by Paris Hansen
Emily had earned a happily ever after, and Reid deserved to be happy too. Even though they hadn’t worked out and she wanted to punch him in the face 90% of the time, she wanted him to find someone to love, someone who would love him the way he needed. At first glance, Sara seemed to be that person.
It took her a moment to realize she was standing at the door alone. So much for trying not to make things awkward. After closing the door, she started to make her way back to the kitchen, where she would play the fifth wheel until she could make a good enough excuse to escape to the guest room. Before she’d even made it two steps away from the front door, the doorbell rang again. Looking over at Emily, she found a conspiratorial smile on her best friend’s face. Whoever was at the door was there because her friend couldn’t help but meddle.
With a quick glare at her friend, which only ended up making Emily laugh, Sloane made her way back to the door. She really should’ve faked a headache and stayed in her room instead of letting Emily talk her into hanging out.
Swinging the door open, Sloane barely caught her jaw before it hit the floor. In the two seconds she'd had to think about it, Sloane assumed the person at the door was someone Emily invited to help keep Sloane occupied and perhaps even help her out of her funk.
The last person she expected to see standing on the porch was Cade.
“What are you doing here? Is there a break in the case?” she asked, probably far more excitedly than she should’ve.
“I’m not here for the case. Emily invited me.”
Sloane shot a look over her shoulder to find Emily watching them intently, a smile lighting up her face. She mouthed the words ‘you’re welcome’ before turning away and gathering the rest of the group’s attention. Sloane’s gaze landed on Reid before he turned around to look at his sister. She wasn’t surprised to find a scowl on his face but knowing it would be there didn’t make seeing it any less frustrating.
Rolling her eyes, she turned back to Cade, who’d also been watching Reid. How her ex thought it was okay to glare at someone she wasn’t dating when his girlfriend was standing right next to him, Sloane didn’t know. The man had always been infuriating, and once upon a time, she’d thought it was sexy. Now it just made her want to punch him.
“Come on in,” she said as she stood back from the doorway. “I didn’t realize you were coming tonight.”
“I didn’t either until about two hours ago. Morgan’s sister is very persuasive.”
Sloane laughed. “That she is.”
“I hope you don’t mind that I’m here. I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable.”
Sloane’s eyes met his, and she immediately registered the sincerity there.
“I was uncomfortable before you showed up, so your presence can’t make things worse,” she joked. “Honestly, I’m glad you’re here. I’m no longer the awkward fifth wheel. And now, maybe with someone in the house that isn’t considered part of the family, they’ll all stop the touchy-feely stuff. I was this close to faking a headache before you rang the doorbell.”
Cade raised an eyebrow, then gave her a smile she was damn near sure could melt the panties off a nun. The man was all sorts of potent. Especially once her brain registered that he’d changed out of his FBI uniform into a pair of dark jeans, a navy blue henley, and a leather jacket that looked well-loved and soft enough to pet.
“I’m glad I could come to your rescue then.”
Smiling at him, she shook her head, her eyes still locked with his. Were they having a moment? Was it sad she didn’t know if that was what was happening?
“Remember that when things get super awkward.”
They both laughed, but neither of them looked away. She was starting to realize they were indeed having a moment when their bubble was shattered by her overeager, meddling best friend.
“Hi Cade, I’m so glad you could make it.”
Cade turned to face Emily, which gave Sloane a moment to catch her breath.
“Thanks for the invite. I have to admit I wasn’t looking forward to yet another night of sitting around my apartment, eating takeout, and watching Netflix, so thank you for rescuing me.”
“It’s our pleasure... isn’t it, Sloane?” Emily said as she bumped Sloane with her hip.
“Oh yes...our pleasure,” Sloane said, sarcasm nearly dripping from her words.
Cade shook his head and laughed, then handed a reusable grocery bag to Emily. “Here, this is for you and Cooper.”
“Oh, you didn’t need to bring anything.”
“I know that’s what you said, but my mom would disown me if I showed up at a party without something for the hostess and something for the birthday boy. It’s not much, so don’t get too excited or anything. They’ve been my favorites since I got to town.”
Emily reached into the bag, pulling out a six-pack of beer from a local brewery and a wine bottle from a winery up north. Both were good choices and had been favorites of Sloane’s when she lived in San Francisco. She still sought them out on occasion when she found herself near a specialty beer and wine shop in Washington.
“We love these too. Well done. Let me go put these away. Come on into the kitchen. Can I get you anything to drink? Sloane, I refilled your glass while you were playing the part of my butler.”
Sloane laughed at the apt description. “Thanks. All that door opening made me thirsty.”
Sloane and Cade followed Emily into the kitchen, where Emily introduced Cade to Cooper and Sara. Tally was excited there was another person at the party, so she joined them long enough to pepper him with rapid-fire questions until she knew everything important there was to know about him. Then she went back to the living room, where she turned her attention back to her coloring book, her little tongue darting out of the corner of her mouth every time she needed to concentrate.
The little girl was one of Sloane’s favorite humans in the world. She loved her to pieces, and if Cade hadn’t shown up, she would have tried to spend all of her time with Tally, listening to stories she’d already heard at least once during her visit.
Instead, she leaned against the counter, drink in hand, with Cade far too close, yet not close enough while they talked to Reid and his girlfriend.
Nope, there was nothing weird about the situation at all. Maybe she’d be able to believe that if her ex-husband could stop giving them both the stink eye.
Unfortunately, she didn’t see that happening anytime soon. Just like she didn’t think she’d be heading back to Washington anytime soon, even after they solved the case. And as she looked around at the people in Emily’s house, she wasn’t sure she minded one bit extending her trip for a little while longer.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Cade was pretty sure he’d made a terrible mistake.
The prospect of not having to sit in his rental apartment and watch something on Netflix for the hundredth night in a row had sounded too good to pass up.
But he should have.
No good was going to come from him being at an intimate family gathering with Reid Morgan, who seemed to hate his guts, and Sloane, who he was supposed to be investigating.
It was a shit show in the making, which if the scene in front of him was anything to go by, it was about to get worse. He’d already felt like an outsider amongst the close-knit group, but seeing Cooper, the birthday boy, or rather man, down on one knee in front of Emily Morgan, the host, he felt like some creepy dude peeping in on his neighbors.
He thought about sneaking out while everyone was congratulating the happy couple. No one would even know he was gone, except both Sloane and her ex seemed to be keeping him in their sights. While one would be perfectly happy for him to take off, the other seemed happy to have him around. Before he could make his escape, the littlest Morgan, Tally, came bounding over to him, talking excitedly about Cooper joining her family.
“I’m so excited,” she said as she jumped up and down.
She held her hand out so he could see the ring Cooper had given
her when he proposed to not only his girlfriend but her daughter as well. It was a pretty classy move if you asked him, one that not many men would think of if they were in the same situation. Cade admired the ring and told her how pretty it was, even though he could barely get a good look at it since she was too excited to stand still. Glancing over at Sloane, he found her watching him interact with her niece; her love for the little girl was written all over her face.
“Maybe you could marry my Auntie Sloane, and then you can join our family too.”
Cade nearly choked on his beer, and from the coughing around the room, he wasn’t the only one. Before he could respond, a laughing Emily was calling her daughter back into the kitchen so they could take a family photo to show off their rings from Cooper.
Saved by the bell.
He watched Tally skip over to her mother’s side, then looked over at Sloane. Her cheeks were red as she gave him a small shrug, then reached out for the phone Emily was handing her. His gaze wandered over to the elder Morgan sibling, who was still glaring at him though it was way more intense than it had been earlier.
Sneaking out was beginning to look better and better.
Before Cade could make his move, Emily waved him over so they could make a toast. At some point, she’d poured something bubbly into a glass for everyone. Entering the kitchen, he noticed a bottle of champagne on the counter next to a bottle of sparkling apple cider.
“Look, Cade, I’ve got sparkling juice too,” Tally said excitedly as she bounced from one foot to the other.
Juice sloshed inside her cup, getting dangerously close to the edge with each hop.
“Careful, honey. We don’t want to spill that on the floor,” Emily told her daughter at the same time her brother cleared his throat.
Everyone turned to look at Reid. He stood with his arm around his girlfriend, his glass of champagne held high in the air in his free hand. Cade followed the rest of the group, including Tally, and held his glass out while Reid talked about how happy he was for his sister and his best friend, and of course, the best niece ever. Tally giggled and beamed up at her uncle.
“Emily’s been through so much over the years, she deserves the perfect love and the perfect life, and I know she’s got that in you, Cooper. You’re a great friend, man, and I know you’ll be an even better husband. Just remember, if you hurt her, I know the best ways to dispose of a body,” Reid said, then winked over at the happy couple. “To Emily and Cooper.”
Laughter filled the room as everyone clinked glasses, then took a sip of their drink.
“What does dispose of a body mean?” Tally asked, causing everyone to nearly choke on their drinks again.
“That’s all you, big brother. Good luck with that,” Emily said as she grabbed Cooper’s hand and walked out of the kitchen and down the hall.
Sloane shook her head, then walked toward the back door and slipped outside. The look on Reid’s face as his niece looked up at him expectantly was pretty damn priceless. It made Cade wish he could get his phone out and take a picture before the other man noticed.
“Hey Tally, can you show me the pictures you colored earlier? I didn’t get a chance to see them before dinner,” Sara told the little girl before smiling over at her very relieved boyfriend.
Tally squealed an excited yes, then grabbed Sara’s hand so she could drag her toward the living room.
And then there were two.
He really should’ve snuck out during the proposal.
“Why are you even here, Cade? Figure this would be a good time to see her around the people she loves? See if she displays any of those ‘ingrained homicidal tendencies’ around her family?” Reid half-whispered, half-growled his litany of questions.
“Actually, I thought taking a break from my relationship with binge-watching sounded like a good idea. I think I’ve almost watched everything on Netflix. Not sure where to go next. I’ve heard Hulu has some good stuff and Amazon Prime. It really is a toss-up.”
Reid rolled his eyes, the anger a permanent fixture on his face. “This isn’t funny. You need to tell her what’s going on.”
“You know I can’t. Even if I wanted to, my hands are tied.”
“Untie them,” Reid hissed. “You know she didn’t do it.”
Cade sighed, setting his unfinished champagne on the counter and picking up the beer he’d discarded before the toast. There was a lot he wasn’t sure of just yet, and Sloane’s innocence was one of them. While he was reasonably sure she wasn’t a cold-blooded killer, it didn’t mean she wasn’t involved in another way.
Avoiding Reid’s intense glare, Cade looked around his sister’s house. It had been a bad idea to agree to show up. He’d been welcomed with open arms by most of the people in the house, but if they knew why he was in town, they’d be slamming the door in his face. And he’d deserve it. The problem was, he enjoyed hanging out with Sloane and her friend and adorable little Tally.
He was an ass of epic proportions. But he was an ass just doing his job. That had to count for something.
Cade knew it wouldn’t in the end. When Sloane found out why he was really in San Francisco, she’d never forgive him. It shouldn’t matter. He wasn’t there to make friends. He was there to find out who the hell was going around the country, killing people the way her parents used to.
Whoever it was had information about the killings never shared with the public. Who was more likely to have insider information than the daughter of the Cutthroat Couple? At least that’s what everyone high up in the bureau thought—the very ones who’d been reluctant to hire Sloane in the first place.
“I can’t.”
“You mean you won’t.”
“No, I mean, I can’t. When I’ve got enough evidence to clear her, I’ll go to bat for her, but it’s not going to be easy. If I can show she’s in danger, then maybe that’ll change things. You know, better than anyone, how much they don’t like her. They’ve got it out for her, Morgan. She’s guilty by association, even if we prove she’s got nothing to do with it.”
“It’s always been that way.”
“Well, it’s worse now. Since her last case, most of them think she should be in jail, not living the life of a best-selling author.”
Reid scrubbed a hand over his face, then downed the rest of the champagne in the glass he’d been holding so tightly Cade was surprised it hadn’t shattered. For once, the other man looked angry with someone other than Cade, though he was sure most of the anger would be focused on him again soon enough. He was the one who’d brought this shit show to Reid’s door. Brought his ex-wife back into the picture and made him a part of an investigation he’d probably rather know nothing about.
“Just give me some time. I’ll see what I can do. In the meantime, don’t blow it. She can’t know what’s going on. You know…”
“My career is on the line, yadda yadda,” Reid mocked. “I know. And I’ll fall in line. For now. But it can’t get any worse, Cade. Whoever this is knows where she’s been since her mom’s death.”
“We don’t know that.”
“Virginia, New Jersey, San Francisco, and Seattle…”
“Which all just gives credence to her being involved.”
“You know she’s not,” Reid said a little too loudly.
Cade looked around to find Sara and Tally looking over at them, Sara’s brow arched in question.
“C’mon Cade, you know Tally’s not old enough to work for the FBI.”
Reid’s attempt at recovering the situation caught Cade off guard for a moment, but then he was playing along.
“Are you sure? She looks old enough to me. She finished college already, right?”
Tally giggled from her place on the floor, a red crayon in her hand. “No, I’m only in preschool.”
She erupted into fits of laughter, tipping over until she was rolling on the floor between the couch and the coffee table. Apparently, he was a lot funnier than he thought.
“I think she’s giving you
a courtesy laugh, either that or it’s the sugar,” Reid whispered before dropping to the floor and crawling over to his niece. She laughed harder, squealing as she tried to get away from him, but was blocked in by the furniture and Sara.
Cade used the distraction to move toward the back door and slip outside. He knew he should’ve gone the other way, walked out the front door, got into his car, and stayed the hell away from Sloane, but he couldn’t help himself. She’d been out in the backyard a long time, and he was too damn curious for his own good. He needed to know what she was thinking. He needed to figure out if he was right about her or if he’d gotten it all wrong.
Someone was re-creating her parent’s murders, and the only other possibility was supposed to be dead. If Sloane wasn’t their killer, then she could be their only hope in figuring out who was. How Cade handled the situation with her would be vital in the plan to get her to cooperate. He couldn’t afford for her to tell him and the FBI to fuck off, but he wouldn’t blame her when she did.
Chapter Twenty-Three
She’d been right.
The stink-eye didn’t stop. Not during dinner or during dessert or when they sang happy birthday to Cooper. The only time it stopped was when Cooper shocked them all and dropped down on one knee. The glaring had chased her out of the house, sending her to the backyard for some peace. Sloane wouldn’t have been surprised to find out Reid was still glaring at her, just through the walls of the house.
“Mind if I join you?”
Sloane didn’t even bother looking over her shoulder to see who was standing behind her.
“The love fest inside a little much for you, too?” she asked Cade as he took a seat on the deck stairs next to her.
She took a deep drink of her wine, then peeked at him out of the corner of her eye. Somewhere between dinner and dessert, he’d pushed the sleeves of his henley up to his elbows, revealing intricately detailed tattoos on his left arm. For some reason, the ink surrounding his defined forearm shocked her. Sloane didn’t know Cade well, but he seemed like a rule follower through and through, yet she knew the FBI frowned on their agents having visible tattoos. How she’d missed them the night before, she wasn’t sure. Maybe the case, maybe exhaustion, but now that she knew they were there, she saw him in an entirely new light.