn’t imagine being a father or soon becoming one. “See you guys in a bit.” I toss Sam the keys and head toward the house.
I step onto the front porch and Jesse walks out to greet me.
“Hey, handsome. Everything okay?” She wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me into her. I love this side of Jess—car
efree.
“Yes, Sam and Trent are going into town for dinner. I thought I would check to see if everyone is settling in okay.”
“For the most part. Reese crashed, and Tier is talking to his boyfriend.” She rolls her eyes. “Drama.”
“I was wondering why he didn’t come.”
“Something about not being ready to meet the family yet.”
“He’s met everyone except your father.”
“I know. I think he has daddy issues.”
“It’s possible. He’s pretty guarded in public.”
“Enough about them. Let’s head inside.” She winks as she tugs me in the house behind her.
***
Jesse
Thanksgiving dinner together was exactly what I needed, what I’ve been missing for the past couple of years. I never thought I would feel this kind of happiness again. I feel like my mom is here, giving us her love. The house is quiet. Aedan and Sam took Trent to the airport so he can have Thanksgiving at home with his family.
A knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts about my mom. I bet Trent forgot something he needed for his trip home. I swing open the door, about to ask him what he forgot, but I find myself looking down the barrel of a gun. I pull my stare from the barrel and look past the hammer.
“Chet?”
“Hello, Jesse. How’s my darlin’ ex-wife?” he glowers, clicking the hammer back on the gun.
“I-I-I’m good. What are you doing here?” I step back into the house.
“I came to see you, of course. Actually, I need to have a little talk with your dad.” He closes the door behind him and turns the lock.
“My dad? Why?”
“He planned to divorce my sister before she went…missing.” His voice is calm.
“Your sister?” I question, confused.
“Yes, Chantelle McCoy is my sister,” he grumbles.
“She was an only child…you are an only child.”
“Sadly, you’re wrong. My dear old dad gave it to her mom a year before my mom had me. Surprised, right?”
“I didn’t know.”
“I’m guessing no one did, because she stayed in your family for so long…and now here we are. Where is your dad?”