I hugged him, grateful for the sentiment. “See, Addie? He still has our backs.”
“If he really had our backs, he would have come alone rather than calling in the PoPo.” She poured us each a glassof wine.
“Jake and I have an understanding.” Asher sipped from his glass. “We figure it’ll take both of us to keep you two alive and safe, so we made a pact not to keep shit like this from each other. It’s bro-code, sis.”
“What about sis-code?” she asked, eyeing him.
“That’s not a thing.”
“Well, it should be,” she snapped.
Asher set his glass down and grabbed my hand. “Table it, Addie.I need to talk to Dylan alone for a moment.”
She opened her mouth to respond, but he tugged me through the living room and into my bedroom, closing the door behind us. Before I could ask him what was going on, he released my hand and trapped me between his body and the door. His lips landed on mine as his hands snaked around to my back pressing me against him. His tongue plunged into my mouthin an almost desperate claiming that wiped all thoughts and words from my mind.
When he finally let me up for air, we were both gasping for breath. Leaning his forehead against mine, he kept me tightly tucked in the safety of his body.
“You okay?” I asked when I could form the words.
“Better. now that I know you are. I’m sorry, Dylan.”
Confused, I pulled away so I could look him in theeyes. “Sorry for what?”
“Ethan. The job. I know how Addie can get and I never should have referred—”
“Whoa.” I pushed him away. “Stop right there. This is a new business and we have a few kinks to work out, but referring us to your friend was a good move, Ash. It showed that you had faith in us.”
“And you were shot at. Again. I know you and Addie like the whole detective thing, but maybethis job just isn’t right for the two of you.”
My chest squeezed. Fighting for breath, I stepped around him and moved away. “It was a hiccup. We’ll discuss it and figure out the best way to proceed.”
“Or, you can quit.”
Shocked, I stared at him, silently willing him to recant that nonsense.
“There’s no shame in admitting when something isn’t working, Dylan.”
“Isn’t working? This is ourfirst job.”
“But the third time you’ve almost gotten yourself killed while sleuthing.”
“And the second case we’ve solved,” I replied. “I got video footage, and Greg the cheater is going down.”
“At what cost?” he fired back. “Addison turned into a stripper, you were both shot at, and you pretty much started a riot at a strip club.”
“None of which was technically our fault.”
He stared atme, folding his arms across his chest. “All of which stemmed from one poor decision after the next.”
“What was I supposed to do? Let her go into that club alone? Don’t patronize me, Asher.”
“She wouldn’t have gone in without you. Maybe you should have called her bluff.”
“That’s really easy for you to say, now. Hindsight is a great tool.”
“Jake and I are putting you two on lockdown.”
Certain I must have misheard him, I shook my head. “Come again?”
