Bailed Out (The Anna Albertini Files #2) - Rebecca Zanetti Page 0,54

his voice.

That simple statement shouldn’t have swamped me with the girly pleasure that it did, but I basked in it anyway. “Did the guys give you a rough time about the newspaper article?”

He stiffened and then relaxed behind me. “The guys?”

“You know. Saber and the Lordes.”

“No,” he said, sliding his arm around my waist and pulling me even closer. The heat from his muscled chest brushed against my slightly sunburned back. “They had a few comments, but then I punched one of the prospects in the face, and the comments stopped.”

I opened my eyes to see the darkened lake outside. “You did what?”

“Different groups communicate in different ways,” he said, stretching lazily. “I communicated my displeasure with his comment, and he stopped commenting.”

I shook my head and relaxed right into his heat. “I’m fairly certain you shouldn’t admit to committing an assault and battery to a prosecuting attorney.”

“The prosecuting attorney happens to be an angel, and since she’s naked, there must be some sort of exception to the rule of self-incrimination.” His hand flattened across my abdomen in what felt both protective and possessive. “Not that it matters because I was in Washington state and out of your jurisdiction.” The lazy humor in his voice warmed me while the casual statement of violence should bother me on some level. Right now, it was difficult to feel anything but satisfied.

“About the article,” I said sleepily.

“One of the things I like about you is that you’re not all chatty after sex.” He nipped the top of my ear.

I settled. “Don’t be an ass. If I want to talk, we’re talking.” I yawned. Then I paused. “What else do you like about me?” Yeah, I was a dork.

“A lot,” he murmured. “I like that you’re a softie for old ladies who poison you, that you fight for family even though it’s gonna get you fired, that you try to be tough when you’re a marshmallow for kids, puppies, and lost old bastards in court.”

Okay. Now I was getting all squishy and warm. “Oh.”

“I like that your eyes are gray or green, depending on your mood. In the moonlight off the lake, when I’m inside you, they’re almost silver.”

My heart flipped over and almost hurt. Aiden Devlin being sweet might be too much for me. “Okay.”

“Your brain intrigues and scares the shit out of me at the same time. You’re too smart for that heart you have, and somehow you make it all work and so far have survived.” He kissed my ear again. “And your ass is the perfect curve for my hands. Now can I go to sleep?”

I was unable to think of anything to say. There were slight tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat, and I tried really hard to convince myself that allergy season had continued into the summer.

As if he knew exactly how vulnerable I was suddenly feeling, he tightened his hold. “Go to sleep, Aingeal. I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you.”

I cuddled into him, but it was a long time before I slept. Sure, I’d had a crush on him for over a decade, and yeah, I knew it was a huge risk to be with him right now with my job and his life. I’d rushed right into something with him, wanting to feel everything I knew he could help me feel. I wanted to know him—the real him—and I hadn’t given the consequences a second thought. This was the first time I came face to face with one harsh reality.

Aiden Devlin could absolutely break my heart.

I was still off kilter when morning arrived and was almost grateful Aiden received an early text message that had his jaw tensing before he kissed me and quickly headed off to take care of whatever business he was in—something I really should figure out. As I showered and dressed for the day, I really wanted to put on kick ass red heels. However, considering I was wearing white capri’s and a flowered blouse, it’d look too weird.

An extra pump of mint syrup in my coffee lifted my mood as I drank the entire mug while sitting on my washing machine and studying my murder board.

No new answers came to me.

So I hopped off and returned to the kitchen, slipping on my favorite blue Betsey Johnson sandals and heading out to handle a very nice Thursday. The weather was in the low eighties with a slight breeze, and I drove to Thelma and