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“No,” Chloe said quickly. Too quickly. She lifted her glass. “I might have had too much booze.” She chuckled. “That’s another thing I don’t do when working a case, but it’s been a long day.”
The sound of big tires over the pavement caught Trinity’s attention. She glanced over her shoulder. Keaton and the guys were back with pizza.
“Finally, the food’s here.” Audra jumped to her feet. “I’m starving.”
“Me, too.” Baily pushed her chair back. “And we need another bottle of wine.”
Trinity adjusted her sling. The throbbing in her shoulder had become part of her new normal. A reminder of what had happened. She shivered.
“Hey, babe.” Keaton appeared at her side. He leaned over and kissed her temple. “Did you ladies have a nice chat?”
“We did.” She nodded.
“I noticed there were flowers in the trash.” He arched a brow.
“Fenton,” she whispered. “They came shortly after you left to pick up food. Remy signed for them and tossed them out for me.”
“I seriously don’t like that man.” Keaton eased into the chair beside her while Baily and Audra helped Dawson and Fletcher with the pizza and paper plates.
Chloe and Hayes had taken a stroll down toward the docks and stood there, staring at the water…talking.
“Fenton’s a harmless asshole.” She pointed toward the canal. “What do you make of those two?”
“I’m not sure,” Keaton said. “Hayes is acting all weirdabout it. I’ve never seen him pursue a woman like he is with Chloe. I get it. I mean, she’s an attractive woman. She’s smart. But she’s unlike any girl I’ve ever seen him date.”
“And how many women has that been?” She cocked a brow.
He laughed. “Very few. But none of them were badass Feds. They were all quiet, which I guess Chloe is, but they were more…” He glanced toward the sky. “…how do I put this? They weren’t career-minded women.”
“That doesn’t sound like a man looking to avoid relationships.”
“Oh, Hayes has always been a bit of a player.” Keaton raised his index finger. “I don’t mean that in the sense that he was a dick about it. More like he dated one girl, then it ended, he took a break, and then he dated someone else. Anyone we ever saw him with, he treated them like a princess.” Keaton sighed. “I get the impression he really likes Chloe, but I worry it’s the hunt that has him going full throttle, and that wouldn’t be fair to her.”
Trinity bit down on her lower lip and groaned.
“What?”
“Nothing,” she mumbled.
“No. It’s something.” He leaned over and kissed her. “What do you know that I don’t?”
“I can’t say. It would be breaking girl code.”
“Ahhh. I see.” He chuckled. “Well, as long as it isn’t bad or something Hayes needs to know about, you and your girlfriends can have your private talk.”
She smiled. Never in her life had she been with a man like Keaton. His sweetness often outweighed his chest-pounding. “And what did you and the guys talk about while you were out getting us dinner?”
“Now that would be breaking bro code.” He tapped her nose, then shifted his gaze back to the canal. “They are an interesting pair, though.”
“I bet that’s what your friends say about us.”
He burst out laughing.
“I don’t see what’s so funny.”
“We are an odd couple, but that makes it fun.” He patted her thigh. “We spent all of last year fighting this, arguing over…I have no idea… and now, well, look at us. We get along just fine.”
“I wouldn’t go that far. I’ve had to talk you off the ledge a few times and remind you that I can speak for myself.” She arched a brow.