Page 13

Chapter 13

Cate

O f course Jaden stopped by Grannie’s to get coffee. At first it pissed me off, which was completely irrational, but it wasn’t the first time he’d pissed me off without trying.

Then I remembered he was the new guy so it was his job to get the coffee. Getting coffee for everyone at the office was the SSI version of new guy hazing. When they’d first told me, I was pissed, thinking they were giving me shit for being a female, but I was quickly corrected. AJ was the first person hazed, and everyone hired after him had gone through it. When Meg told me about the SSI discount, and the office coffee fund she’d started, so newbies didn’t go broke, I’d apologized for over-reacting and paid for the first round.

Plus, it shouldn’t surprise me he wants to apologize the same way I do .

Seeing Jaden with Mary was interesting; he seemed calmer. Not in a superficial way, his whole demeanor changed as they talked.

Mrs. Sheppard had some mad mama bear skills. She’d dress you down for being stupid while confessing how worried she was. She’d tend your wounds while threatening to kill you if you ever got hurt again.

She loved her family with a fierceness that shocked me. Scared me a little too, because one of her cubs had it out for me. I didn’t think she’d judge me based on Jaden’s dislike of me, but if push came to shove, she’d kick me to the curb in a heartbeat. So would his father and brothers.

It didn’t matter that Jaden wasn’t as close to them as they were to each other. I’d bet my next paycheck that bothers him . They’d always have his back.

As they should.

Who’ll have mine? Not for the first time, I felt lonely despite being part of a team. The only person truly on my side was Charlie, but she’d have a husband soon. And probably little ones soon after the got married. Eventually, she’d be too busy with her own family to keep up our Sunday morning video chats.

Get out of your head and get back to work.

“I found the address last night,” Jaden said after he got settled in at his desk. “I’m sending my notes now.”

“Why didn’t you send them last night?” It wasn’t fair to accuse him; he couldn’t have known I was up late working.

“I knew if I did, you’d stay up late working.” He shrugged, like it was no big deal he made the decision for my benefit .

Busted . I would’ve stayed up late following the new lead, or at the very least updating our collective notes.

“Can you sum it up for me?”

He told me about the commercial tripping his memory, and how he connected the Quick Wash business card on Darling’s refrigerator to our mystery address.

I pulled up the website while he explained so I had a visual.

“I can’t put my finger on it, but something’s hinky.” He’d walked over and stood behind me. The smell of his bourbon vanilla cologne reminded me that Jaden was all man. There was no denying his good looks or sex appeal. Well, not until he opens his mouth . His shitty attitude killed any chance I had of being attracted to him.

Thank God for that . I’d sworn off office romance forever.

I turned my focus back to the screen. Before I could ask, he told me he’d emailed Doug and asked him to look into the shop.

I shared his gut feeling, though I wouldn’t have called it hinky.

“We should talk to Darling again, see what he knows,” Jaden suggested.

“I agree, but he’s at work. We can pay a visit later, if you don’t have plans.”

“I’m free.”

I nodded, a plan forming. “How do you feel about having the Quick Wash in Fort Worth clean your clothes?”

“Why mine?”

My father’s voice popped into my head: A good leader never asks someone to do something they aren’t willing to do themselves. He was right; it wasn’t fair of me to volunteer Jaden’s clothes if I wouldn’t volunteer my own.

“Sorry, that wasn’t fair. Let’s go to the thrift store. We’ll buy a bunch of clothes and take them in to be cleaned.”

“Sounds like a plan,” he said, returning to his desk to grab his coffee and muffin.

“You can’t eat that in my car.”

“No, but I can eat it in my truck.”

Why did men always insist on driving?

Reminding myself of the truce, I grabbed my laptop. “Fine. Let’s go.”

On our way out, I stopped by the office Doug shared with AJ. Their office looked like ours; two desks shared the space with seats for clients in front of them, two lockers sat in the back corners, and filing cabinets lined the back wall between them.

The main difference between our rooms was the whiteboard and printer I’d added to ours, and the extra computer gear Doug needed as our tech guy.

“I’m good, Maxwell, but not that good,” Doug answered my knock on the frame.

I laughed with him. “We’re checking out the cleaners. Call us if something pops up.”

“Will do.”

When we got to Fort Worth, Jaden drove through the cleaner’s strip plaza so I could take video footage. One end housed a liquor/convenience store, the other a Chinese restaurant. In the middle was the Quick Wash, surrounded by two smaller boarded up shops .

Interesting . I made a note to research the history of the shops.

“Those spaces were occupied on the cleaner’s website,” Jaden said, confirming my suspicion that it was worth noting. “One was a nail salon, the other an insurance office.”

“We’ll look into the previous tenants later.”

“First impressions?” he asked.

“There’s more to see here.” My gut was screaming that it was all related, but the pieces didn’t fit yet.

“Agreed.” Jaden parked at the far corner, on the end near the convenience store, giving us a chance to observe the area as we walked across the parking lot. We walked slowly down the sidewalk, in front of the empty store, to the cleaner’s door.

“Remember, we’re friends and you’re helping me move,” I said before we reached the door. “And let me do the talking.”

He bit back what I could only guess was a snarky reply before saying, “Yes, ma’am,” and opening the door for me. “After you.”

God, I hate it when he calls me that. I plastered a smile on my face as I walked by.

“Good afternoon.” The clerk looked us up and down through the plexiglass window separating him from the rest of the store. “How can I help you?”

His lingering gaze on my breasts made my skin crawl, enough for me to change the game plan .

“Hi. My husband and I are new to the area, and the washing machine in our new place doesn’t work. We saw your flyer at the store and want to ask about your services.”

Jaden and I had changed out of our work clothes, a pantsuit for me, a habit from the FBI I was still trying to shake, and a polo and khakis for Jaden. Our jeans and t-shirts making us look more like people in the middle of moving than two PIs.

He ignored Jaden as his eyes roamed over my body, forcing me to hold back a shudder. “Ask away,” he said.

“I saw on the website that you offer same day services, but I didn’t see any prices listed.”

Jaden walked over to a corkboard on the wall and checked out the notices.

“Hey Babe, looks like there’s some good restaurants in the area,” he called over. I assumed his use of the pet name meant he was on board with my change to our cover story.

I smiled and turned my attention back to the clerk, taking the flyer he handed me through the cutout in the plexiglass. Is it bulletproof ?

I rolled my eyes, earning a smile from the clerk. “Thanks, Hon.”

Behind the clerk was an open office door, but I couldn’t see anyone.

“Do you want those washed?” the clerk asked, pointing to the bag of clothes we’d bought on our way here.

The prices listed seemed high, but then I’d never had a service wash my clothes. Except for dry cleaning my uniform, and I always had that done on base.

I nodded and asked, “How long will it take? ”

“I can have them done today.” His eyes roamed my body. “For an extra fee.”

I repressed the shiver of disgust. God , I need a shower.

“That won’t be necessary,” I gave him my biggest smile, “I’m sure it’s more than we can afford.” I looked around.

“Let’s just use the machines,” Jaden said from the back of the room. He rested his strong, tatted forearms on the top of a large washer.

“We don’t really have time,” I said. I bit my lower lip and made a big show of contemplating our options.

“Tell you what, I’m feeling generous today so I’ll give you a new customer discount; twenty percent off.”

I didn’t have to fake it as my eyes widened in surprise. He had to be high on the food chain to off such a large discount.

“Really? That’d be great. I wasn’t expecting to replace an appliance so soon after moving. And of course, it’s the washing machine, so I have to pay for cleaning now, too.” I added a hint of hysteria to my voice. “I haven’t even unpacked yet.”

“It’s the least I can do for a new neighbor. What’d you say your name is?”

“Charlie.” I made like I’d shake his hand but the glass was in the way. “Charlie Bishop.” I chose my best friend’s first name and her soon-to-be last name.

“I’ll come around, Charlie,” he said getting up and walking to the door. Jaden was in the perfect position to see inside the office from where he pretended to read a poster.

“I’m Adam. Adam Parker,” he extended his hand. The watch on his right wrist was either the real deal, or doing a great impression of a Rolex. Maybe he’s the owner? That would explain the overly generous discount.

“It’s nice to meet you. You have no idea how much I appreciate your generosity.” I left my ‘husband’ out of my answers, knowing it never hurt to play up the flirty female card.

“Here, let me take those.” He held his hand out for the clothes.

Openly flirting with my fake husband in the room wasn’t a good idea, but a few bashful glances might serve us well. A guy like Adam wouldn’t care about my marriage vows if he thought I’d sleep with him. I repressed my shiver and focused on the job.

I looked up at him through my eyelashes. “Thank you.”

“I’ll put these in the back and get you the customer form.”

“Okay, thanks.”

I walked over to Jaden and pointed at a flyer. Without moving my lips I whispered, “You get all that?”

He nodded, then said louder, “Let me snap a picture so we don’t have to take the flyer.”

“Ms. Bishop,” Adam called out, subtly ignoring my married status and confirming my suspicions.

I ignored Adam’s slip up, took the form, and asked, “Will cash be okay?”

He pointed to a metal sign above his window with a greasy smile.

Cash is King.

And a PI’s best friend. Or worst enemy, depending on who was using it.

I handed him the form, sans address and phone number, and a twenty.

“Can I pay the balance when I pick up my order?”

His sleazy smile widened. “Of course. I’ll have your clothes ready by five. It’s a pleasure doing business with you Ms. Bishop.”

“It’s Mrs.” Jaden half-growled as he walked over to stand beside me. Playing the jealous husband, he placed his left hand on my lower back and stuck out his right hand. “I’m Henry Bishop.”

“Right, my apologies. I use Miss as a general nicety.”

Sure you do .

“Oh, it’s okay. He gets grumpy when he’s hungry,” I said, patting Jaden’s rock hard abs.