Page 55 of Barbed Wire and Burglary
She gave a damp-sounding chuckle. “I feel like I’m taking advantage of you.”
“Oh, please do! I won’t complain.” They shared a chuckle, which left him grinning like an idiot at her.
“I’m gonna post a sign on you before you leave.” Her eyes sparkled with laughter. “One that says,I saw him first.”
“It’s not that far from the truth, since I landed in the medical center so soon after arriving in town.” He winked at her. “Fortunately, the universe saw fit to send me the prettiest nurse.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re more tired than I realized. These are freckles.” She pointed at her nose. “And not a shred of makeup.” She pointed at her lips.
“Cute freckles!” Maybe it was the exhaustion talking, but he was feeling reckless enough to add, “And there’s no point in wearing lipstick if you’re gonna date me.”
She gave another joyous laugh. “Why’s that?”
“Because I’m only going to kiss it off.”
She blushed. Hard.
It was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
When he returned to A.J.’sapartment, he fell face first into bed.
“Out past your curfew again,” A.J. drawled as he swaggered into the room and shut the door. He pulled off his shirt and mimicked Aaron’s movements by diving into bed face first.
“Shut up. I’m sleeping,” Aaron grumbled.
“Myhouse. My rules,” A.J. snickered.
Aaron would’ve thrown a pillow at him if he’d had the energy to do so. “Are you always this annoying at bedtime? Oh, wait! I already know the answer to that.”
“Cool. I hope you know the answer to my question, too.” A.J. snickered again. “Why are you wearing such a stupid grin on your face?”
“Am not.” Aaron turned his face toward the wall, a move that wouldn’t last long. He always slept facing the door.
“I’ve got a name for it.” A.J.’s voice brimmed with humor.
“Gimme a break.” Aaron pulled his pillow over his head.
“It’s your well-kissed look,” his roommate informed him.
In a burst of pure annoyance, Aaron mustered the energy to throw his pillow across the room. Despite how tired he was, he didn’t miss his mark.
But A.J. was ready. He caught the pillow before it hit his face and tossed it back in one smooth move.
Aaron shoved it beneath his head and drifted off to sleep before he could think of any more witty comebacks.
A phone call from Luke woke him the next morning, during which he learned that the authorities had yet to locate Uncle Cary. Though neighbors, friends, and Elise had been questioned at length, he hadn’t been seen in twenty-four hours. Unfortunately, Aaron had no additional insight to offer.
As he ended the call, the feeling that something was wrong tightened his gut. Though Uncle Cary didn’t deserve his sympathy, he couldn’t help worrying about him. The way he loved the man wasn’t just something he could stop doing. Criminal mastermind or not, his uncle was family. He always would be.
Aaron tapped the speed dial button for his uncle and lifted his phone to his ear again. It rang a few times and rolled over to voicemail. After the beep, he begged. “Please call me when you get this message.”
For all he knew, his uncle had gone into hiding or left the country altogether.
Or he’s sick. Or injured.Without an arrest warrant in play, that was where Aaron’s mind would’ve gone first. Dropping his phone on his chest, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he needed to be doing more to help out with the manhunt that was underway. Lying around and doing nothing was never the answer. Though New York City wasn’t in his jurisdiction, there weren’t any laws against hunting for a missing family member on his own time.
Knowing what he needed to do, Aaron threw his legs over the side of the bed, got dressed, and took care of a few human necessities. Then he made his way to the tiny kitchenette around the corner.
Aurora and A.J. were seated at the bistro, sipping coffee and speaking in hushed tones. At the sight of him, they stopped talking.
