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“Yes,” Sonny said. “And good work all around, which brings me to the favor. You have developed quite a rapport with our secret witness, and she deserves to hear this from the source, so would you like to tell her in person?”
Aaron grinned. “I’d be happy to, sir.”
“Thanks,” Sonny said. “And let her know there’s every possibility that her name will come out in the case against him to corroborate seeing him with the gun and metal detector, and then finding the journal that links him to the crime.”
“I will, and now that she’s no longer in danger from the Bing brothers, I doubt she’ll have any concerns,” Aaron said. “As soon as I finish up here, I’ll drop by her house.”
“Thanks,” Sonny said. “It’s been a long day. See you tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir,” Aaron said, then finished the last of his report, saved it in the computer, and printed and filed a hard copy as well before giving her a call.
Chapter 16
Dani spent the morning running errands and the afternoon cleaning house. By the time she finally finished mopping the floors, she was exhausted. She took a quick shower to cool off, then grabbed a cold drink and went out to the swing on the back porch and plopped down. Her back was aching, and she’d kicked off her shoes earlier when she was mopping. Sitting down with her glass of iced tea was a treat. She had just taken a drink when her phone began to ring, and when she saw it was Aaron, she smiled.
“Hi, you,” Dani said.
Aaron smiled. “Hi yourself. Are you home?”
“Yes. Are you coming to see me?” she asked, and heard laughter in his voice as he answered.
“Yes, please.”
“Yay! Let yourself in. Grab yourself something to drink on your way through the kitchen. I’m on the back porch.”
“That’s the best invitation I’ve had all day. See you soon,” he said, and hung up.
All of a sudden, Dani’s exhaustion turned toanticipation. She ran back into the house, plated some of the cookies she’d bought at Granny Annie’s Bakery, and took them outside. What was left of the day had taken on a whole new perspective. The sun was already sliding below the treetops. Night was imminent. And her favorite person was coming to see her. She grabbed a cookie from the plate and took a bite, then pushed off in the swing as she chewed.
Granny Annie’s snickerdoodles were good, but it was Aaron Pope who rocked her world!
Aaron dodged a street parade by taking back streets to get out of the tourist part of Jubilee. A few minutes later, he was in Dani’s driveway. He had news to share but all he could think about was what she felt like in his arms.
As directed, he let himself in, grabbed a cold longneck from the refrigerator, and then exited the kitchen onto the back porch, pausing just long enough to take in the sight of her. Long legs beneath short pink shorts, a white T-shirt with an I TEACHLITTLESlogo on the front, and bare feet. A half-eaten cookie in one hand. A glass of iced tea in the other. But the smile on her face was all his.
“Come sit!” she said as she set her glass aside and scooted down the length of the swing to make room.
He sat. “Hey, beautiful,” then leaned over and kissed her. “Long time, no see,” he whispered.
She shivered from the all-too-brief feel of his mouth on her lips and shook her head.
“It was yesterday,” she said.
“Is that all?” Aaron said. “Felt like forever.”
Dani laughed. “Your words are as pretty as you are, but I won’t hold it against you. Help yourself to cookies. Don’t worry. I didn’t bake them. Your Aunt Annie did.”
Aaron grinned as he snagged a cookie and took a quick bite, then washed it down with a long drink of the cold beer.
“Umm, thanks,” he said. “I missed lunch. It’s been crazy at work. Even Wiley got into the act today. Stopped a robbery in progress at the ticket office and had the perp in cuffs before we got there. He’s probably home right now, telling the family all about it.”
“Oh my gosh! He wasn’t hurt, was he?” Dani asked.
“No. He’s got some moves, and he’s good at his job.”
“Thank goodness,” Dani said. “I can’t imagine being your mother and having two sons in law enforcement.”
Aaron went quiet, then reached for her hand as the swing rocked back and forth.
