Nick shook his head. “She has a key. She’ll come in. We have to get rid of this stuff. I want it to be a surprise.”
“Oh, crap. You take care of the table.” I ducked down and started picking up rose petals, trying to balance myself. They were much easier to throw around than pick up.
“What are you doing?” Aiden asked.
“Help me,” I hissed.
Grumbling, he reached down to snatch several petals. I moved to gather more into my hands and slipped on the ice that had dropped from his boots. My arms windmilling, I slid across the floor. He tried to grab me, but I hit the island, turning slightly so I took the impact with my forehead.
“Anna.” Aiden instantly pulled me up, looking closer. “Are you okay?”
I blinked several times, the pain in my head rocketing. “No, I just hit my head. Your timing is terrible.”
“Sorry. Just stand here.”
My vision remained a little blurry as I rubbed a forming lump on my forehead. I could not believe this.
Nick hid the champagne and all the glasses beneath the sink and then gathered the tablecloth.
“Keep it folded,” I hissed. “You’ll still need it, and it’s so nice.”
He rolled his eyes but placed the linen on the table and began carefully refolding it.
I leaned down to help Aiden finish gathering all the scattered rose petals. “What are we supposed to do with these?” he asked, his hands full.
I reached for one of the discarded bags on the counter. “In here.” We hurriedly filled the bags and shoved those beneath the sink, as well. My brain had scrambled. I couldn’t believe Aiden was back in town, and, more importantly, possibly wanted to arrest Nick.
“This has nothing to do with the murders?” I asked.
“I don’t know anything about any murders,” Aiden said. “Come on, we’ll take my truck.”
I thought about the little bit of latte I’d spilled on the passenger seat, wishing I’d had more time to clean it up. If he’d just let me know he was coming home today, I would’ve washed the entire vehicle.
“I’m bringing my own truck,” Nick said. “My lawyer can ride with me.”
“She’s riding with me,” Aiden said, his jaw hard.
I looked from one to the other. This was a disaster.
Chapter16
We ran into Tessa just as we left Nick’s condo. She looked pretty with her flushed face and sparkly green earrings that matched her eyes.
She paused, a bottle of wine in her hands. “I thought we were ordering in tonight.” She grinned. “This will be fun—our first double date. Are we all going out?”
“No,” Nick said curtly, slinging an arm around her shoulders and pulling her into him. “Sorry, honey. It looks like the ATF needs to talk to me.”
Her expression fell. “You have to work tonight?”
“I don’t think it’s work,” he muttered.
She frowned and looked up at Aiden. “I don’t understand.”
“None of us does.” I threw up my hands. I could not believe another proposal had been ruined. At this point, Nick might have to just text her a request for her hand in marriage.
“Sorry,” Aiden said. “We need to get going.”
Tessa stood firm. “Wait a minute. What is happening?”
