Steven was a little attractive, Isaac could admit, but he still preferred Andrew.
When he wasn’t pissed at him.
“Ford,” Steven said like he wasn’t quite sure he’d made the right decision suggesting a dinner party.
“We brought dessert.” Isaac pushed the pan at him rather than engage in the pissing match they’d likely get to later.
Steven stared at it skeptically.
“If you’re concerned about its contents, Detective, I’m sure Dalton will happily eat the first bite to prove it isn’t poisoned. Assuming he can beat Andrew.” He swatted Andrew’s hand when he tried to take the pan from Steven.
“I was just going to put them in the kitchen!”
“Hi.” Kevin waved awkwardly, looking put out at being an extra wheel for this gathering.
“Why don’t we head into the dining room so we can eat?” Steven said, hefting the brownie pan. “I’llput this in the kitchen. Ford, Dalton, beer?”
“Sure,” Dalton said, undeterred as ever.
A few open beers were already on the table, so Isaac figured, “Why not.”
ANDREW
Andrewcouldhardlybelievedinner started goingwell. At least through most of the meal. Spaghetti and meatballs were a people pleaser, with salad and bread and those brownieswaiting in the kitchen—with ice cream, he decided, because that would be amazing, especially if they were as good as they looked.
Ford was talented at so many surprising things.
Andrew had never added the leaf to his table before and wondered if Candace and Steven had planned to sit one at each head of the table on purpose, being the most outspoken detractors of Ford, but that’s how they ended up. Dalton and Ford were on one side, with Ford closer to Steven’s end, and Andrew sat across from him beside Kevin.
It was strange, having dinner in Andrew’s home with his brother, his friends, and his nemesis, but also kind of nice, because Ford couldn’t keep up his polished persona with Dalton sitting right next to him, softening his comebacks.
Conversation did eventually stray to the thief and to Andrew and Ford’s current partnership, but Steven remained quiet about an ongoing case—other than to voice his disapproval.
“You set a trap?”
“Not like you’re thinking,” Andrew said. “No interference with police business and all sanctioned by Vallancourt. If it works, and they try to go back for the rest of Dalton’s things, we just left a more desirable path to follow, an alarm they can’t avoid, and a way to track them after.”
“Track them?” Steven continued to frown. “It’s bad enough Olivia went and blabbed to the whole city that we have aserial robber, now you’re out there playing vigilante?”
Andrew cringed. Sometimes he forgot that Ford wasn’t the only one his flub with Olivia had pissed off. “That’s not what this is. If it works, and we get even the slightest lead on who or where this person is, you’re the first one I’m calling,”
He waslying, but it was better to tell Steven what he wanted to hear.
“Aren’t you worried the thief already fenced what they stole?” Candace asked.
“A little,” Dalton said, “but if we’re right about this, whoever hired them is going to want everything. It’s still possible they’re hanging on to what they took.
“I know you can’t tell us about your progress, Detective,” he turned to Steven, “but I just want to impress how important it is to get my research back. If it can be recovered, the time and money saved would be invaluable.”
“I can tell you we’re doing everything we can,” Steven answered diplomatically, “but this is a tough case. Every possible lead seems to come to another dead-end. This is an experienced thief. Maybe someoneyouran with, Ford?” His expression turned challenging. “You’d tell us, wouldn’t you, if it was someone from your old life? I’m sure helping your son is the most important thing.”
“It is,” Ford said just as spitefully. “And on this case, Andrew and I aren’t keeping any secrets.”
“I’m sure you aren’t.” Steven glanced between them, since he knew at least one secret they were keeping from Dalton. “I’m just glad you two aren’tdatinganymore.”
Andrew glared at him. He’d asked him not to bring that up, but a couple beers tended to make Steven more passive aggressive.
“Why is that?” Dalton asked without losing his smile.
