Pilar hit her open palm on the picnic table. “Damnit, Walker!”
Shit. Crois’ eyes widened.
“Sorry, sis.” Walker looked a little cowed even though Pilar was petite compared to either of them.
Her face softened with the hint of a smile. “None of my brothers have ever been this obnoxious.”
“That’s why you needed me in your life.” Walker reached his arm across the table and put his hand over hers. “And I know I’ve been a shit to Roan about the wedding, but I’m really glad he’s marrying you.”
Crois had to admit that Walker sounded almost human.
Then he spoke again. “Some of his exes were crazy as shit.”
Pilar turned her hand under his palm and a moment later Walker flinched back, shaking his hand.
Crois tried to see what she’d done to the detective.
Pilar was smiling when she pointed at her watch. “Now that I’ve gotten you back for all the stupid things you’ve said to your brother, when you’re ready to admit the truth to yourself, you’re going to be so much happier than you are at this moment.”
“Admit what?” Walker sounded more than a little grumpy.
Crois couldn’t be happier.
“My office hours are over. I need to finish my lunch or Crois’ going to end up running for the hills.”
Walker’s expression darkened, but Pilar didn’t even seem to care.
“No,” she shooed him away with her hand. “Go away so I can eat or I’m going to tell your brother that you’re standing up on my side of the church on the day of the wedding.”
“He’d never believe you.” He nodded, like too self-assured for the threat to make much of a difference. “Besides you already have a man on your side and Walker has a woman on his.”
Pilar beamed at him. “We’re a modern couple.”
Walker stood up from the picnic table and shook out his legs as if he’d gone numb.
“Is this the time that I warn you that if you break my brother’s heart, I’m going to kick you in the… well, umm-”
“You don’t have to worry about me hurting Roan, little bro.”
Walker cringed and once again, Crois was enjoying the other man’s take down.
“Hey, only family can joke about that.”
Pilar smiled at the detective. “I’m going to be your family, Walker. Remember that.”
He moved to her side and gave her a warm kiss on the cheek. “I’m counting on it.”
As the detective walked away, Crois was left watching him with a newfound interest.
He dug into the rest of his meal, his mind working over the words of his partner and pretty much the only female he knew who could see through all of his bluster and call him on it without a care in the world.
What she’d said had made a lot of sense.
Now, he just had to figure out what he was going to do about it.
By the time they’d finished their lunch, he knew one thing. He was going to have to ask Harmony to be his date at the wedding. Maybe then they’d get the chance to work out some of their issues.
Or he’d at least get a chance to show her that he wasn’t the guy that everyone thought they knew.
