Page 71 of A Dirty Business
“He’s never said you’re funny.”
“I take offense to that. I have a dry humor. It’s like wine. It appreciates.”
Ashton hid another grin before taking his bourbon from the bartender. “I’m learning. And I’m finding you oddly amusing.”
“It’s that wine humor. You must have class.”
He choked on another chuckle as he fished out a twenty and put it in the tip jar. “I’m sure I do.” His head lifted and he moved back, standing with his back to the bar but still beside me. “What’d you say to Viv earlier?”
The martini was slid across to me, and I took it, giving him a smile. “That tip was from me.”
“Thank you, Miss.”
Ashton turned again, giving me a wry look before putting another twenty in the jar. “I’ll take it from Trace later.”
“I’m sure you will.”
I was smiling and drinking, all casual and cool looking on the outside, but on the inside I was freaking out. What the hell was I doinghere? This was a lesson to me. Stop hanging out with new people. Stop thinking an adventure was a good idea. Stick to what you knew, and maybe life wouldn’t get handed to you backward on a spike. And I was still hoping the latter wouldn’t happen, but knowing my luck, I doubted it.
Ashton indicated forward with his head. “Come with me. Tell me about your interaction with Viv. It looked very entertaining.”
That was another rich-person word.Very.They liked their “verys.”
We moved to the side, going through the barn to the back end. I glanced his way. “You were watching?”
“I was having a conversation on the side patio of the house before the barn. I saw your arrival. The birdy who informed me was myself. I informed myself.”
“Do you have appreciating humor too?”
He laughed, stepping out first to a back patio area. Beyond was a myriad of walking paths made of cobblestone. A large fountain was in the middle. Beyond was a horse pasture fenced in by white posts. I glimpsed a tennis court to the side.
Why was there not a pool here as well? Perhaps on the other side of the estate?
I was being sarcastic.
“I’m waiting, Officer Montell.”
Right. He wanted the 411. “It wasn’t much of anything. She insulted my friend, and I didn’t like that. I informed her of my profession and that I had a penchant for reporting whenever I saw drugs around. That was all, really.”
Ashton stopped, his head reared back as he was giving me another assessing look. We were in the middle of one of those cobblestone walkways, making our way around the fountain. I was hoping we’d keep going and I could see what kind of pool these people had. My guess was that it would be epic.
“Viv insulted Kelly?”
I frowned. The jokes were less appealing. “You’re aware of my friend’s name?”
He flashed me a look. “Of course I am. Trace is my best friend. I was the one who hired the PI for you.”
My stomach dropped. “That means ...”
“That means I got the files too. I’m quite aware your roommate and best friend, who is probably going to not be your roommate soon, is also my employee. I’m aware of her name too.” He tilted his head to the side. “I’m aware of Justin’s family connections. I had him placed next to you also because of his other family’s occupation. I thought you’d both bond with each other.”
Right. I was swallowing bark here. “I wasn’t aware you are that active with Katya’s employees.”
“Trace handles the money. I handle our businesses.”
“And your families?” Guess Iwasgoing there. I needed to double down. “You’re both on retainer for your families? Is that how it works? You do your legit work during the day and act as your family’s bitches at night? Is that what you guys were doing at my aunt’s—”
“Careful. I won’t be like Trace, and I doubt you’re wearing a wire. Right?”
