“I’ll check him out,” Aiden said, his tone shifting into something steadier, more serious.
“I appreciate that,” I murmured. The fire popped, sending a small spark drifting up the chimney.
“How’s the wedding planning coming?”
I blinked. Hearing him say the word wedding jolted me right out of my head. “Pretty good. We’re going dress shopping soon. Nick doesn’t really care about the flowers.”
“No, he wouldn’t.” Aiden’s mouth curved faintly. “I take it you and Donna are bridesmaids?”
“Yeah. Nick’s two brothers are groomsmen. It worked out perfectly.” That got me thinking. Aiden didn’t have brothers. Didn’t really have any family at all. If we ever got married, I’d want my sisters and cousin, Lacey, standing with me. But who would stand beside him? Probably James Saber, definitely. After that, I wasn’t sure.
“What?” Aiden asked, studying me across the table.
“Nothing,” I said quickly, taking another sip of wine. It burned just enough on the way down to remind me I was still sane. I might not be the most experienced woman on Earth, but even I knew not to start mentally planning wedding parties with a man who hadn’t proposed.
Not that I was ready, but still.
He cleared his throat. “I’ve been getting some pressure from higher-ups to move the team back to one of the main hubs.”
I winced. “Really?”
“Yeah. I’ve got enough pull to keep us here for now, but there’s been some turnover upstairs, and they don’t love the plan we came up with.”
I chewed my lip. “Where would you go?”
“Probably L.A.” He said it evenly, but the words still landed heavy. The fire crackled. Outside, rain hit the windows in long streaks, a steady rhythm against the glass.
When he asked if I’d go with him, nothing in me wanted to move out of Idaho. My whole life was here. My family, my practice, the mountains that framed my days. But I also loved Aiden, and he was really good at his job.
Of course, when he went undercover, he was gone for weeks. Which meant I’d be alone in L.A. The thought pressed cold and hollow at the back of my ribs.
“Stop thinking so hard.” He reached across the table to tug lightly on my ear. “Nothing’s been decided.”
I swallowed. “Okay.”
He was right. There was no point spinning myself into a panic yet.
The phone chimed from where I’d tossed my purse near the couch. I turned toward it. “I should get that, just in case.”
“Absolutely.” He rose and gathered our empty bowls. “Want more pasta?”
“No, I’m good. That was delicious. Thank you.”
His grin was quick and real, and for a second it hit somewhere a little too deep. “Any time.”
I stood and crossed to my purse, pulling out my phone. The screen lit up with a text from Sheriff Franco. CALL ME.
I hit the button and lifted it to my ear.
“Franco,” came his rough voice.
“Hey, it’s Anna. I got your text.”
“Oh, good. I’m out past Blarney Pass. Wasn’t sure the text would go through. I’m headed back in.”
My stomach tightened. “What’s going on?”
“Backleboff got a judge to sign off on the warrant to arrest your Nana,” he said flatly. “It’s been on my desk for a few hours. I’ve been out chasing a couple of poachers.”
