Page 13 of Trapped (Sheppard & Sons Investigations #6)

Ashley

W hen Em invited me to Wednesday night dinner, I didn’t hesitate to accept. Gran ate early, so I had plenty of time to clean before heading out.

“Come in,” Jack greeted me at Emily’s door.

Jack answering wasn’t unusual. He’d lived here for almost two years before he and Meg moved into their house.

The closeness between the brothers made me wish I had a big brother or sister.

Someone I’d known my whole life and could share the best news with and trust with my worst secrets.

Then I remembered what it was like for Em with a protective, interfering big brother and amended my wish to having only sisters. Who am I kidding? I was greedy and wanted both. A brother to protect me and a sister to scheme with.

Hearing Emily laugh, I thought, I have Em. She’d been around my whole life and was my sister from another mother.

If I wanted a protective big brother, all I had to do was ask. I’d have my pick from the SSI guys.

“Hey Jack. Where’s Meg?” I handed him the twelve-pack of beer I’d brought.

“Thanks. She’s in the kitchen with Em. Jamie’s manning the grill.”

This was why I wanted to stay in Weatherford. Hanging out with Emily and Meg, our group growing to include Blake and Cate, was something I’d missed living in Dallas. I’d been traveling back and forth more frequently, choosing to spend time in Weatherford instead of hanging out in bars.

I wanted to spend more time with my friends, whose friendship meant everything to me. And I liked seeing the guys, too. It’d been a long-standing joke that I wanted a protective, supportive, hot guy for myself. But I didn’t think I’d find him.

I’d spent my adult life playing the field and had failed at every real relationship I’d tried. I crashed and burned with Nathan, and apparently Finn would continue to haunt me.

“Ashley!” Meg greeted me with a squeal and a hug. Her small baby bump was noticeable between us. When she pulled away, she asked, “Did Prince really cause that?” As expected, I had a bruise around the minor cut just below my eye. I hadn’t bothered with makeup to cover it up.

I laughed. There were no secrets in Weatherford.

Which means they’d probably heard about what happened with Finn.

“Little bugger tripped me, and I smacked my face into a door.”

“No one’s claimed him?” Em asked.

“No, and I’m kind of hoping they don’t. He’s growing on me.”

There was no need to tell them I’d changed my mind after his furry hug calmed me down.

Jamie carried in a tray full of burgers, interrupting the conversation. “Hey, Ash.” He said, knowing full well I no longer went by my high school nickname.

“Hey, James.” I used his full name in retaliation.

He laughed. “I’m glad you could make it.”

“Thanks. My schedule’s more open since moving back home.”

“Do you miss the fast pace of city life?” Jack asked.

I didn’t. I thought I might, but nope.

“Not really. It was fun, but I miss you guys.” Emily was the only one who knew I’d lost my job, which meant Jamie knew too. I was okay with that. Everyone’ll know soon enough anyway .

“I’m glad you’re here, even if it’s temporary,” Meg said. “When can I meet your grandmother? She sounds like a hoot.”

“How about this weekend? I’ll host a small cookout.” Gran would love that. “Gran can show off her new demon cat, Prince.”

“I’m open all day Saturday,” Jack chimed in. “Jamie?”

“I’m meeting with a potential client in the morning, but I’ll be done by noon,” Jamie answered.

“Saturday afternoon it is.” I clapped my hands. “I’ll invite AJ and Blake, too.”

AJ and I were still friends, and despite getting off to a rocky start, Blake and I were building our friendship one Craft and Booze night at a time.

Blake was smart, sweet, and generous. It was impossible not to like the girl who made AJ embarrassingly happy.

And she was shockingly humble for someone worth many millions.

“Should I invite Jay and Cate?” I asked. I wasn’t exactly friends with either of them, but we were on friendly terms. And prior to his relationship with Cate, Jay had been fun to flirt with.

“They’re working a three-day protection detail this weekend,” Meg said.

“And AJ?” I asked, since she knew everyone’s schedule.

“He doesn’t have anything scheduled yet,” she said.

“Cool. I’ll message him and Blake later and invite them.”

Conversation flowed as we ate, the guys drinking beer, while the girls drank water.

“No beer, Ashley?”

“No, I’m abstaining when I’m with my girls.” I raised my glass. Solidarity provided the perfect excuse.

“Aww, thanks,” Meg and Em said together.

After dinner, Jamie and Jack cleared the table while Emily brought out dessert.

“That looks good,” I said. The glass lid showed off a tall cake, the layers visible where a piece was missing.

“Thanks, it’s my first time making it, so I hope it’s good,” she said shyly. Poor girl still got nervous about disappointing people.

“It’s delicious,” Jamie said, while giving her a hug from behind.

“You have to say that.”

“She has a point. Only an idiot would tell his pregnant wife her cake tasted bad.”

Jamie scowled. I gave him my biggest, toothiest smile.

“Emily, if I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t have snuck a second piece,” Jamie said before giving her a peck on the cheek.

I might not know what a healthy relationship felt like, but I knew what it looked like. Two perfect examples sat beside me. Not that they didn’t argue. Like all couples, they had issues, but they worked through them.

“So what’s in it?” Jack asked, staring at the layers while practically drooling.

“The bottom is a chocolate ganache-covered brownie. The middle layer is vanilla pudding. The top layer is chocolate cake covered in chocolate frosting.” Emily’s description made my mouth water and my ass expand.

Jamie cut and served slices of Emily’s masterpiece. Conversation paused while we all dug in; the only sounds were our happy murmurings around mouthfuls.

“Ashley.” Something about the change in Jamie’s tone made the hair on my arms stand up. “Nathan said Finn paid you a visit earlier today.” His words were casual, but his tone was not.

Because of course Casper said something.

“Yeah, it’s no big deal. He wanted to get back together. I told him to go away.”

Jamie nodded. Jack listened.

“So he didn’t grab you?” Jamie asked.

“Fucking Casper.” I wished I could drink. With each passing day, I wanted one night where I could drown my sorrows and have an unhealthy but liberating drunken crying session.

“Don’t be mad at him. He’s worried about you.”

“It’s none of his damn business,” I said more forcefully than I intended. “I’m sorry. I just wish he’d leave me alone.”

“Which one?”

“Both.” I sighed. “But mostly Finn.” I suspected Nathan would leave me alone if I told him to.

“We can ask him to keep his distance,” Jack said.

“No, thanks. I can fight my own battles.” I would’ve kicked him in the balls if Nathan hadn’t shown up. Besides, I doubted he’d come back after Nathan embarrassed him. “Sorry for being so bitchy.”

It was bad enough my friends were now involved with the disaster that was my hookup with Nathan; I didn’t need SSI getting involved with my narcissistic ex-boyfriend too.

“You know we’re here to help, no matter what you need,” Jack said.

Jamie grabbed Em’s hand. “And you know how quickly things can escalate, so please don’t hesitate to ask for help if Finn contacts you again.”

“I won’t. Finn’s a douchebag, and a coward.”

Wanting to change the subject, I asked Em and Meg about their pregnancies. Not only would it change the subject, but I’d hear what the future might hold for me.

I noticed Jamie and Jack exchange a look. I’d changed the subject, but I could tell they weren’t convinced I wasn’t hiding something.

Stupid PIs and their ability to see through my lies and false bravado. They couldn’t guess my secret—even they weren’t that good—but they sensed I was hiding something.

Ignoring them, I focused on Meg and Em, and listened to all the ways my body would change.

If I’m carrying Douchebag’s baby .

I calculated my due date based on our last night together. At the latest, I’d be due in March.

Thinking back, it surprised me I’d even let that last night happen. I blamed the shots I’d been doing all night for the stupid decision to sleep with him when I wasn’t into him anymore.

It should be illegal to get pregnant accidentally during drunken, boring sex. I’d blame his performance on the shots he’d had, but he was never that good in bed.

“Our babies will be cousins, and so close in age they’ll practically be twins.”

Meg was due in mid-December, Emily in late February. If I’m pregnant, my kid would be a cousin to theirs in all but name.

I didn’t need the Sheppard name to be a part of the family.

“Three months is hardly close enough to be considered twins,” Jack said.

“Well, first babies are usually late and twins are often early, so we’ll give birth closer than three months apart.”

“Wait. What?” My head whipped to face Emily.

Her eyes widened before she looked at Jamie and apologized.

“It’s okay. I know you’re excited,” he said.

“You’re having twins? Why didn’t you tell me?” Meg asked.

“Yeah, why didn’t you tell us?” I added myself to the question.

“Glad it’s you,” Jack said, clapping Jamie on the shoulder.

Twins ran in Mary’s side of the family. If I remembered correctly, her oldest brother had twins.

Lounging in the living room after dinner, I worked up the courage to tell Meg and Jack I’d lost my job.

“That’s why I moved back. I’m having trouble finding a job and didn’t want to deplete my savings account paying for Gran’s nurse.” I left out the eviction part, thinking it didn’t matter.

“I’m sorry.” Meg got up and gave me a hug. “Is there anything we can do to help?”

This is why I loved her. She’d been through hell, and instead of becoming cold and bitter, Meg had a heart of gold and always wanted to help others.

“Only if you know someone looking for a social media marketing expert.”

“I thought you took the job at the Wyatt Foundation,” Jamie said.

“I did, but it’s only part-time. I need a full-time job. You know, benefits, paid vacation, all that jazz.” I splayed my fingers and waved my hands around.

“Right.”

“I can’t believe you’re having so much trouble finding a job,” Emily said. Neither can I.

“Ho-ly shit.” I half whispered, remembering something Finn said: if you come back, I can get you your job back. I’d questioned if he was the reason I lost it? But I never would’ve expected my boss to stoop so low as to fire me because I broke up with his nephew.

I wasn’t even mean about it. Though maybe I should’ve been, since Finn clearly didn’t get the message.

“Ashley?” Emily asked.

I shook my head. “Right, sorry. I just remembered something Red Flag Finn said about getting me my job back, and now I’m wondering if he’s the reason I lost it.”

I explained the situation and told them what he’d said.

“Do you want us to check?”

“No, thanks. It’s not in my budget at the moment.” I hated having to say those words.

“Don’t be stupid. They won’t charge you.” Emily turned to Jamie. “Will you?”

“Of course not. Research is easy to do off the clock,” Jamie answered.

“I’ll help too,” Jack said.

“You don’t need—”

Meg cut me off. “It’s not worth the effort. You know how they are.” She laughed as she patted Jack’s arm.

I did. They were the protective big brothers I’d never had but always wanted.