Page 88 of Tied Over

“And fruit! There’s no fruit in cookies.”

“What about the kind with a cherry in the middle?”

“That’s a tart.”

“No, like shortbread cookies.”

“Do you even know what you’re talking about right now?”

I did but it hardly mattered. I was so happy just to have him with me.

“Remember the time we fought for three days about ninjas versus samurai?”

“Which was stupid too. Ninjas are assassins, samurai are warriors.”

He shook his head.

“Whatever, that’s not the point,” I grumbled. “The point is that you are not now, and have never been, agreeable.”

“Well, I don’t see that as a bad thing.”

“Me neither,” I told him, grinning.

He was quiet for a moment. “Do you think they wanted me to be some kind of beard?”

I scoffed. “That’s not how a beard works, love.”

“No, I know, but…you get it. Like a blue-collar guy was what he was looking for. Here’s my husband the law-enforcement guy? Was that what he was trolling for?”

“No,” I assured him, certain as always that anyone who met Bodhi would want him because, very simply, there was no one better.

“You can’t be trusted,” he said dismissively. “You’re crazy about me, so you have no objectivity whatsoever.”

“Yeah, but c’mon, why would Hayden want—”

His gasp was sharp as he pointed at Sutter and Stiel. “That’s what it was. That’s what all this was. Me and Hayden were a younger them. Can you imagine how good it would have looked with Sutter endorsing him? Jesus Christ, Jed, I—did you just call me love?”

“What?”

“Focus.”

“I can’t with how you’re lookin’ at me,” I snapped at him.

“Oh?” He smiled lazily. “How am I lookin’ at ya?” He copied my drawl perfectly.

“Like I’ve been hopin’ you would for a long time.”

He shook his head. “I really like your place. It’s got a very warm vibe over there.”

“You do?” I asked hopefully. “It does?”

“It does. Mine is sterile and upscale, and it’ll sell fast. Just you watch.”

“Which means that—”

“Which means that after we find Gabe Brodie, whom I never liked but didn’t actually think was a psychopath, we’re gonna get the guys to help move me into your place.”

I nodded. “Yes. Let’s do that.”