Headlines (Prime Time #3) - Ella Frank Page 0,61

arm along Bailey’s seat.

Finished with my burger, I looked at them and nodded. “After everything that happened there, I just can’t imagine going back.”

“The guy took photos in his bedroom, in his bed.” Sean took my hand. “There’s no way he’d ever feel comfortable there again.”

“No shit.” Kieran popped the last few chips on his plate into his mouth, then grabbed his phone. “Guy sounds like he was a total freak.”

“Yeah,” I said with a frown.

“So you’re moving into Sean’s place permanently?” Bailey laughed. “Okay, now I know you love him.”

“Hey, my place isn’t that bad.”

Bailey’s horrified look would’ve matched my own just a couple of months ago. But after having lived there and fallen in love there, my opinion of Sean’s place had dramatically changed. In fact, I was kind of sad over the thought of leaving it behind.

“It’s not that bad. Actually, it’s kind of grown on me.” Sean narrowed his eyes, and I grinned. “What? It has.”

“Mhmm. What he’s also not telling you is we’re going to start looking for another place. That’s why he’s not freaking out right now.”

“You are?” Bailey looked between the two of us. “Now this’ll be interesting. Where are you looking? The city or suburbs?”

The two of us laughed. “We have no idea.” I turned to Bailey and said, “I think I want to get out of the city.”

“Seriously? But you love it there.”

“I used to, and I love working there and being in the middle of it all.” I squeezed Sean’s hand. “But I think I want to be somewhere quieter when the day is done.”

The emotions swirling in Sean’s eyes suddenly made me wish we were somewhere quieter and more private.

“We were thinking somewhere by the lake,” he said, his eyes still glued to mine.

“Really?” Henri sat up a little straighter in his seat. “How far from the city?”

Returning our attention to everyone at the table, I shrugged. “We hadn’t really thought about it. We were going to start looking next week.”

Henri and Bailey were having some kind of silent conversation as they looked at one another.

“Why…?” I asked.

“Well,” Henri said. “There’s this place that just became available up on Chicago’s North Shore—they’re having an open house this weekend. It’s about a thirty-minute drive, but—”

“It’s gorgeous.” Bailey eyed me. “Lake views, sandy shores, immaculate outdoor area, and super private.”

“What are you, their real estate agent?” Sean said, and I couldn’t help but laugh because Bailey really was laying it on thick.

“No… I’m just imagining spending the weekends out there.”

Sean looked suspicious. “How did you hear about the place?”

Bailey turned to Henri, who shrugged. “It belonged to someone who, uh, won’t be needing it anymore.”

“Meaning?” I asked.

“Meaning he’s currently doing twenty to life in Stateville, and his wife is motivated to sell.”

“You want to sell us a criminal’s house?”

“Hey,” Henri said. “You might get it for a steal.”

“You said it’s on the lake?” I asked, looking at Bailey.

“Yep,” he said. “Seriously, it’s stunning.”

I looked to Sean, who arched a brow. “Really?”

“Aren’t you curious?” I asked.

Kieran looked up from his phone and waggled his brows. “Bet that’s not the first time you’ve said that to him.”

Sean pointed to his phone. “Shut up and go back to your sexting.”

“Don’t mind if I do.”

Sean looked back to me and smiled. “I guess we’re going to the North Shore this weekend, then.”

I pressed a kiss to his lips and nodded. “Guess we are.”

32

Sean

“TONIGHT WAS FUN.”

I followed Xander inside and tossed my keys on the entry table. “Which part?”

“All of it.”

“Yeah, I don’t know about that. Kieran’s getting a little too mouthy for his own good, and Boudreaux—”

“Gave us a great place to look at tomorrow.” Xander headed down the hall to my bedroom and flicked on the light. “It was fun. Being back together again.”

“You make us sound like some eighties band that reunited.”

Xander rolled his eyes. “You know I’m right. Stop acting so blasé. It was great to see Bailey smiling and—”

“Not glaring us to death?”

“Yes.” Xander chuckled. “I wasn’t sure we’d ever get back to that point.”

I pulled my phone from my pocket and then went about securing my weapon, and when I was free and clear of all obstacles other than clothes, I went after what I’d wanted all afternoon—Xander.

I took hold of his shirt and drew him in close, and he wound his arms around my neck.

“Do you mind if we stop talking about my brothers now?” I asked.

Xander pretended to mull it over as I slid my hands down to