“You’re a bad influence,” Nash complained, fumbling with his keys.
“At least it was only Nolan,” I reminded him as I waited for him to unlock his apartment door.
Nash’s U.S. marshal babysitter had been none too pleased to return from the restaurant bathroom to find us gone. He’d only found the situation slightly funnier when he walked up to the driver’s side window. It hadn’t taken a brain surgeon to know what we’d been up to.
Nash opened the door and gestured for me to enter first. Piper met me at the door, proudly carrying a small, stuffed police dog in her mouth.
“That one’s new,” I noted, leaning down to ruffle her wiry fur.
“Saw it on Amazon,” Nash said, shutting the door and hanging his keys on the hook.
“Are you ever not hard?” I asked, noting the obvious situation in his pants.
His grin was downright evil when he reached for me. “You have a choice.”
“Explain.”
“Either I go down on you here against the door or in the bedroom.” His hands were already reaching for the hem of my dress.
“Wait. Wait. Wait.”
To his credit, he stopped immediately. “What’s wrong?”
“As much as I really, really want to take your new, smooth face for a test drive…” I shook my head. “I can’t believe I’m saying this. But I think we need to talk.”
Nash’s lips quirked. “Just what the hell did they put in that wine?”
I shoved my hands into my hair. “Obviously, I’ve been abducted by aliens and replaced with a not-very-convincing clone. But we’ve been too busy orgasming to talk.”
“About what?”
“About the plan to take down Hugo. I was serious when I said I wanted in. And as much as I want in your pants again and again, this is important. Important enough not to let you distract me with your magic penis.”
His eyes went from a blazing intensity to amused. “You’re one of a kind, Angel.”
“Uh-uh, Studly Do-Right. No distracting me with compliments. Rally the troops while I take Piper out.”
“Now?”
I grabbed Piper’s leash from the hook. “Yes. Now,” I said firmly.
I returned from my walk around the block with Piper and a nagging guilty conscience. “Nash? Before everyone gets here, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Nash was hanging Duncan Hugo’s photo on the whiteboard he’d set up next to the table. “What’s wrong?”
I was pretty sure I’d done the right thing, but I had a feeling he might not see it that way. “Okay. So in school after the whole heart-stopping thing, I didn’t really fit in. And besides work, I never really belonged socially.”
He was watching me intently now.
“I guess what I’m trying to say is I’m new at this. I’m new to whatever is going on between us. I’m new to having friends like Naomi and Sloane.”
Nash’s eyes closed slowly and then reopened. He rubbed the spot between his eyebrows. “What did you do, Angelina?”
“Just hear me out,” I began. But I was interrupted by a loud knock. Piper went scrambling for Nash.
“It’s nine o’clock on a school night,” Knox complained as I let him in.
“I’ll take Words by the Domesticated Knox Morgan for two hundred, Alex,” I quipped. I was just shutting the door when Lucian appeared in it. “How the hell did you get here so fast?” I asked him.
“I worked remotely from here today.”
“You worked remotely in a suit?”
“Nice earrings,” he said.
I narrowed my eyes in suspicion. “Why are you being nice to me?”
“Because of that.” He nodded over my shoulder at Nash, who was offering his brother a beer and smiling while doing it. “Don’t fuck it up.”
He crossed to his friends and I closed the door feeling guilty. “So, guys. Before we start, I should probably tell you all—”
I was interrupted by another knock.
Lucian stopped trying to coax Piper out from behind Nash’s legs and frowned. “Is that Graham?”
“We know you’re in there.” Sloane’s voice carried from the other side of the door.
Nash headed for me and the door.
“That’s what I wanted to tell you,” I said, grabbing his arm.
He looked through the peephole and then shot me a “you didn’t” look.
“I did,” I confessed.
“Did what?” Knox asked, crossing his arms.
“This,” Nash said, opening the door to Naomi, Sloane, and Mrs. Tweedy.
“Okay. To clarify, I didn’t text Mrs. Tweedy,” I said.
Knox looked concerned. Lucian looked ready to commit murder. And Nash, well, Nash looked at me and rolled his eyes.
“Daisy, baby, what the fuck are you doin’ here?” Knox demanded, closing the distance between them.
She crossed her arms over her pretty violet sweater. “Lina texted us.”
Sloane, dressed in plaid pajama joggers and a matching top, put her hands on her hips. “You penises aren’t shutting us out of whatever the hell this is.”
“I’m just here ’cause it looked like a party from my peephole. I brought booze,” Mrs. Tweedy announced, holding up a bottle of bourbon.
I winced as three grumpy, male gazes landed on me.
“Angelina,” Nash began.
I held up my hands. “Hear me out. This involves all of us in one way or another except for Mrs. Tweedy. And Naomi and Sloane deserve to know what’s going on. The more heads we can put together on this, the more eyes and ears we have around town, the better prepared we’ll be.”
The men continued to glare at me.
“No one knows this town and what goes on in it better than Sloane. And Naomi earned her way here by being a target. She shouldn’t be kept in the dark. The more she knows, the safer she can be and the better she can protect Waylay,” I insisted.
“You’re not leaving me out of whatever this is. If it has anything to do with my sister or her shitty ex, I deserve to know what’s going on,” Naomi insisted to Knox.
“You don’t need to worry about this, Daze,” he assured her, gripping her gently by the biceps. “I’ve got this. I’ve got you and Way. You need to trust me to take care of this.”
Naomi’s face softened momentarily before going grumpy again. “And you need to trust me. I’m not a child. I deserve full disclosure and open lines of communication.”
Sloane hooked her thumb in Naomi’s direction. “Yeah. What she said.”
“This has nothing to do with you. When are you going to learn to mind your own business?” Lucian said, addressing Sloane in a tone so icy I almost shivered.
Well, at least the big guy was pissed at someone besides me for once.
Sloane, however, appeared to be immune to the Rollins freeze. “Shut it, Satan. If it involves my town and people I care about, it involves me. I wouldn’t expect you to understand that.”
The stare off began and I wondered whose neck would get tired first, given their height difference.
Nash strode over and took me by the wrist. “Excuse us for a second,” he announced and dragged me into the bedroom. He shut the door, pushed me against it, and then boxed me in with his palms on either side of my head. “Explain.”
“You seem mad. Maybe we should talk later?”
“We’ll talk now, Angel.”
“They had a right to know.”
“Explain why you talked to them before you talked to me.”
“Honestly?”
“Let’s try that for a change,” he said dryly.
“I’m not really sure what the hierarchy of loyalty is in this situation. Naomi and Sloane are my first real friends in a long time and I’m out of practice. But I know how much it hurt you when I kept you in the dark. I got a taste of that when you were off plotting without me. And—”
He pinned my hips to the door with his with a thump.
“Are they fucking in there?” I heard Knox ask from the other room.
“And what?” Nash asked me.
“And they should know. And I get that you’re mad and I’m sorry for not raising this with you first.”
“I appreciate that and you’re not wrong,” he said, brushing my hair back from my forehead in a gesture so gentle my knees went weak.
“I’m not?”
A smile tugged on the corner of his mouth. “No. But next time, let’s have the conversation first.”
He was so damn handsome and so damn…good. No wonder I’d fallen in L-word with the man.
I managed a nod. “Yep. Got it.”
He cupped my face in his hand. “You and I are in this together. When our decisions affect each other, we make them together. Understand?”
I nodded my head vigorously.
“Good,” he said, pulling me away from the door. He gave my ass a stinging slap. “Consider that a low five.”
“Ouch!”
“She either slapped him or he spanked her,” Sloane said in the other room.
“Now, let’s get back out there and figure this shit out. Together,” Nash said firmly.
“Okay.”
He paused. “Is there anything else you need to tell me before we go back out there?”
I opened my mouth just as another knock sounded on the front door. “I swear this one isn’t me,” I insisted.
He grinned and opened the bedroom door.
Nolan strolled inside and Knox closed the door behind him. The marshal stopped and eyed the gathering, the whiteboard, and Mrs. Tweedy mixing up a pitcher of old-fashioneds. “I’m gonna hate this, aren’t I?”
“Not as much as I already do,” Knox told him.
“Hi, Nolan,” Sloane said with a pretty smile.
“Hey, cupcake.”
Lucian remained silent, but the “I’m about to explode” vibes were a tangible presence in the room.
“I’ll get more beers,” I said, deliberately stepping between Lucian and Nolan, who seemed unaware that his life hung in the balance.
“You know the basics. This is your last chance to bail before shit gets real,” Nash said to Nolan as I headed for the kitchen. “In or out.”
“In,” he said without hesitation.
“Nolan, this could get you in serious trouble,” I warned, pulling a six-pack out of the fridge. “Your bosses won’t like your involvement in this.”
Nolan spread his arms. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but my job sucks. It cost me my marriage. It ruined any hope I have for the world in general. And sleeping in one-star roach motels has destroyed my back. I already have my resignation drafted. I’m just waiting to get drunk enough or fed up enough to send it up the chain. Besides, I’m tired of babysitting.”
Nash and I exchanged a look and he nodded. I handed Nolan a beer. “Welcome to the team.”
“I don’t know what the hell you kids are talkin’ about, but I’m on the team too,” Mrs. Tweedy announced.
I shrugged at Nash and he rolled his eyes. We both knew there was no easy way of giving her the boot.
“Fine,” Nash said to her. “But you can’t repeat anything you hear tonight. Not to your gym buddies. Not to your poker pals. No one.”
“Sheesh. I got it already. Let’s talk turkey.”
“Let’s get this over with,” Knox muttered and pulled a chair out for Naomi.
We sat around the table with bourbon and beers and listened as Nash walked us all through the events of the past few days, then laid out the basic plan they’d come up with.
“I hate it,” Sloane announced when he was finished.
Naomi was wide-eyed and gripping Knox’s hand. “You can’t be serious, Nash. You can’t just dangle yourself out there as bait. He almost killed you once.”
“And this time, I’ll be ready for him,” Nash said gently.
“We all will,” I promised.
Naomi turned beseeching eyes to Knox. “But if Nash is a target, a loose end, so is Way.”
“So are you,” Lucian said.
Knox dragged her into his side. “Look at me, Daze. No one is getting near either of you. I promise you that. They’d have to get through me first, and no one is fucking getting through me.”
“He shot Nash,” she said, her eyes welling with tears.
“He’s not gettin’ a second chance there either,” Knox promised. His gaze went to his brother and they shared a long look.
Naomi closed her eyes and leaned into Knox’s chest. “I can’t believe all this is happening because of my sister. I feel like I brought this on all of you.”
“You can’t take responsibility for another adult’s bad decisions,” Nash told her. His gaze shifted to me. “All you can do is try to make good ones for yourself.”
“I want one thing straight,” Knox said. “None of this goes down before the wedding Saturday. Nothing fucks up Daisy’s day.”
“It’s your day too, Knox,” Naomi said, leaning into him.
“Damn right it is. And nothing and nobody is going to ruin it. Agreed?” He looked around the table, making sure each of us nodded our agreement.
“We’ll put everything in motion Monday,” Nash said.
“Okay. Then we should talk about preparation,” I suggested.
Nash nodded. “We’re all part of the team. We’ve all got a job to do, otherwise why are we here?”
“Because Lina opened her big mouth and dragged them into it,” Knox said.
“Lina saved you a week of sleeping on the couch, which is exactly what you’d deserve if you’d gotten away with keeping me in the dark on this one. So you should be thanking her,” Naomi pointed out.
Knox looked at me and used his middle finger to rub at the corner of his eye. “Thanks, Leens,” he said.
“You’re so welcome,” I said sweetly, lifting my glass with middle finger extended.
“Let’s get back to assignments,” Nolan suggested.
“Go on,” Nash prompted me.
I blinked. “I don’t really… I’m not comfortable…”
“But you know what needs to be done,” he insisted.
“Right,” I said. “Okay then. Nash, you’re going to get access to the case file the Lawlerville PD started before the feds muscled their way in. Maybe there’s something in there that will tell us where Hugo went.”
He nodded his agreement and I blew out a breath. “Keep going,” he prompted.
I turned to Nolan. “Nolan, you use your charm and connections to see what information you can get on the case the feds are building against Anthony Hugo. Who’s feeding them information, and how are they getting it?”
“On it,” he said, stroking his mustache.
“Sloane?”
“Lay it on me,” she said, holding a pen poised over the notebook she’d dug out of her purse.
“We need people in town on the lookout for Duncan Hugo and his henchmen. The earlier the warning we have, the more time we have to prepare. Grim already agreed to continue keeping tabs on the Hugos’ men. If any of them head in our direction, we’ll know. But we need people here who can keep their eyes and ears open and their mouths shut.”
“Ooooh! Pick me! Pick me!” Mrs. Tweedy said, coming halfway out of her seat, hand raised like an eager student.
“Okay. Mrs. Tweedy is our first official spy,” Sloane agreed.
“That means you can’t be blabbing about this to anyone,” Knox reminded his elderly tenant.
“I know when to blab and when to keep my trap shut,” she shot back.
“Choose people you know you can trust not to run their mouths about this. The last thing we need is a whole town looking for a fight,” Nash cautioned Sloane.
“Maybe we can spin a few tall tales to a couple big-mouthed gossips so they can be on the lookout without knowing exactly why,” Mrs. Tweedy suggested.
“How would that work?” I asked.
“Take Face Tattoo Guy. I can casually mention to Neecey at Dino’s that I heard a guy with face tattoos is looking to buy up acres of farmland to build a bunch of hipster condominiums and vape shops.”
“That’s not a terrible idea,” Lucian and Sloane said at the same time. They shared a long, simmering glare.
“Knox,” I continued.
He still had Naomi glued to his side with one tattooed arm around her shoulders. “Let’s have it, boss.”
“Local security. Beef up the system at your place and here at Nash’s. Lucian, can you find a way to track Nash, Naomi, and Waylay in case they get separated from their phones?”
Nash’s eyes swung back to me. “Now hold on a minute. I’ve already got a federal shadow—”
“Don’t bother arguing,” Naomi said to him. “If it’s a precaution Waylay and I have to take, you have to take it too.”
“I have access to some interesting technology that might help,” Lucian volunteered.
“Great. Knox, work with Lucian on that,” I said.
“What do you want me to do?” Naomi asked me. “And don’t even think about leaving me out of this.”
I looked at Nash for help.
“Self-defense,” he said. “You and Waylay are gonna sign up with Fi’s jujitsu instructor for private lessons.” Knox opened his mouth to argue, but Nash shook his head. “Hugo’s not going to get near either of you. But we’re taking zero chances.”
“I look forward to building on my knee-balls-nose repertoire,” Naomi said.
Sloane yawned and looked at her watch. “Okay. We have our assignments. Let’s nail this asshole.”
There was a murmur of agreement around the table.
Mrs. Tweedy noisily slurped up the remainder of her bourbon.
“Come on, Daze. Let’s get you to bed,” Knox said.
The way he said it and the way she looked at him made me think sleep was the last thing either of them had in mind.
Sloane stuffed her notebook back into her bag. “I’ll start a WhatsApp group so we can keep everyone updated.”
“Good thinking,” Nash said.
“Graham,” Nash said to Nolan, jerking his head toward the kitchen.
“A word,” Lucian said, appearing at my elbow.
“What’s up?”
“What’s my real assignment?”
My smile was slow and smug. “I didn’t want to make the ask in front of a U.S. marshal, even if he is batting for our team.”
“I gathered as much.”
“Can you dedicate your creepy shadow network of intel gathering to finding a man with no name and no picture?” I explained Duncan’s faceless, burner phone friend. “He’s the only one I couldn’t track down, and that makes me think he’s the one we need to find.”
“Send everything you have over to me, and I’ll get my team started immediately.”
“Good. Oh, and how do you feel about keeping an eye on Sloane? The rest of us are either trained to deal with this or live with someone who is. Sloane’s by herself, and since you stay next door to her when you’re in town, you’re the most convenient candidate.”
Icy fire danced in Lucian’s eyes. “No one will get near her,” he promised.
“She’ll probably give you shit about the attention,” I warned.
Something that almost looked like a smile played over his handsome face. But then it was gone. “I won’t be run off as easily this time.”
Personally, I was dying to know what other time he was thinking about and how a five-foot-two-inch woman had run off Lucian “Lucifer” Rollins. But it didn’t seem like the time for questions.
We said goodbye as everyone except for Nolan filed out the door, a buzz of purpose and anticipation between them.
Sloane paused in the open doorway. “Still up for being my date to the wedding Saturday?” she called to Nolan, who was lounging against the kitchen island.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, cupcake.”
“Pick me up at—”
Lucian slammed the door, cutting Sloane off midsentence.
“Those two are going to implode one day. Right, Pipe?” I asked the dog that was tap-dancing playfully at my feet.
“Angel, I need your key,” Nash called.
“Door’s unlocked,” I told him, meeting him and Nolan in the kitchen.
“Good. Go get your stuff and bring back your key,” he said.
“My stuff?”
“Graham’s taking over your place until this is over. It’ll help to have him closer than the motel.”
“Not gonna lie. I’m lookin’ forward to a real bed and not having to stomp on half a dozen roaches before my shower,” Nolan said cheerfully.
“Uh, you get the couch, my friend,” I told him.
“No. He gets your place,” Nash countered. “You’re staying with me.”
“You expect me to move in with you?” My voice went up an octave. I instantly began to sweat.
“On that note, I’ll go get my shit. Be back here in however long it takes to scare the rats out of my suitcase,” Nolan announced and ran for the door.
“Fight me on this,” Nash dared me.
“I can’t just move in with you, Nash. That’s insane. We barely made it through the day without fighting, and you want to share a bathroom with me? Do not smile at me like I’m the crazy one!” I could hear the hysterical tinge to my words but there was no dialing it back.
He was still smiling, but now he was heading toward me.
I held up my hands and began to back away. “It’s one thing to accidentally fall asleep after sex, but to bring my clothes here and… Do you even have closet space? I can’t just leave my things in a suitcase. They need to breathe.”
I needed to breathe.
Nash caught me, his hands settling on my hips and tugging me closer. I hated the fact that I instantly felt calmer.
“Take a breath,” he insisted.
I sucked in a tiny, useless inhalation.
“You’re adorable when you freak out.”
“I’m not freaking out. I’m…processing your ludicrous suggestion.”
“If it makes you feel better, this is just temporary,” he said, his voice annoyingly calm.
Temporary. Temporary. Temporary. Just like our relationship. One day at a time until…after.
Nash brought my hands to the back of his neck and then began to sway.
“Why do you keep slow dancing with me?”
“Because I like being close to you even when we have all our clothes on.”
“This can’t be the best solution,” I insisted. “Why don’t we all move in to the motel?”
“He wasn’t joking about the rats,” Nash pointed out.
“Okay, fine. We’ll all move in with Naomi and Knox. They’ve got room.”
“You don’t think that’ll get the entire town talking? The whole point of this is to make things look as normal as possible from the outside.”
“What is normal about this?” I demanded. “Besides, won’t people start talking about Nolan staying at my place? I mean, they’ll think I’m sleeping with you both. Or that we’re in some weird throuple.”
“Or they’ll think my federally issued protection is staying with me to protect me. Or they’ll think you and I are serious and Nolan wanted to get out of the roach motel.”
Damn it. He’d thought of everything. The sneaky, conniving son of a bitch.
I was impressed.
And terrified.
“I’m not going to become Suzy Homemaker and suddenly learn to cook,” I warned.
“Noted.”
“And you better not use your bathroom floor for a hamper. I saw Mount St. Dirty Clothes the day we brought Piper home.”
“Do I need to get the broccoli out of the freezer?” he asked, rubbing his cheek against the top of my head.
“No. Maybe.”
