Page 30 of Barbed Wire and Burglary
“My pleasure, Aaron.” She gave him another smile as bright as the sunrise fingering its way into the room. “If you need anything else, call me.”
Call you?He felt his face turn red. Then he realized she was pointing at the nurse call button built into his bed. “Thanks.”
Her throaty chuckle made him turn even redder.
“Would you mind shutting the door when you leave, Maggie?” He waved his cell phone at her, unable to fully meet her gaze. “I need to make an important phone call.”And quit thinking about how hot my nurse is.He wouldn’t be in town long enough to pursue her. He never was.
“Consider it done.” She puttered some more over his monitors and checked his I.V. cord again. The way her warm fingers brushed against his wrist feltheavenly. Then she left the room, shutting the door behind her and plunging him into silence.
He immediately dialed his uncle.
Cary Cannon’s voice exploded across the line. “What’s this I hear about you being in the hospital?”
It warmed Aaron’s heart to discover Aurora had already reported his condition to their uncle. “Regardless of what my sister may have told you, I’m fine.”
“She said you were poisoned,” Uncle Cary returned bluntly. “That’s not what I would call fine.”
“Well, I’m fine now. That’s not why I’m calling.” Not directly, at any rate.
“Nothing is more important than your health, son.” His uncle sounded exasperated.
“Thank you, sir.” Aaron was glad to hear it. Hopefully, it would make it easier to get the guy’s approval for his next request. “Speaking of my health, Aurora and I could really use some more hands on deck right now.” At least until he could get back on his feet.
“My thoughts exactly,” his uncle drawled, “which is why I’m sending Elise your way on the next plane.”
It wasn’t at all what Aaron had in mind, but his uncle was still talking.
“I know she hasn’t spent much time in the field, but I’m sure you and Aurora can get her up to speed in no time.”
Aaron stared down at himself in dismay. The headachy, temporarily sidelined version of himself wasn’t how he wanted Elise Hathaway to see him. He’d rather wait a few days before facing the woman he harbored such complicated feelings for. “That’s very kind of you, sir.” But it would leave his uncle without any help himself. “However?—”
“She’s already in the air, kiddo,” Uncle Caryinterrupted. “She’ll arrive in a couple of hours and will remain through the weekend.”
Five whole days?Aaron’s headache flared between his temples with a vengeance once again. “I really wish you’d said something to me before buying her a plane ticket.”
“So you could tell me no?”
Something like that.Aaron drew a bracing breath, reminding himself he hadn’t yet gotten around to the main reason for his phone call. “I’d like to float another idea past you, if you don’t mind.” It was an idea that tasted bitter in his mouth, but he couldn’t see any way around it. To clear the way for Aurora to share what she did for a living with A.J., their uncle needed to be on board with bringing a newcomer into their confidence.
“I’m listening,” his uncle assured affably. “Oh, and before I forget, Elise will be staying at a hotel on Main Street.” The name he rattled off was the nicest hotel in town, the same place where Aaron had been hoping to reserve a room.
Guess I’ll look at extended-stay motels instead.His mood worsened, but he forced himself to stay on task. “Did Aurora happen to mention she’s dating someone?”
“No, she did not.” Uncle Cary’s voice grew wary.
“She’s been dating him for a month, and I think it’s serious.” It didn’t feel like the time to beat around the bush about it. “His name is Colonel A.J. Pike. He’s a retired military policeman with two Purple Hearts and a Distinguished Service Cross. He wants to open his own auto body shop, but he keeps getting recruited to do detective work for various law enforcement agencies.” Aaron paused for a few seconds to let his uncle digest what he’d told him so far. Then he went for the money shot. “I think we should make him a job offer.”
“Absolutely not!” Uncle Cary shot down the idea so loudly that Aaron had to hold the phone away from his ear. “Are you sure you’re ready to be discharged? Because you normally understand why it’s not safe to trust outsiders with everything that’s at stake.”
His vehemence made Aaron realize the subject was closed. “Aurora is going to be very disappointed.” Though Aaron didn’t like it, he truly believed she and A.J. were in a serious relationship.
“I’ll just have to take my chances that she’ll still love her uncle after you carry the mail back to her.” Cary Cannon didn’t sound too worried about it, which Aaron found troubling.
He was in no mood to serve as their go-between. “You should tell her yourself instead of making me do your dirty work.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” his uncle demanded.
“Oh, come on!” Aaron held on to his temper with difficulty. “You stay at the home office where it’s safe, while I’m out here taking all the fire.”
