Perfect Night

by Laine, Terri E.

  “But I’m hungry for you,” I complained with a grin on my face.

  “Food first. You’re going to need fuel for what I have in mind,” she teased. I groaned and she switched topics. “Are you going to tell me why Jack had to leave in the middle of a shift?”

  “I have good news and bad news.”

  She narrowed her eyes but didn’t speak.

  “Good news is we’ve opened an official investigation into your father’s death.” I didn’t say murder for good reason. She hadn’t said as much, but I could tell part of her wished her father had died of natural causes. That would be easier to swallow than the alternative.

  “The bad news?” she asked.

  “The bad news is now that things are official, I can’t talk about the investigation to anyone, including you.”

  “Can you at least tell me if Jack is a suspect?” When I sighed, she added, “I need to know if I’m in any danger with him working at the bar. If he killed my dad, he could want me dead too.”

  She was right. “He has a solid alibi. That’s all I can say.”

  His wife had given me the same details as he had. Since he hadn’t had time to coordinate with her, unless he’d done it beforehand, I had to let him go for now.

  “You aren’t giving up?” she asked.

  “Of course not. I’ll find whoever did this. I promise.”

  She shooed me away after. I assumed she needed a minute, and I went to grab a shower because, like Emma, I had lots of plans for the night.

  By the time I dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, Emma had the table set. “Oh, that reminds me,” I said. “Will you go to dinner with me at my parents’ place on Sunday?” I hadn’t been in a while. “I want to make things official.”

  Her brow lifted. “Official?”

  “I hope I can tell them that we’re together and that you’re moving in.” The downright shocked expression on her face made me smile. “It’s your fault. You’ve spoiled me. How can I possibly sleep by myself when I know what it’s like sleeping with you?”

  “Aiden,” she said.

  “Don’t say it’s too soon. We’ve known each other for most of our lives. The little I didn’t know about you, we took care of last night.”

  “But—”

  “But, what? I’m only this—” I spread my fingers about an inch apart. “Far away from telling you I’m in love with you.”

  She mimicked my fingers. “Only this much?”

  “Yeah, that’s only because I don’t want to freak you out. And I don’t need you to say it. You’ll get there.”

  “Cocky much?”

  “My cock can be a bit much at times. But you can take it.” I winked.

  She laughed and by God I was hard. “You know if I didn’t think your ego would blow up like a hot air balloon, I might agree with you. But I guess you’ll have to wait and see. Now eat.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  The food was delicious and rivaled my mother’s cooking though I’d never tell Mom. I polished off my plate, sat back, and patted my belly. “A meal like that can put you to sleep,” I joked.

  She got up and hooked her thumbs in those tiny shorts and let them fall. “I think dessert will keep you up.”

  Then, she ran and, damn right, I chased her because dessert was exactly what I needed. And when I came the first time that night, I couldn’t help but imagine Emma pregnant with our child.

  Chapter 29

  Emma

  Aiden was a considerate lover. He gave and gave until I was completely satisfied before claiming a release for himself. The man was perfect, and I wondered how I deserved it. Especially, when the next morning, I awoke to the aroma of coffee and baked goods.

  He came upstairs and brought them to me.

  “You went to town and came back.”

  “I’ll do it every day if you agree to move in with me.”

  God, the man was beautiful. “Bribing me, are you?”

  “Whatever it takes.”

  “A corrupt officer,” I teased.

  “As Chief Deputy Sheriff, I plead the fifth. As the man who wants you in his bed, I’ll do whatever to keep you here.”

  “Coffee and pastries are a good start.” He sat on the bed looking sexy in his uniform shirt. I rubbed a hand over his chest. “How’s the pain?”

  He covered my hand. “Insignificant when you’re touching me.”

  I grinned. “I’m serious. I’m worried about you.”

  “Another reason to move in. Someone to check on me.”

  “Aiden,” I pleaded.

  “At least say you’ll be here tonight. We can decide day by day and then you can explain to my parents.”

  I laughed when he fake-pouted. “Alright.” His frown turned upside down. “Tonight. I’ll be here tonight.”

  He kissed me then and took the hand he covered and placed it on his hard cock. “See what you do to me. I’m going to be late.”

  He rolled me onto my back and reminded me of all the reasons he was the best lover I’d ever had.

  When he was gone, I called Jessie.

  “What? What happened? It’s like early. You don’t normally get up this early.”

  “I haven’t even gone for a run,” I admitted.

  “Be still my heart. Is the sky falling?” she teased.

  “So… what is everyone saying?” If anyone would have heard, it would be Jessie as her coffee shop is always filled with gossiping townspeople.

  “Um, let’s see.” I imagined her tapping her chin. “There’s the one about seeing you and Aiden kissing near the salon. True or False.”

  I groaned. I hadn’t thought anyone had seen. “True.”

  “And there’s the hot kiss at the bar. True?”

  “Yes. I didn’t care if anyone saw. What else are they saying?” I asked.

  “I’m still chuckling over Tate’s headline a while back, Does LAPD stand for Love All People Dutifully or Dearly as a certain Bar Owner claimed or Just Los Angeles Police Department. I think she meant what she said. Love Dearly, just not the ‘all’ part. A certain chief deputy maybe? Quick thinking girl, but no one bought that.”

  I groaned. “You know I don’t read the MC Scoop. What else?”

  “I don’t read it often either. But people talk at the coffee shop. I think Tate’s recent headline is To Kiss or Not To Kiss. That’s not the question. But rather if a certain runaway bride is heading to a different groom. Love is in the air or something like that.”

  “Say it’s not so,” I whined.

  “Surprisingly yes. But honestly, people seem happy for you and him. I don’t think they liked your fiancé much,” she laughed.

  “He was only in town a few days and didn’t talk to many folks.”

  “Exactly. They thought he was a pompous ass.”

  “They were right,” I said. My dad had been right too. Then I blurted, “Aiden and I hooked up, then he asked me to move in with him.”

  She choked up for a moment. “Okay. I need to take this step by step. How good was he?”

  “Mind blowing?”

  “Okay,” she said. “Not surprised, considering the rumors. I’m also not completely surprised he asked you to move in. You two have been headed in this direction since high school.”

  “You don’t think it’s too soon?” I asked.

  “Too soon for who? How do you feel?”

  How did I feel? “I’m scared it won’t work out.”

  “Why? Because you’ve dated assholes before?”

  “Exactly.”

  “And you’ve known Aiden how long? Do you think he’s an asshole, really?”

  “No. But he didn’t exactly have the best reputation when it came to girls in school.”

  “What hot boy in town did when girls threw themselves at him?” she asked.

  “Girls like Darcy?”

  “Exactly like her. She pinned that boy down to the point of pain.”

  “Pain?” I asked.

  “Yeah, like painful to w
atch when everyone knew he wanted you.”

  I burst out laughing. “Would it be weird if I thought I was in love with him?” I asked.

  “Um… Let me think. You’ve known him how long again? We covered that right. And his parents too. It’s not like he’s some random dude you met on the street. I’d be shocked if you weren’t in love with him already. The boy had mad puppy dog eyes when he came in this morning wanting to get you coffee.”

  “That was sweet.”

  “Sweet. He’s damn near perfect.”

  “You never said this about Evan.”

  “Evan was an asshole. I supported you because that’s what best friends are for,” she said. “Anyway, I’ve got to go. The line is getting long. Tell Aiden you’ll move in with him and say the L word too.”

  She hung up before I could comment. I thought about what I could do to make the night perfect.

  I went to work early to do the books, check inventory, and place orders. I left after the lunch rush. Jack had been cleared of any wrongdoing, so I would let him do the job my father had given him.

  At home, when I walked in, I felt different. I’d come to the decision that I couldn’t live here with all the memories. I also couldn’t give it up. I texted Aiden to come by after work as I went to my room and surveyed it. My room hadn’t changed much over the years except for what hung on the walls. Posters were gone, but the furniture was the same. I made a plan and went to work.

  When Aiden arrived, dinner was ready. I marveled how easy it was to be with him. He walked in and greeted me with a kiss. It all felt so natural.

  “You’re spoiling me,” he teased.

  “I actually like cooking.” Which was true. “Dad and I would cook together.”

  “We could do that.”

  I granted him a big smile. “We could.”

  As we ate, I said, “There is a reason why I asked you here.”

  His brow arched.

  I took a deep breath before speaking. “I wanted you to share with me my last meal in this house.”

  “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

  I did my best to hold it together because it still was home. It always would be. “Before you asked, I’d already decided to move. It’s hard to be here without my parents.”

  “You’re selling?”

  I shook my head. “I can’t do that either. I thought about maybe turning it into a bed and breakfast. I think my parents would approve. It’s not like we have lodging in town.”

  He looked impressed. “Wow. That sounds like a great idea.”

  “I thought so. Plus, it will be something I did. A business I created on my own.”

  “I like. You would have to get approval by the town council.”

  “Yeah, but it’s a win. I’m creating jobs. And I’m only renting out the three rooms upstairs. I don’t expect a lot of foot traffic.”

  “I think it’s a great idea.”

  I smiled because I loved his unconditional support. “There is something else.”

  “What’s that?” he asked as he took another bite of his food.

  “I needed someone here with me as I go through Dad’s stuff. He wouldn’t want his things to go to waste.”

  He took my hand in his and threaded our fingers. “I can be with you every step of the way.”

  Chapter 30

  Aiden

  It was hard leaving Emma in the morning after an emotional night. We didn’t get through everything. Her father hadn’t had an excess of clothes, but as we pulled them out, some brought memories back for her. I reminded her that it wasn’t a race and that she had time. She didn’t have to get rid of everything.

  She’d packed some of her things and brought them over to my place. She was surprised I’d already made space for her in what was now our room.

  Over the next few days, we found a rhythm. I’d bring her breakfast and she made us dinner. It was so easy I wondered why I’d waited so long.

  The change in her father’s death certificate went rather smoothly. I’d been able to obtain the signed warrant I needed that morning and had just submitted it to the rental company electronically when Bess said I had a visitor. I asked her to send him in.

  I stood when he walked in. “How can I help you?” I asked.

  He handed me a card. Before I could look at it, he introduced himself as an insurance investigator. “We were in the process of working through a claim when I was notified the manner of death of Mr. Doug Hawkins was changed to homicide.”

  “Only now?”

  “We have up to sixty days to pay out a policy.”

  “How can I help?”

  “I’m investigating the beneficiary. He checked his phone. A Ms. Emma Hawkins. We won’t pay out a policy to anyone related to the murderer and including the murderer.”

  “What are you saying? Do you think Emma had something to do with her father’s death?”

  “I’d say he’d taken out a two-million-dollar policy only a few weeks before his death.”

  That surprised me with the timing. In no way did I believe Emma was capable or responsible for her father’s death, but I had to ask the question if only to poke holes in his theory. “Did Emma file a claim?”

  He paused. “Actually yes. She did on a smaller policy that Mr. Hawkins had for quite some time.”

  “Then, why are you here, in person?”

  “It’s a large policy and the timing.”

  “But you just said she didn’t file a claim.”

  “She didn’t. But once the other policy was triggered, it was linked to the larger policy.”

  “Did you pay out the smaller policy?” I asked.

  “We did.”

  “So, you didn’t do an investigation on that one?”

  “That policy was paid in full, and it wasn’t immediately linked to the larger policy until after the smaller one was paid out. If she were to be found guilty, we would of course try to recover the payment on the smaller policy.”

  I wanted to burst the bubble of the smug bastard. “I can tell you this much because it’s not a part of our current investigation, but Emma was the one that pushed to say her father was murdered. She said that from the beginning. She paid for the private autopsy that ultimately opened a murder investigation.”

  He wasn’t moved. “If you won’t investigate her, I will.”

  I wanted to punch the smug bastard, but I remained calm. Sheriff Moon popped his head in. I wasn’t sure how much he heard. “Of course, we will investigate Ms. Hawkins as procedure dictates. In fact, I’ll be interviewing her this afternoon. I’ll be sure to have Aiden pass on our findings.”

  The man stood and held out his hand. I didn’t take it. The sheriff did. They exchanged introductions before the guy left.

  “Emma didn’t do this,” I protested once I knew the insurance investigator was out of earshot.

  “Maybe not, but you should know any good defense attorney will question why we didn’t. So we do.” He held up a hand to stop me so he could finish. “You’re too close to her. Another weapon a defense attorney could use. So I’ll do it.”

  He was right. “Fine, but I’m watching.”

  “As long as you keep your cool. I can’t go soft on her Aiden. You know this.”

  I did. That didn’t mean I had to like it. Still, I had to wonder why Emma’s father took out such a large policy. Was he in fear of his life?

  Gaining access to his email and phone would be as easy as calling Emma. But again, I had to follow procedure so anything that I found could be admitted into evidence. Up until this point, I’d made the mistake of thinking this case was simple. Now it was time to find out what Doug was doing leading up to his death.

  My finger hovered over my phone. I couldn’t call Emma and warn her. I just hope she understood when I explained later, why I couldn’t. My cell phone records could be subpoenaed in the future. They could tie a call from me to her before Sheriff interviewed her. It would look bad and give the real killer reasonable
doubt in jurors’ minds. So I put down my phone and prayed she’d forgive me.

  I’d been listening for Emma showing up since the sheriff didn’t tell me when she was due to arrive. I also didn’t ask. When I heard her up front, I left my office and went directly to the viewing room with the one-way glass to see into the interrogation room. I wasn’t hiding. It was better Emma didn’t see or hear from me until after the sheriff talked to her.

  A camera was set up already in the room. I clenched my fist as the sheriff explained he would be turning it on and then read her the Miranda warning. She shouldn’t be here, I thought.

  The sheriff laid into her. “Emma, can you tell me where you were the night of your father’s death?”

  “In bed. Why are you asking me this? You asked me these things after you found him.”

  “This is for the official record now that we have proof he was murdered.”

  I could see the anger in her face as she figured out why she was there. “Proof I paid to get. I told you from the beginning I thought Dad was killed.”

  “I know that, Emma. But I have to ask. Please tell me where you were that night.”

  “In bed. Alone and no, no one was with me.”

  “Not even Evan?” Sheriff asked.

  “No. Dad wouldn’t allow us to share a room because we weren’t married.”

  “Where did Evan sleep?”

  “In the downstairs room.”

  “Would you know if he left the house?” he asked.

  “No.”

  “Would he know if you left the house?”

  She shrugged. “It’s possible. The room is in the back, but if the house was silent, I suppose he might hear the front door open.”

  “But you couldn’t?”

  “I had ear buds in that night.”

  “Is that something you normally do?”

  “Sometimes,” she said.

  “But that night you did?”

  “Yes,” she said.

  “Do you know your father’s state of mind that night?”

  I scrubbed a hand over my face because this was a damning piece of evidence that could be used against her.