As I pulled out a chair for Juno, Aiden tracked the move with a knowing grin.
“Will you look at that? Langston finally pulled his head out of his ass,” he sang with a wide smile. “Halle-fucking-lujah.” He pushed off the wall he was leaning against and clapped his hands loudly. “Okay, who put their money on them getting together before six months? There’s a big pot to claim.” He shot me adramatic frown. “I chose six weeks, but I should’ve known it would be longer. You’re a stubborn fucker.”
“And you’re a fucking asshole,” West laughed. Grabbing a pen from the table, he launched it at Aiden, who dodged easily.
Aiden pointed at West and turned to the deputy sheriff. “Oliver, did you see that? I’d like to file an assault charge.”
Oliver rolled his eyes and mumbled a reply before turning his attention back to the papers in front of him.
At the end sat Aspen, with Miles standing like a sentry behind her. I scoffed at myself when I realized I was doing the same thing. Hitching my chin at Miles in greeting, I did the same to Liam and Memphis. I scanned the floor for the dogs but came up empty. Guess they left the large Bernese mountain dog and yellow lab back at their respective homes, either to keep their cabins protected or because they knew there wouldn’t be room for their large bodies today.
Juno spun around in the metal chair and tipped her face up to me. For a second, I lost all thoughts, the enormity of the last couple of days hitting me square in the chest. I’d denied my true feelings for the woman for so long, and now I didn’t have to. She was mine.
And she was finally open to admitting she was ours.
“For now,” she’d said, but I’d do everything to ensure it was permanent.
“Hey,” she said, just loud enough for me to hear over the multiple conversations filling the small space. “So, this morning, I realized I don’t know a lot about you. Or you.” She shifted her gaze over to West, who hadn’t taken his eyes off her since we left the cabin. “And I was hoping maybe we could change that. You know, since we’re roommates and all now.” She tried but failed to suppress a grin.
“What did you have in mind?” Whatever she wanted to do, I was down for it. Hope filled my chest at her wanting to getto know me better. Not that it was all sunshine and fucking rainbows, but I’d love to tell her about some of my past, and Mattie.
“Do you have any clients today?”
I shook my head. “Not today, but I’m booked up tomorrow, though.” I felt my lips pull down into a frown. That would mean I’d have to leave her, but the best part of this multi-partner relationship meant she wouldn’t be alone. West, even with one good hand, was lethal and would protect her with his life.
“A little more information for that booking add-on I’m creating would be great, and I want to see you in your natural habitat.” I chuckled and nodded. “So, maybe we go fishing today?” She swiveled to face West. “Can you come too?”
He scanned my face before slowly shaking his head. “I think I’ll stay behind today, but you two go. You and I can hang out tomorrow while he has to work.”
Fuck, I loved that man. He never thought of himself first, which made him a great best friend—and, it seemed, partner in this relationship. But sometimes I hated it. It was almost like he felt like he didn’t deserve to be thought of first.
Or at all.
“Everyone, listen up.” Brandon’s deep, commanding voice vibrated through the cramped space, making everyone go silent at his serious tone. “As most of you know, there was a break-in at Hudson and Calista’s place yesterday. Nothing was stolen, but something was left behind, suggesting it was from the same psycho asshole who’s behind the missing women.”
Juno stiffened in her seat. Without even realizing I was doing it, I squeezed her shoulder before sliding my hand to palm the back of her neck in a comforting hold.
“We thought the threat was out there on the trail,” Brandon went on, “but it seems our continued investigation has broughtthat danger to our doorstep. That doesn’t mean we’re stopping, though, orbacking down.”
“The opposite, in fact,” Hudson cut in. “I reached out to a friend in the FBI, a talented-as-hell medical examiner, and she’s agreed to help. She needs all the autopsy findings, photos, and evidence shipped down to her in Dallas for the profiling team to review. Rain also had me go to Anchorage to meet with a local FBI agent about the missing women cases while I was there talking to the coroner. He seemed surprised by what’s going on here and said he needs to look into a few things before getting back to me on his suspicions, whatever the hell that means.”
Oliver stepped up to the table, arms crossed over his chest. “While Hudson was gone, Ethan called me, saying he found something on the trail around the area he thinks that female hiker we found a week or so back would’ve camped.” He looked at Ethan. “I can’t go into too much detail about the evidence we found, but we’re hopeful it will give us an idea of how she ended up so far away.”
“And dead,” Ethan muttered.
“Until we catch this bastard, I don’t want anyone going anywhere alone, especially you ladies. I know we were being cautious when on or near the trail, but we need to be just as vigilant here too. No more unlocked doors.” Calista grimaced and tightened her hold on Sam, who squirmed on her mom’s lap. “No more morning runs.” Baylee leaned back in her chair with a huff. “And you need to find a roommate for a while.” His pointed look was aimed right at Juno.
“Now, wait a second,” she protested.
“Already taken care of, boss,” I cut in before she could finish. “She’s moving her stuff over to our place after this.”
“Bossy asshole,” Juno grumbled under her breath.
“What about her?” We all turned our attention to Dax, who was aiming a death glare at Finley. “Finley lives alone, so whyaren’t you demanding she find a roommate? She needs to be safe too.”
Brandon massaged the back of his neck, looking uncharacteristically uncomfortable.
“That won’t be necessary because she won’t be here.”
