“She fucking left because she thought I was a cheating piece of shit that was using her to win a bet.” Even when he said it out loud, it was hard to believe.
“What did you do with the money you won?” Aaron jumped when he heard Cory’s voice behind him.
Aaron had thought he was down far enough on the beach that nobody would see him sitting on the rocks. He couldn’t hide in his spot because the tide hadn’t rolled out.
“I’m not in the mood, Cory,” Aaron growled.
“I’m not fucking around. You won four hundred dollars back then plus the two hundred you had held aside, and I’m curious what you did with it because I don’t remember you buying anything.” Cory plopped down next to him.
“It doesn’t matter.” Aaron rested his arms on his bent knees.
“Let me see if I can guess.” Cory lay back on his elbows and stretched out his legs.
“Isn’t there a case you could be working on instead of bugging me?” Aaron sighed.
“I’m an investigator. I live to figure out mysteries,” Cory teased.
“Well, go figure out how we can find who killed Randy Knight.” Aaron glanced back at his friend.
“I can help with that, but this is more interesting now.” Cory hummed to himself, and Aaron wanted to punch his friend.
“Oh, for fuck sake,” Aaron grumbled.
“I think you used the money to buy Bethany something.” Cory sat up and folded his hands on top of his legs. “Flowers? No. Candy? Nope, you would have eaten them yourself. Jewelry?”
Aaron stiffened, but he didn’t respond and hoped Cory didn’t see the tension in his body.
“That’s it. You bought her jewelry.” Cory pushed Aaron’s shoulder. “Fuck, you bought her an engagement ring, didn’t you?”
“Fly to fuck.” Aaron jumped to his feet and stomped up the beach toward his truck.
“And I bet you still have the ring.” Cory ran to catch up with him.
“That’s where you would lose.” Aaron stopped and turned toward Cory. “I gave her a fucking ring with a note. I left the box on her step and do you know what she did?” Aaron raised his voice.
“Gave it back to you?” Cory shrugged.
“No, she didn’t even have the decency to give it back. Instead, she left without a thought of what I’d written on that note. She took the word of a bitch she overheard in the bathroom over the proposal I wrote because she told me once that she thought handwritten letters were romantic.”
Cory stared at him for a moment before he smiled. Aaron shoved him and continued toward where he’d parked the truck Wade loaned him.
“A.J., wait,” Cory shouted.
“Fuck off, or I’m going to take my aggression out on your face.” Aaron didn’t even slow down.
“Maybe she didn’t get it.” Cory’s words brought him to a stop.
“I put it on her step.” Aaron stopped next to the truck.
“Did anyone see you put it there?” Cory raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t know,” Aaron snapped.
“Raquel was obsessed with you back then, and she lived next door to Bethany. She might have stolen the box after you left and before Bethany could see it.” Cory raised an eyebrow.
It was possible. Back then, Raquel was almost as bad as Jocelyn. Everywhere he went, she’d show up. She’d even took some of the courses he did in university because she said she was interested in the law.
“Look, I know it’s been, what? Twelve years?” Cory held up his hands.
“Thirteen,” Aaron corrected him.
“Thirteen? Shit, we’re getting old.” Cory sighed.
“Speak for yourself.” Aaron finally smiled.
“You’re older than me, asshat.” Cory shoved Aaron’s shoulder.
“By two months.” Aaron shoved him back.
“Anyway. I know you were head over heels for her back then. I also know how much you hurt when she left, and I’m not blind. You still love her.” Cory poked his finger against Aaron’s chest.
“I don’t know.” Aaron shook his head.
“Bullshit. You might be sticking your dick into every willing woman you can find, but none of it means anything to you because there is only one woman you want. I mean truly want because you never got over her and you love her more than you will ever admit to me. At least admit it to yourself.” Cory squeezed Aaron’s shoulder and then turned to walk away.
Aaron watched his friend and knew everything he’d said was right. He never got over Bethany. As much as he tried to forget her, there was nobody that could take her place in his heart.
“I always knew dat lad was smart. He’s right.” Aaron turned, startled by the voice.
“Nan, you’re sneaking up on conversations now?” Aaron chuckled as he bent to kiss her cheek.
“Only when I tink it’s someting I want ta hear.” She took his hand and squeezed it.
“What’s so interesting about my love life?” Aaron laughed.
“Ya call wat yer doin a love life?” Nanny Betty rolled her eyes as she tugged him toward the bench at the edge of the beach.
“I think I’ve got a pretty good love life,” Aaron lied.
“A.J. ya might be able to lie ta yerself, but ya can’t lie ta me. Ya might have a sex life, but dere’s no love in dat.” Nanny Betty shook her head and slapped her hand against the bench seat as she sat down.
Aaron knew better than to ignore her subtle order. His grandmother was barely five feet tall and probably no more than a hundred pounds, but her personality was bigger than the town of Hopedale. She’d been living with his parents since his grandfather died and much to his father’s dismay, hadn’t slowed down even at nearly eighty years old.
“Ya know I don’t like to stick my nose in where it don’t belong.” Nanny Betty smiled.
“Uh huh.” Aaron laughed.
“I know why ya run around wit all da less den lady like gals.” Nanny Betty gave him that stern glare she gave them when they were in trouble.
“I see.”
“Yer afraid ta open yer heart again.” Nanny Betty tapped her hand against his thigh.
“Nan, that’s not it,” Aaron lied.
“Doncha lie to me. I saw ya after she left. I knew wat ya were feelin’. Remember, yer grandfather wasn’t my first love.” Nanny Betty sat back on the bench and sighed.
“Tom was,” Aaron remembered the story of how Tom had been sent to live with a family when his parents and siblings died in a house fire.
Tom was the only one that survived because he was with Nanny Betty that night. Since he was under the age of eighteen, he was sent to live with a family in another town. When he managed to return, Nanny Betty was seeing Jack O’Connor, Aaron’s grandfather. Tom left and never saw her again until after his grandfather died.
“Yes, and I don’t regret marrying my Jack because he was a good man. I did love him, but a piece a’ my heart always belonged ta Tom and God love yer grandfather, he understood dat. It’s why he wanted yer father ta have Tom’s name as a middle name. He used ta say he was tankful for Tom leavin’ because if he didn’t, he wouldn’t have been able ta marry me.” Nanny Betty smiled at the memory.
“He was never jealous?” Aaron didn’t know if he’d feel okay with his wife still having feelings for another man.
“A’ course he was, but he never let it eat him up. I loved Jack, too. We were happy, and I wouldn’t change a day a’ my life wit him.” Nanny Betty smiled.
“I’m kinda glad you married Grandda too.” Aaron wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
“Don’t let a lie dat ya didn’t know was told keep ya from bein’ happy. Don’t let anudder day go by witout takin’ a chance on love again.” Nanny Betty kissed his cheek and stood up. “Ya know Cora was at da diner and saw Bethany.”
Here it comes. Cora the Cupid strikes again. His aunt was supposed to have some special gift that she knew when people were meant to be together. As far as he knew, she’d never been wrong.
&
nbsp; “Yeah, and what does Cupid think?” Aaron walked with his grandmother toward his parents’ house.
“Dat ya need ta get yer head outta yer ass and go tell dat girl yer not wastin’ no more time.” Nanny Betty gave him a shove back toward the truck.
“Nan.” Aaron slapped his hand against his chest at the word ass coming from his grandmother.
“I’m sure ya heard me say worse. Now go find dat lass.” Nanny Betty turned and scurried back toward the house, leaving Aaron on the side of the road staring after her.
“You’re right, Nan. As always,” Aaron whispered to himself as he ran back to his car.
Aaron should put all his time and energy into finding out who the fuck killed Knight, but not until he knew if she’d gotten his gift, he wouldn’t be able to concentrate on anything.
“Bethany first, and then track down the killer.” Aaron pressed his foot on the gas pedal and zoomed toward Bethany’s house.
Chapter 11
Bethany opened the door to her house and hurried into the living room. There wasn’t anyone there, but she could hear voices in the kitchen and called out to them as she plopped down on the couch.
“What’s wrong?” Allyson said when she walked into the room.
Bethany chuckled because she’d been crying, her eyes probably looked like a raccoon.
“I got a huge dose of the truth.” Bethany laughed.
“Are you nuts? Why would you be laughing at that?” Bethany looked behind her sister and saw a man walking out of the kitchen.
“Elijah,” She squealed. “What are you doing here?” She practically jumped into his arms.
“I had some time off and wanted to visit my favorite cousins.” Elijah chuckled. “Thanks for letting me know you were back in Newfoundland, squirt.”
Elijah was her Uncle Oliver’s son, and they were always close even after she moved away. He spent a lot of time in Ontario with his job. He was former military and worked with veterans, helping them get the help they needed after they retired.
“So, you want to explain this dose of the truth?” Allyson waved her hand around.
Bethany pulled Elijah and Allyson toward the couch and sat down. She knew both her sister and cousin would be pissed she hadn’t told them the whole story of why she suddenly wanted to leave Newfoundland in the first place but to tell them everything, she needed to start there.
“This should be interesting.” Elijah wrapped his arm around her shoulders as she started from the beginning.
Bethany sighed as she finished told them what she’d found out earlier that day. Allyson stared at her for what seemed like hours and when she finally spoke she was pissed.
“That bitch is the reason you ran away with a broken heart, which by the way, I’m not happy you didn’t tell me. She’s also the reason A.J. evidently got his torn out as well,” Allyson growled.
“I can’t blame it all on her. I mean, I should’ve at least confronted Aaron.” Bethany let her head drop against Elijah’s shoulder.
“True, but I remember what you were like back then. Shy and would do anything to avoid being the center of attention.” Elijah kissed the top of her head.
Before Bethany could respond, the doorbell rang. Of course, Cameron bolted down over the stairs and ran to the door, shouting that it was for him. A few seconds, later he entered the living room with Aaron following.
“Hey, the cops are here, put the drugs away.” Cameron snickered as he held up his hands.
“Cameron, that’s not funny.” Allyson pointed her finger at her son.
“It was a joke, Mom. Relax.” Cameron rolled his eyes and sauntered back to his room.
“Aaron, what are you doing here?” Bethany lifted her head off Elijah’s shoulder.
His eyes darted back and forth between her and her cousin. His body was tense, and his hands fisted at his sides, but he didn’t move any closer.
“I wanted to talk to you.” Aaron’s shoved his hands into his pockets as if he wanted to hide his tension.
“We’ll let you talk.” Allyson nodded at Elijah, and they both stood.
“Don’t hold anything back.” Elijah bent and kissed her cheek. “Tell him the truth.”
Elijah stood up and followed her sister into the kitchen, but the low growl from Aaron drew her attention back to him. He stood and stared at the empty doorway for several seconds before turning toward her.
“Did you want to sit?” Bethany asked nervously all of a sudden.
“I need you to answer a question.” Aaron didn’t move from where he stood.
“Sure.” Bethany shifted uncomfortably on the couch.
“How long have you been seeing that guy?” Aaron motioned with his head toward the kitchen.
“Elijah?” Bethany raised an eyebrow.
“If that’s his name, yes.” His voice was hard.
“I’ve seen him my whole life. He’s my cousin.” Bethany wasn’t letting misunderstandings get in the way anymore.
His broad shoulders dropped a little, showing his relief at hearing Elijah wasn’t her boyfriend. He moved slowly toward the couch and eased down on the other end.
“Why didn’t you ask me if what she said was true?” Aaron didn’t look at her as he sat with his hands hanging between his legs and his eyes downcast to the floor.
“I was going to ask you. That’s when I heard you, Joey, and Cory talk about the bet. Obviously, it wasn’t what I thought, but I was so hurt, I couldn’t face you.” Bethany clenched her hands together on her lap.
“The night you ended things, I dropped off a gift for you. Did you get it?” Aaron finally turned, and his eyes met hers.
“Yeah,” Bethany whispered.
“And that didn’t prove to you how much I loved you?” Aaron turned to face her and rested his knee on the couch.
“I never opened it,” Bethany admitted.
“You just tossed it without even opening it?” Aaron sighed.
Bethany didn’t say a word as she stood and made her way to her room. She snatched the box from her nightstand and headed back to the living room. When she returned to where she’d left Aaron, he was next to the door with his hand on the doorknob.
“Aaron.” The sight of him about to leave caused her voice to crack.
He turned around and glanced at what she held in her hands. His eyes widened with surprise at the sight of what she held in her hands.
“You kept it?” He slowly ambled toward her.
“I never opened it. I was afraid. I tossed it up in the attic, and when we left, I forgot to take it. Stupid, huh?” Bethany held it out to him.
“It’s not stupid, but I need you to open it.” He pushed it back toward her.
“I don’t want to.” Bethany swallowed hard.
“Open it,” he said again.
Bethany gazed into his eyes. She could never say no to Aaron back then, and that hadn’t changed. His dimpled smile gave her the courage to do what she couldn’t do thirteen years ago.
Bethany motioned with a nod of her head to him as they made their way back into the living room. When she sat on the couch, he sat next to her. His thigh touched hers, and with trembling hands, Bethany pulled on the frayed ribbon. The box smelled musty, and even though she’d wiped it off, it still felt gritty from being in the attic so long.
As the ribbon dropped to the floor, she placed her hand on the cover of the box. Before she lifted the lid, she blew out a huge breath. Aaron covered her hand with his, and the warmth radiated up her arm through her body.
“I swear if a spider jumps out at me I’m going to hit you over the head with this.” Bethany turned her head and narrowed her eyes.
“If there’s a bug in that box, it would be long dead after thirteen years.” Aaron chuckled.
Bethany shook her head and slowly lifted the cover. She pulled aside the yellowed tissue paper and saw a purple envelope with her name scrawled across the front of it. She grinned at the handwriting. Bethany always needled him about his sloppy penman
ship looking like chicken scratches.
“I think that says Bethany,” she teased.
“Don’t start on my writing. I’ll have you know I’ve improved.” Aaron rested his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands together.
Bethany lifted the envelope and opened it with trembling hands. So many emotions hit her at the same time as she pulled out the folded paper inside and slowly opened it up. It was a hand-written letter.
Baby,
You told me a handwritten letter was romantic. So here I go. Please excuse my chicken scratches. The day I saw you in the corridor of the school was the best day of my life. It was like something hit me in the chest. I guess it was Cupid’s arrow. Funny how that’s what they call Aunt Cora.
With every passing day, I fall more and more in love with you, and I hope you know that. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you. Nowhere I wouldn’t go to be with you. I’m so happy you decided to stay in Newfoundland and go to university.
Now, we can spend the rest of our lives together in the town we both love. I probably should have talked to your father before doing this, but he’s on the mainland, and I don’t know how to get in touch with him. Besides I’d be afraid, he’d say no.
So here it goes and if you want me to talk to your father before you answer then I will, but I’m going to ask anyway.
Bethany, I love you with every beat of my heart and nothing on this earth will make me happier than if you say yes. Baby, lift your head and look down at me.
Aaron.
“What is this, Aaron?” She held up the letter and didn’t even care that her hand was shaking.
“Look inside, Bethany.” Aaron nodded toward the box on her lap.
She lowered her eyes to see a small black velvet box and stared at it as if it was going to bite her. It couldn’t be what she thought it was. There was no way.
“I didn’t plan on putting it all in a box. The night of the bonfire, I was going to give you the letter, and while you were reading it, I was going to go down on my knee and ask you to marry me.” Aaron’s voice cracked.
“What? No?” Bethany shook her head as her eyes blurred with tears.
Dangerous Witness (O'Connor Brothers Book 7) Page 8