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Fuck. He did. He was. “Just making up my list of suspects.”
“Suspects?” Elliott’s dark eyebrows rose. “I thought the cops had the suspects in custody. Two punk kids who are probably terrified and will be grounded for the rest of their lives by seriously pissed parents.”
A hard, negative shake of Brady’s head. “Someone hired those kids.”
“To play a prank, right. Sure, they—”
“Toscareher.” He turned away from the box to fully face his friend. “I don’t like it. No one should scare her.”
Elliott tapped his chin. “Noted. You don’t like people scaring Noelle. You don’t like dicks being in her office…whatdoyou like?”
Again, such an asshole.“I’m just saying it was a good thing I was at her place last night. Don’t worry, I’ll keep staying there for the foreseeable future so that she feels safe.”
If possible, Elliott’s eyes widened even more.
“Now, who was the dick in her office?” Brady demanded because he still hadn’t gotten his answer. Okay, fine, so he technically had a name already.Rowen.But what Brady really wanted to know was… “Why did the guy think he was dating Noelle? You told me she wasn’t dating anyone.” When Brady had asked, as he always asked when he got stateside again.
Elliott’s still wide eyes gleamed. “I was super worried. Thanks for staying so she can feelsafe.”
“Someone has to watch over her.” Obviously, Elliott wasn’t taking this shit seriously. “Have you forgotten the jerk in the ski mask? He could have hurt her. He could be the one who hired those kids.”
“Again…why? Why would a robber want some kids throwing snowballs at her place?”
“To scare her! Maybe you have some creep who is obsessed with Noelle.” His hands fell to his sides and his voice hardened as Brady warmed to the topic. “He thinks he can scare her, get close to her…” He thought of the dick in her office. “Maybe act like her hero in order to get her to fall for him.”
A cough broke from Elliott. One that sounded fake. “Wouldn’tyoube doing those things?”
What the hell? “I wouldneverscare her.”
“But you are close to her. Staying in her house…and there is a Santa suit—an actual Santa suit—that the man I think of as a modern Ebenezer Scrooge is planning to wear so that my sister can pull off the charity event she loves so much.” Another cough. “Would you be trying to make Noelle fall for you? After all these years of pushing her away, are you finally trying to pull her close?”
Shit. “What if I am?”
In an instant, Elliott’s wide eyes turned to slits.
Yeah. He’s gonna punch me. Worth it, though.
“When do you head out on another mission?” Elliott asked. “The first of the year? Before Valentine’s Day? When will you be heading out and not looking back?”
“First, Ialwayslook back.” Just so they were clear. He did look back. Over and over.
“Um, is that why you ask incessantly about who Noelle might be dating whenever I talk to you and you’re on a mission?”
His back teeth ground together. “And, second, I’m done.”
Elliott blinked. “Done?”
“I’m going civilian.” A change that he’d been thinking about for a long time. “Gonna do private security work. Already got some leads set up with my buddy, Eric Wilde. I’m coming home.” Technically, he wasn’tcominghome. He was home.
His best friend didn’t say anything. The minutes ticked past. The waiting killed Brady. “If you’re going to hit me, I should tell you that I will only give you three free punches.” Who was he kidding? Not like he’d hit back at Elliott. If he beat up Noelle’s brother—and he would, because Elliott couldn’t fight worth a shit—then Noelle would just get upset, and Brady didn’t want that.
“Hit you?” Elliot’s right hand fisted. He glanced down at it as surprise slid across his green-painted features. “That what you think I’m going to do?”
Yep. A punch appeared to be a certainty. “I’m planning to date your sister.” Saying those words seemed to take a weight off Brady’s shoulders, even if they brought him a black eye. “I know that probably pisses you off. I know I’m not good enough for her. I know I should stay the hell away.” A long exhale. “I tried to stay away. Thought what I felt for her—thought it wouldgo awayif I was away, but it hasn’t, and I know I’m wrong for her. I get that she needs someone who is as happy and good as she is.” He looked over his shoulder. Glared at the Santa suit. “Someone who puts up damn trees and sings carols, and even though it almost physically hurts me, I am trying to be that guy.” For her.
“You’re…planning to sing carols?”
Brady’s head snapped back toward Elliott. “Are you choking?” Because it had sounded like he was. The guy sure seemed to be having lots of trouble. “Hey, look, I heard someone at the office has the flu. You keep coughing and choking. Maybe you’re coming down with something.” He took a step back.
