“You two make a nice couple,” Rory was saying. “Why don’t you ask Bos out?”
Marlie laughed, the sound soft. “He made it very clear the first day we met that we were in full friend zone.”
Rory clinked a dish, no doubt washing with too much soap like usual. His brother was like a hound dog on a scent, and for some reason, the tough guy had always been a matchmaker. “Yeah, but you could change his mind.”
“Nope.” She turned off the water. “I deal in reality, and we’re in the friend zone. That’s all there is.”
Bosco paused, wondering if he’d lost his way. The strong urge to change his mind, to changehers, smashed into his gut like an iron ball. For now, he had to find somebody to watch the dog so he could get to work a long way from home—or rather in the air a long way from home. Then he’d figure out what to do with his too-beautiful neighbor.
Chapter4
Marlie locked her apartment door and double-checked that she’d remembered her shopping list. Yep. All right. She really couldn’t forget the flour again. She strode past Bosco’s door and paused when the sound of barking came from inside. What the heck? After dinner the night before, Bosco had said that he’d be on the road at dawn, and it was much later than that. He hadn’t left the dog all alone, waiting for somebody to pick him up, had he?
She bit her lip and gingerly knocked on the door.
It opened, and a stunning woman stood there in boxer shorts, a ripped T-shirt, and bare feet. She had her brownish-red hair piled on her head in a messy bun, and her grayish-green eyes were bleary. She rubbed one. “Morning?”
Marlie took a step back. What in the world? What kind of games did Bosco play? This was nuts. “Sorry, I—”
Fabio shoved by the woman and nearly ran Marlie over, panting happily.
She patted his head. “I heard him bark and thought he was alone, but that didn’t make sense.” She started backing away, but the dog made it nearly impossible by winding around her legs. “I’m sorry to have disturbed your sleep.” The woman really was beautiful without makeup.
“Fabio. Inside, now,” the woman said, snapping her fingers.
The dog obeyed instantly, heading back inside.
“Wow. He doesn’t usually listen from what I’ve seen,” Marlie mused.
The woman’s eyes cleared and then focused. “Oh. You’re Marlie.” She smiled, flashing a dimple.
“I am. Yes.” Marlie shook her head, trying to get her bearings. This was just weird. “I—”
“I’m Anna.” She held out a hand. “Albertini. Anna Albertini, Bosco’s cousin. Rory told me you’d moved in next door.” Her smile was friendly, and yep, there was the Albertini dimple again.
So, Rory and not Bosco had told Anna about Marlie. Yep. Just buddies for sure. For a minute the night before, she’d wondered if they could have something else, but then he’d shut down. “Hi.” She shook Anna’s hand. “I’m sorry if I woke you up.”
“Oh, I’ve been up a few times with the dog and was just snoozing. It’s been a rough week.” Anna pushed her hair away from her face.
The front door to the house flew open, and a muscled man with seriously pissed blue eyes stomped down the hallway toward the three apartment doors. He was as big and muscled as Bosco and Rory. Was there something in the water in Idaho, or what?
“It’s about to get worse,” Anna murmured, watching the guy impassively.
Marlie took an instinctive step away.
“What the holy hell are you thinking, Angel?” the man snapped, an Irish brogue emerging with what had to be temper.
Anna didn’t seem fazed by the guy’s size or his anger. She yawned again. “Listen. I know things have been crazy, but I’m not giving up the case. My Glock is in my bag, I’ve remembered every move you’ve taught me, and I’m safe.”
The Irish guy leaned in and down, his nose about an inch away from Anna’s. “Your Glock had better be in your bag, you had better remember the training, and for all that’s holy, you are not safe. In fact, I know you’re not safe because your ass isn’t at your sister’s house where it should be right now.”
The Irish dude was both a little scary and a lot sexy. By the light pink filtering across Anna’s face, she might agree with that. She met the guy’s glare evenly, not backing down a bit. “Aiden, I am not giving up this case.”
“I’m not asking you to give it up,” the guy snapped, his thick black hair looking as if he’d been yanking at it out of frustration. “What Iamdoing is asking you to be safe, and hightailing your very nice butt across town to babysit a dog is not doing that.”
Anna rolled her eyes. “Bos was called out, and I said I’d watch Fabio until Knox got home, which is tonight. Nobody knows I’m here. So, stop bossing me around.”
Apparently, it was the wrong thing to say. Anna was on her feet one second, and the next, she was over Aiden’s shoulder, heading inside the apartment. “Damn it,” she muttered, not seeming too perturbed. “Fabio, come!”
