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“Make sure you’re not too loud.” His tone was teasing.
“Why, Detective, will you arrest us?” I asked playfully.
Something glinted in those dark eyes, making my insides tighten. His lips curled into a breathtaking smile. Well, honestly, he was a breathtaking man all-around.
“Since you’re off duty, can we offer you a drink to make up for the inconvenience?” Luna asked.
“I’m headed somewhere, but thank you for the invitation.” He pulled a card from his back pocket, handing it to me. “This is my number, Paige. If you do find any signs of forced entry, call me.”
“Sure.”
“Have a nice evening, ladies.”
I closed the door and turned to the girls.
“Who knew detectives were so sexy?” Luna asked.
Faith clapped her hands. “I certainly didn’t, but now that I do, I think it’s time I reevaluate my dating pool.”
I ran my hands over the business card. Detective William Connor. Below was a cell phone number and the address of a poli
ce station. I pocketed it.
We went through the house looking for any signs of forced entry. All the boards on the ground floor were firmly in place, and even though I couldn’t imagine thieves climbing through the windows on the upper floor, we checked those too. The inn had been spared.
“So, I’d say it’s high time I give you your gifts,” I announced when we returned to the living room. They both squealed, hugging me. I’d brought an extra suitcase just with gifts for my friends and family and my work colleague Ashley. She and I had started working at Three Emeralds, a nonprofit focusing on human development, right after college. When a position at the Paris office came up, Ashley bowed out, saying that with a husband and two kids, she had too many strings here. I had reeled at the opportunity to spend time in another country, especially in France. The team was much larger, and I’d learned a lot from my colleagues there. I’d always liked my no-strings existence, but lately I’d started thinking that some strings wouldn’t be bad. Some roots. Maybe it was seeing my two sisters and brother getting married. I had no idea, but the idea was growing on me.
“How about some music?” Faith asked, pouring herself another glass of wine.
“I’ve got an excellent playlist.” I took out my smartphone and tapped the screen, bringing up a list with upbeat, fun songs. They were perfect for a reunion evening. As I turned the volume to the max, I wondered if it was loud enough for the neighbors to hear, and if they’d come knocking at the door to tell me to turn it down or if they’d report the disturbance to the police. Would the hot detective stop by again?
Chapter Two
Will
I was still chuckling when I drove away. Though calls like this were usually answered by patrol officers, not detectives, I was glad I’d stopped by. The brunette had made my evening, standing there in her short dress, showing off her perky little body and asking me if I’d arrest them. I should have suggested that she install an alarm. Statistically, renovation sites were a magnet for burglars.
I headed straight to the restaurant where my sister Lori’s wedding would be taking place in a few weeks. She’d invited me to the menu tasting. I arrived at the same time as my younger brother, Jace. Lori and her fiancé, Graham, sat at a table.
“Hey! Long time no see,” I joked. We’d seen each other last Friday at dinner, as we did every week. “Just the four of us?”
“Val will be a few minutes late,” Lori explained, referring to our oldest sister. I knew our two other siblings, Landon and Hailey, couldn’t make it, but I was surprised that Lori’s eight-year-old son was missing.
“Where is Milo?” I asked Lori.
“Declared that he’d rather spend the evening with his friend Jilly.”
Val arrived shortly afterward, and during the tasting, she and Lori were deep in wedding talk.
Midway through the main course, Val turned her attention to Jace and me.
“So, you two are going to bring dates after all?”
Jace whistled, handing me a five-dollar bill. “You win.”
“Always do.” I pocketed the bill, grinning at Val’s inquisitive look. I might have been thirty-three, but I still loved a good bet.
“What was the bet about?”
