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“I’ll think about it and get back to you.” Would Moira want me to stay? Could we really make a go of it? For the first time in more years than I could remember, I wanted to try with a woman. What was she doing to me?
“You know, I think Evan would be happy the two of you found each other. He’d be happy for you guys.” Roman said.
“Maybe,” I replied as Owen and Liam returned.
We handled the door once forensics left for the evening. And while the guys were painting over the graffiti on the door, I went searching for Moira inside.
What would she say if I told her I wanted to stay? That I wanted to see if there was something here between us and if we could go the distance?
I could get a place on base, just in case things didn’t work out. I could date her for real. Hell, I could take her on a first date.
And for a man who never considered settling down, it was a huge step. One I didn’t know if I wanted to take or not. But the truth was, I was falling for my best friend’s girl. And I didn’t know what to do about it.
23
Relief flooded me the moment I spied Ben enter the club. I didn’t know why, but he was a calming presence. We were all seated in the club proper now that the interviews with the detective were finished.
“All right, guys, thanks for staying and answering all the detective’s questions. As I mentioned earlier, you will be paid for tonight for the full time, no matter what hours you’re missing. Ted has dinner boxed up for y’all to take home with you. We should be okay for tomorrow night. We’re dealing with the door and should be back up and running just fine. So enjoy the night off, and let me know if you need anything.”
Then I turned to Dan. “You and your officers really should take some food with you. Ted’s an amazing chef. And I’m here to tell you his pot roast is one of the finest I’ve ever tasted.”
Dan smiled. “We will, and we appreciate your generosity.” Dan nodded at Ben as he joined me.
“The guys are taking care of the door. Tomorrow we can go to the hardware store and get a new door ordered.”
“That sounds like a plan.” I watched until the last of my employees headed out. Then asked Dan, “Tell me the truth. Do you think it’s one of my employees?”
The guy didn’t flinch. “It’s hard to say. They seem to check out.” He held up a hand. “But before you get excited, I plan on running extensive background checks and doing my job. I’m also going to have a couple uniforms attend in plain clothes each night this week to get a lay of the land and check out the customers.”
“So you don’t know?” I felt like a rat in a maze. Every time I thought I had turned a corner, something else happened to prove me wrong.
“Not yet, no. These things take time, unfortunately.”
“In the meantime, what am I supposed to do? Especially when I feel like I have a target on my back. And I don’t know where the next attack is coming from.” I was trying to keep it together. But my nerves were frayed.
“I get that, really I do. But you’ve got Ben helping you out. And I’m going to have patrol cars drive through your neighborhood a few times a day until this is resolved.”
Ben put a hand on my low back. “Dan will catch them.”
I glanced at Ben. All I wanted to do was lean. For years I prided myself on my ability to handle whatever life tossed my way. I survived through foster homes and raising myself, and a sleazoid boss who liked to cop a feel whenever the mood struck him. I’d built my own business through blood, sweat, and tears—and bucketloads of coffee.
I’d had my heart broken more times than I wanted to admit. I’ve had men knock me around, call me a slut and a whore because of what I do. And through it all, I relied on myself, on the strength and fortitude in my soul.
But in this, I felt lost. Paranoia had settled in and taken up residence. I didn’t know who among my people I could trust any longer. And it was tearing my soul to pieces.
“I know,” I replied for the sake of saying something, regardless of whether I felt that way or not. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Dan to do his job. It was just that my experience with police had been less than stellar over the years.
“I’ll be in touch as soon as I have something to report. In the meantime, if anything else happens, call me. We’ll catch this guy and put him behind bars. My guys and I are heading out for the night.”
“Make sure you take some food with you.”
“Will do. Ben, as always.” He nodded.
“What else do you need to do here tonight?” Ben asked.
“Ted’s finishing up in the kitchen and should be out the door in the next five minutes. I just need to shut everything down and set the alarm,” I explained. And then I wanted to go home and have a huge glass of wine.
“I’ll go with you. I’d rather not leave you alone.”
