Page 10 of The Night Ride (SEALs on Wheels #3)

Chapter six

P resent Day

The guys followed me home after I locked the bakery. It infuriated and depressed me that someone I trusted had stolen from me. On the drive home, I mentally went through every single person I employed, trying to figure out if they were the culprit. But I couldn’t decide which one it might be.

The sun was setting as we turned down my street. Their motorcycle headlights shone in my rearview mirror.

What had my brother asked them to bring?

I wasn’t sure. Evan and I hadn’t been in the best spot. Ever since we had the big blowout over the kiss I shared with Aiden, things had been strained between us.

After I parked, I glanced in my rearview mirror at the motorcycles parking behind my Mazda and the van in the driveway. Or really at one man. The only man I’d ever really wanted.

But he was just another man who had walked away and left me floundering.

I wanted to curse him. Yell at him to go find a motel. But deep down there was a part of me rejoicing, because he was here, and was still in the land of the living.

Exiting my car, I spied Mrs. Olivia Newman peering through her front window.

The old biddy with the short mop of curly gray hair was nice enough.

Yet the woman was the busy body of the neighborhood, always sticking her nose in where it didn’t belong.

By morning, news that I had three men who drove motorcycles staying at my house would be the neighborhood gossip.

I loved my house. It had three moderately sized bedrooms and was an older home with roughly twenty-one hundred square feet. But it was mine. I used some of the inheritance I received from my mom’s life insurance policy after she passed away as part of my down payment.

Heading up the walkway, the guys followed me inside. Their boots were heavy against the golden pine hardwood floors.

“Your place is nice, Beth. You’ve done well for yourself. Your brother would be proud of you,” Wyatt said as they followed me into the kitchen.

“I usually cook dinner, but it’s been a long damn day. How do you guys feel about pizza and beer for dinner?”

“Like you have to ask.” Lucas teased. “That’s the kind of dinner we live for.”

“Yeah, but that’s because you always like to eat.” I joked. I’d known these guys for years.

“Guilty. It’s how I keep my boyish figure.” He gestured at his body, which was just as muscular as Aiden and Wyatt. These guys were in top physical form.

“I assume y’all want yours loaded or meat lovers?”

I had the app open on my phone. I figured three extra larges, mainly because I’d seen them eat and knew they could pack away food with the best of them.

“Always choose the meat lovers,” Lucas said with a wink. The guy was a charmer. But he’d always felt like a brother to me.

“I like mine loaded. But we should buy you dinner for housing us tonight,” Wyatt said. The guy was always calm and the most responsible out of the bunch.

I waved him away. “Don’t worry about it. And you?” I glanced at Aiden, hardly believing he stood in my kitchen.

“I’ll eat some of both.” He shrugged. “I’m not too picky when it comes to pizza toppings. Pizza is pizza.”

“Fair enough.” I added my pizza with roasted red peppers, goat cheese, prosciutto and arugula. Then added two orders of hot wings and garlic cheesy bread to round out the meal.

“Good. Ordered. It should be here in about thirty minutes. One of you will need to take the couch in the living room. And I’ll show you the two spare bedrooms. You guys can fight over or draw straws for who gets to use them. Whatever floats your boat.”

“It’s a great place,” Lucas said as they followed me on the short tour. It was a ranch style home with all the bedrooms located off a hallway to the right of the front door. My room was one all the way in the back.

“Thanks, I like it. Here’s the first guest bedroom.” This spare bedroom held my old queen bed and dresser set. “I know it’s a bit girly.” Okay it was a lot girly considering the sheets and bedding were lavender.

“Nah, it’s not too bad. It’s a good room,” Lucas nodded, like the soft feminine colors didn’t bother him.

“I think so.” It was a guest room that had yet to be used. But it wasn’t like I received that many visitors with my dwindling family. What friends I made in culinary school were off in Manhattan, Los Angeles, Miami, and the like, working their way up the kitchen food chain.

“This one serves as my office, but there is a pullout bed that’s pretty comfy.

I’ll grab some extra sheets and pillows.

And then someone will need to bunk on the couch in the living room.

I’ll get the couch made up for one of you too.

The bathroom you can use is there across the hall. The last door is my bedroom.”

“We really appreciate you putting us up for the night,” Wyatt murmured, taking it all in.

“Well, why don’t we grab some beers while we wait for dinner, and you can tell me what mission my knucklehead brother sent you on while we wait for the pizza.”

Back in the kitchen I snagged bottles of Guinness and distributed them. Aiden’s brows rose when he spied the brand. But he accepted one of the beers without question.

“You’re into dark beers? When did you get so cool?” Lucas asked and took a swig.

“I’ve always been cool. You’re just noticing it now.” My bravado was an act. Because inside, I was still the shy wallflower.

Aiden remained silent. But his gaze assessed everything. And I do mean everything. From the kitchen gadgets stored on the ivory granite countertops to the magnets on my fridge. I bet if I quizzed him, he’d be able to recall everything without qualm.

“Touché.” Lucas clinked his Guinness against mine. “But it’s a surprising choice.”

“I like it. And it’s a great addition in stews, soups, roasts, and all sorts of recipes,” I shrugged uncomfortable with all the male attention. Even at twenty-six, it wasn’t something I was used to at all.

“Let’s cut to the chase guys, because it’s been a long—” The doorbell interrupted me. I set my beer on the counter and said, “Give me a second.”

Aiden was at the door before I reached it. “You might need some help with the boxes.”

I wanted to tell him I was strong and could handle it. But the less I said to Aiden the better. It wouldn’t end well. When I looked at him, all I saw was another man who had let me down.

Nodding, I plastered a tight smile and greeted the pizza delivery guy. “Hi, thanks for getting here so fast.” Nick wore his long brown hair in a ponytail. His thin lips were slightly hidden by his goatee.

“For one of our best customers, we live to serve.” Nick smiled, and I spied a tooth encased in gold that hadn’t been there the last time I ordered from Mario’s Little Italy.

Aiden took all the boxes and cartons from him. I wasn’t going to argue about it. If he wanted to act all chivalrous, fine. I was exhausted from the long, emotionally draining day. I handed the delivery man cash. “It’s all you.”

He saluted me with the cash in hand. “Thanks. I’ll see you next time.”

Pizza was one of my weaknesses. On a busy day, it was easier to have someone else do the cooking than to do it myself.

Probably why I still had some junk in my trunk.

But I’d never wanted to be a twig. I enjoyed food and had always figured life was meant to be celebrated and enjoyed, not mourned.

Part of life was experiencing food, with all its varied textures and tastes.

One of my dreams was to head to France and Italy where I could eat and drink my way through the countries.

In the kitchen I pulled out plates. Everyone helped themselves to pizza, wings, and cheesy garlic bread. Once we were all seated around the table chowing down, I asked, “What was so imperative that you had to drive here? What did Evan order you to do?”

“We have a letter for you, from him. He asked that we hand deliver it and ensure you read it,” Wyatt explained.

The bite of pizza became difficult to chew, and I blinked back tears. There wouldn’t be a day that passed when I wouldn’t miss him. I’d be walking around with an Evan sized hole in my heart forever. “Where is this letter?”

“I’ll grab it.” Aiden rose from his seat.

When he returned the ivory envelope gave me pause. There was a part of me that really didn’t want to read it. But I took it from Aiden’s outstretched hand and put it on the table beside my plate.

“You’re not going to read it?” Aiden asked with anger lacing his words.

“Not tonight.” I looked at my brother’s friends and fellow SEALs.

“It’s been a long day, and I just discovered that someone I trusted has been stealing from me.

I know that you have your orders, but this is a minefield I can’t walk into tonight.

I’m sorry if that’s disappointing to you but it is what it is. ”

“We understand.” Wyatt shot Aiden a scowl.

“Is there a reason you weren’t at the funeral?” Aiden snapped.

“Aiden.” Wyatt scolded with a furious expression.

“Paige didn’t let me know about Evan’s passing until two days before the funeral.

I had the esteemed restaurant critic, Martin Wong, visiting Sweet Dreams the same day.

I couldn’t leave something that important to my assistant baker.

As much as I wanted to be there, I couldn’t get out of my responsibilities last minute.

Paige and Nora couldn’t make it either. We’re planning to visit his grave to pay our respects and hold our own small ceremony without the Navy pomp and circumstance this fall.

I wanted to be there, but I couldn’t control that I wasn’t informed until it was too late.

There’s no rebooking Martin Wong, and his stamp of approval is too important when you’re in my line of work.

The fact that he even came to my bakery to review it was a win for me.

” I sniffled and rubbed the tears from my cheeks.

“We understand sometimes duties get in the way of things you’d rather be doing. And I’m sure that critic loved your peanut butter cookies. They are always a hit when we received the care packages.” Lucas grinned like the Cheshire Cat.

“If you provide me with updated info on your new unit and addresses, I’m happy to keep sending them.” I didn’t say even though Evan was gone, because we all knew it. And I glanced at Aiden. “Have anything else you wish to judge me on?”

He narrowed his gaze. “How did the review go?”

“Spectacular. Just got his starred review in an email. It’s already hit the online version of Foodie Nation.”

“I figured you’d knock it out of the park. Why didn’t Nora attend?” Aiden asked.

The unexpected compliment threw me off my game. I shrugged. “Didn’t ask when she said she wouldn’t attend. We’re not really on speaking terms. She doesn’t approve of my lifestyle choices.”

Brows rose around the table. But Aiden was a dog with a freaking bone and asked, “Such as?”

“I should have stayed in Northern Cali and helped her with the property. But Crystal Lodge Campgrounds is tied to that land when I always hated it. That wasn’t my place.

I don’t have many fond memories of it nor the people there.

I’ve built a life here for myself. Any other questions?

” I glared at Aiden. I wouldn’t budge from my defensive stance. I fought too damn hard to get here.

“No,” Wyatt stated glaring daggers at Aiden.

I rose from my seat, done with the meal and the day. “I’m going to get the couch and pull-out bed made, then I’m turning in for the night.”

“What about the person stealing from you?” The question came from Lucas, but it was out of concern.

“I’ll figure it out in the morning. I can’t deal with more than that.

I’m up early and out the door by four every morning.

I’ll leave my spare key behind so you guys can lock up when you leave tomorrow.

Just put it under the front door mat and I’ll get it when I get home in the evening.

And I don’t care if you approve or not of my choices.

” I snatched the letter from Evan off the table and left them sitting in the kitchen.

I’d clean everything up once I was finished getting blankets and pillows doled out for my guests. And then I planned to take a hot bath and go to bed, in that order.