Page 20 of Beyond the Badge: Crew

“Decent but he’s nowhere near rich. We lived comfortably but normally. It’s not like he’s some CEO of a billion-dollar company. He works for the federal government. You should know better than most how the pay doesn’t compare to the private sector.”

He mumbled something she didn’t catch.

“What was that?”

“Nothing. C’mon. Let’s get this over with.” His long legs quickly ate up the distance between his bike and the house.

“Is this cutting into your social hour?” she called out.

“Like I said earlier, it was my turn to come check on the house.”

“It’s nice that you guys are doing that.”

“Well, he’s a brother, so…”

She frowned. “He’s your brother?”

“Not by blood, but by bond.”

She shook her head. “Okay?”

When he reached the front door and dug into his pocket—she assumed for a key—she waited behind him.

“We work on the task force together but I’ve known him for a long time. We’re in the same MC.”

“I’m sorry, what? Did you say MC?”

He shoved a key into the deadbolt and turned it. Her ears picked up an alarm beeping. He quickly stepped inside, and she followed him into the cool, dark interior to see him punching a code into the security system panel.

“If I rent this place, don’t forget to give me the code like you did for the plant.”

“You assume I forgot.” He turned and strode through the house. “We’ll start at the back and work our way to the front.”

His long stride had her scrambling to keep up with him. She barely got a good look at the two rooms off the small foyer before they quickly moved through what looked like a great room with a sprawling sectional sofa, a large screen TV and a gas fireplace.

He unlocked the door that led out back and stepped out onto a large deck.

She couldn’t believe her luck. “A pool?” She somehow managed to bite back her squeal of excitement.

It was a pretty nice sized one, too. Perfect for doing laps. That was right up her alley.

“Yeah. He didn’t uncover it last year so I have no idea what the water looks like.”

“Do you think he’d mind me uncovering it and getting it ready for the season?” She hoped it was heated so she could use it sooner than later.

“I doubt he would if you’re paying to have it opened.”

“Deal!”

His brow furrowed. “You haven’t seen the rest of the house yet.”

Not only was the rent cheap, but to have access to a pool, too? She didn’t need anything more. “I don’t need to. I’ve seen everything I needed to see.”

“You’re that easy to please?” His spine snapped straight a second after those words tumbled from his lips.

His mind seemed to hang out in the gutter right next to hers.

Even so, she smothered her grin at how uncomfortable he looked. “I guess it doesn’t take much.”

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