Page 50 of Beneath the Quiet

I raise my hand to knock on the door, but a deep voice behind me stops me, and I turn my head. Aidan strides towards me, and I tamp down the flutters that erupt inside me from the sight of him. His gaze bores into mine so intently that it feels as if he can see every thought I’ve had about him since I left him in his car.

He stops close in front of me and tips his finger to an imaginary hat.

“Detective.”

“Are you ever going to stop calling me that?”

“Unlikely.”

“I guess I can live with it.” I blow out a breath and decide to let it go. I raise my hand, holding up the bag. “Tarts and coffees from Roísin. I didn’t know which pop to get Katie, so I went with the safe choice.”

He takes it from me and opens it, peering into it.

“Raspberry is fine.” He closes the bag and gestures towards the house. “Are you hungry?”

I shrug. “I could eat.”

“Great. Katie’s inside, finishing up homework.”

I ram my hands into my pockets to stop from fidgeting and follow him inside. He puts the bag on the temporary kitchen island and then walks through the archway to the staircase I’ve only just noticed at the far end of the kitchen.

“Katie!” he shouts up the stairs. “Our guest is here.” He doesn’t wait for her before he returns to me. “Take a seat. I’m sure she won’t be long.”

No sooner have the words left his lips than I hear running feet above, and I grin at Aidan. His eyes crinkle at the corners, and he returns my grin. Katie runs down the stairs, hair flying wildly around her until she skids to a stop right in front of me.

“Maeve! You came!”

“Of course I did.” I lean down to give her a brief hug. “Said I would, didn’t I?”

She reaches up her hand and twirls her hair around her finger. “I know, but I thought you might’ve got stuck at work.”

“Come now, love.” Aidan’s soft admonishment makes us turn our heads at the same time. “You fret too much.”

“Sorry, Dad.”

The knowing look they share makes me frown. Why do I get the feeling that they’re talking about more than what’s being said? My eyes flicker between them for a few seconds until Aidan jerks his chin towards the kitchen.

“Why don’t we all get something to eat, and then we’ll show Maeve around, okay?”

My tummy makes a sound so loud that I clap a hand over my mouth.

“I’m so sorry,” I gasp through my laughter and place a hand over my belly button. “That’s embarrassing.”

Katie giggles. “Come on. I made some chicken salad sandwiches on sourdough bread for us.”

“Oh, wow. That sounds fantastic.” I take my coat off and hang it on a chair. “Do you need a hand with them?”

Shaking her head, she pulls the fridge open. “No, thank you. I’ve got them.” She removes a large plate filled with a mountain of food, and my eyes widen. Aidan joins us in the kitchen and pulls out our drinks from the bag, and we spend the next few minutes setting the table in companionable silence.

“What’s your favourite animal, Maeve?”

I smile at Katie as I sit down next to her.

“That’s a hard one.” I purse my lips in thought. “But I think I’ll go with dogs. What about you?”

“I can’t choose.” She pulls the plate closer to me. “I love all our animals, but the chickens are funny. I really like the alpacas, too, and horses.”

I turn my head to Aidan.