Perfect Night (Mason Creek #4) - Terri E. Laine Page 0,52

I stayed far too long under the shower, and I’d likely be late for my appointment if I didn’t get a move on. Reluctantly, I left the bathroom. Aiden wasn’t in my bedroom, and the house was silent. Had he left?

I got dressed and went downstairs. My clothes were gone from the stairs and landing. He’d folded them and set them on top of the shirt I’d left on the side table. His shirt was still in the pile.

Was he leaving his things here too? A little thrill zipped through me.

I went out onto the front porch and joined Aiden who wore a grim expression. I looked out onto the street. Evan’s car was gone.

“What happened?” I asked.

“I’ll tell you later. You’re going to be late.”

He followed me to the salon but didn’t get out. After I parked, I jogged over to his car.

“Thanks for everything,” I said.

“One day, you’re going to stop thanking me and just accept I’m here for you.” My eyes dropped to his lips. “Your choice,” he said, and he didn’t have to tell me what.

I could kiss him and let the town know we were a thing, or I could wait. I leaned in and kissed him. It wasn’t long, but when I pulled back there was a big smile on his face.

“My girl has kissed me. I wonder how long before someone asks me about it?”

Though I’d gotten a little thrill by him calling me his girl, I glanced around. “I don’t think anyone saw.”

“Maybe not, but now I can kiss you when I want.”

I sauntered away and went into the salon. “Hey, Faith,” I said, my cheeks felt as red as a cherry tomato.

“Hey you,” she said. “So, it’s true. You and the chief deputy sheriff are a thing?” I shrugged. “It’s a good thing.” Her eyes dropped to my arm where I’d forgotten the cuff to hide the bruise Evan had given me. “Aiden’s one of the good ones. A trim?” she asked.

“I think he likes my hair as is.”

Faith laughed. “Yeah, probably better to do something drastic after you walk down the aisle,” she joked.

I laughed. “I do have a question.”

“Go ahead. Judgment free zone here.”

“What are the kinds of things you can leave at a boyfriend’s house and what’s too much?”

“Good thing we have a little time,” she began and schooled me on the etiquette of dating.

Chapter 24

Aiden

It had taken a Herculean effort not to follow Emma up those stairs and give into the desire we both felt. I’d been truthful with her when I said I wanted more. If that meant waiting until I was sure she was ready, I’d wait.

To keep me sane, I stepped outside. Hearing the shower running wouldn’t help my mental fortitude. Instead, my brain shifted gears. Doug Hawkins’s killer, who was he or she?

Frustration broiled over as I felt powerless to help Emma find the person responsible. My hands were tied even with the leads I had because all led nowhere without more information. I couldn’t get that information without some proof that a crime was committed. It was a catch-22 situation. Hopefully, the autopsy would give us the proof I needed to open a formal investigation where I could get the judge to sign off on warrants to gain me the information I needed.

Jack was still high on my list. I couldn’t ask him for an alibi yet, not legally at least.

I checked my phone. Darcy hadn’t texted me the information I requested yet. Just as I put my phone back in my pocket, a car drove down the lane. There were only a few houses on this street and the car didn’t slow, so they had to be headed here. Evan. I stood straighter. He wouldn’t make a scene or upset Emma.

Since the road ended just past Emma’s house, the car circled back at the end before pulling to a stop beside Evan’s vehicle.

A window rolled down. “Morning, officer,” Evan’s tidy lawyer said. “I hope we will have no problem here.”

“As long as your client doesn’t start any,” I called from the porch.

The lawyer turned his head and said something to Evan. The passenger’s door opened, and he climbed out. I thought of Emma and Darcy and how this man had manhandled them both. I gripped the railing tighter to ensure I didn’t break the laws I’d sworn to uphold.

Evan didn’t speak, likely based on the advice of his lawyer. His glare however said everything he didn’t. I maintained a bored expression