Chapter Twenty-Three

Christian was happy for Aja Blue. He was. The scholarship in Jay's name would benefit youth for years to come and solidify his memory. It was an incredible honor. However, that meant he had to dress in a tuxedo and attend an event weaponless while a potential killer was on the loose. He didn't like it one bit.

Still, he kept his thoughts to himself. After Mrs. Sinclair's call, Aja Blue had a purpose to look forward to instead of the devastation she'd dealt with the last few days. He lived for her smile, regardless of who put it there. If it was him, great. If someone else caused those pretty pink lips to curve, good on them.

Right now, he was standing in a shop BeBe had found, getting fitted for a penguin suit he'd wear later tonight. He was a jeans and T-shirt guy, not a fan of black-tie. For Aja Blue, he'd wear chain mail if necessary.

"Oh, my."

He turned at the voice to see Aja Blue gazing at him with, if he wasn't mistaken, unabashed lust.

"You were made for that suit," she proclaimed.

He scoffed. "I look like a butler."

"You so do not." She shook her head as her eyes drank him in. "Every woman there will be jealous of me."

He waved off her praise, but it secretly warmed him. He liked that she found him attractive since he thought she was the most beautiful person who'd ever walked the earth. "Did you find something to wear?"

"I did, but you can't see it until later."

"Not fair," he protested.

Presley walked up and ran her eyes over him. "Gotta say, Zamora, it's weird to see you in a thousand-dollar suit and not paintball-stained shirts, courtesy of, uh, me."

"Seriously, Parrish? I tagged you last game, not the other way around."

She waved a hand. "I was distracted."

"Try again. I was the one abandoned by my partner. And who still won?"

"Hum?" She scratched her head. "I don't remember. Must not have been important."

He wanted to brag that he had but didn't want to seem arrogant in front of Aja Blue, who watched the exchange with rapt fascination.

"Will this do, Mr. Zamora?"

He turned to the man who had helped him find the suit. "Yes. Thank you."

Retreating to the changing room, he removed the tux and rehung it on the hanger before dressing in his cargo pants and black T-shirt. He carried it out with him, and the salesman took it to box it up.

"I've been thinking," Kayne said. "Since you can't take weapons, I could swim one out to you if you need it."

Kayne had been a Navy SEAL. Therefore, he was as comfortable in the ocean as on land.

"That's not a bad idea, but I have a feeling security will be extreme. I'd hate for a sniper to shoot you out of the water."

Kayne scoffed. "Please. Give me some credit. They'd never see me."

With so many people of influence and wealth in one place, Christian knew the Sinclairs would take heightened precautions. The metal detector was one sign.

Christian went to sign the rental agreement and pay the fee but was told it had already been taken care of.

"Did you do this?" he asked Aja Blue.

She shook her head. "I thought you did."

"BeBe," Presley said.

Once again, he marveled at how the woman could get so much done from afar. And it wasn't as if Christian was the only one asking. She did the same for all the employees. He'd seen no one as organized as BeBe Hale.

#

Aja Blue's favorite outfit for Christian to wear was his birthday suit. God had put together a perfectly proportioned male. Muscles on muscles, and just a feast for the eyes wherever you looked. Every part was swoon-worthy.

Christian in a tux was a close second.

Goodness, she'd nearly fainted when she'd spotted him. The suit fit his gigantic body like a glove, and she did not doubt that every woman on the yacht would drool over him. He was so masculine and handsome, and she had no resistance to him. He could ask her to jump off a cliff, and she'd gladly follow him into the abyss.

Now that she'd admitted to herself that she loved him, what would she do about it?

Aja Blue chewed over the question as they drove to Detective Herbert's apartment to check on her. Presley had called to see if she needed anything, and after a fair amount of coaxing, the detective admitted to wanting some items from the store. They stopped and picked them up before arriving at her apartment.

"Hey, everyone," the detective greeted. "Come in."

They filed inside her apartment, which was nicely furnished and bursting with foliage of all sizes. It was like walking into a jungle. Aja Blue loved it.

"Have you been able to take care of your plants?"

Detective Herbert sighed and pointed to her crutches. "It's been hard."

"I'll do it."

"Oh, no, Ms. LaLonde, you don't need to."

"Call me Aja Blue, and I insist."

"Let's cut the formalities altogether. I'm Nicole."

Presley put away the groceries while Aja Blue filled a watering can and began nourishing the greenery.

#

Christian sat beside Kayne on the sofa and watched as Detective Herbert—or Nicole, as she'd said to call her—crutched her way to a recliner and plopped down. He wanted to help her, but he was sure his good intentions would be met with curses and, possibly, physical abuse. She looked like a scrapper.

"Any news on Officer Cranny?" Christian asked. He was the cop who had tased Christian and then disappeared.

"Oh, probably, but they won't tell me a damn thing." Nicole shook her head in disgust. "I'm pissed at my department, and I'm sure they feel the same. I am not made to sit on the sidelines."

Christian felt for her. He would have a hard time not investigating a case that had been his from the beginning.

Aja Blue walked by, and he was momentarily distracted. She looked so domestic, watering the plants and removing dead leaves. Everything she did fascinated him. When she bent over to tend to an African violet, he almost swallowed his tongue. He wanted to mold his hands to the globes tempting him.

"Christian."

"What?"

Kayne gave him a knowing look. "Nicole asked you a question."

Shit. He'd been caught ogling his protectee. "Sorry. I was thinking about security tonight."

"What's tonight?" asked Nicole.

"Heathcliff and Eleanor Sinclair's fundraiser."

Nicole's eyes widened. "The one on their yacht? How did you snag an invite? It's the hottest ticket in town."

He told her about the last-minute call and the scholarship in Aja Blue's assistant's name.

"That was nice of Mrs. Sinclair. She does a lot of charity work, but she's not known for her kindness. In fact, I've heard she's a raging bitch."

"I know absolutely nothing about her. She hired Aja Blue's company to redesign her pool house. Everyone knows her husband, though."

"I can't imagine that kind of wealth," Kayne said, shaking his head. "Think of all the good billionaires could do with the money, like feeding hungry kids or sheltering homeless vets, instead of blowing it on frivolous pursuits."

"You said something about security tonight?" Nicole posed.

"Metal detectors, so I won't be able to carry."

Nicole winced. "I hate going anywhere without my gun. I noticed Pastor Chet had a detector too, and I don't blame him with the riffraff hanging out in that room."

"No kidding. You should've heard them whooping and hollering at everything the man spewed."

"Here, I made you a turkey sandwich on wheat." Presley handed Nicole a paper plate.

"You didn't have to do that. Thanks." She dug into it like she hadn't eaten in a week.

Christian glanced at his watch. "We need to get going. Is there anything else we can do for you before we leave?"

Nicole shook her head. "You've gone above and beyond . . . although I wouldn't object if you kept me in the loop about the investigation since my department cut me off."

"Will do," Christian promised.

His eyes scanned the parking lot as they approached their vehicle. The hair on the back of his neck stood. Over the years, he'd learned to trust that instinct, so he took Aja Blue to the ground right before shots rang out.

"Shooter," Kayne yelled. "Cover me."

"Got you," Presley acknowledged as Kayne took off with her on his heels.

"Not again," Aja Blue groused from beneath him.

The rev of an engine starting up sounded and then grew fainter as it sped away.

Detective Herbert came hobbling out with her Glock in hand. She was trying to juggle the crutches with the gun.

"Shooter is gone," Christian told her as he helped Aja Blue to her feet.

"What the hell?"

"They staked out your apartment." Christian was pissed with himself for not thinking about that. "Pack a bag, Nicole. You're coming with us."

"Uh, what?"

"I'm taking you to our safe house."

She opened her mouth and then closed it. Executing a turn, she hobbled back to her apartment.

"I'll help her," Aja Blue offered.

Christian hustled her inside with the detective and turned to assist his coworkers. He felt completely safe leaving Aja Blue with Nicole, which said something. He rarely trusted easily, but she'd proven a reliable ally.

As he was headed to where Kayne and Presley had disappeared, they jogged back.

"I winged him," Kayne said. "But he got away."

"Bring the SUV over here," Christian instructed. "We're taking Nicole with us."

"Good," Kayne said and jumped into the driver's seat.

Presley ran into the apartment. When Kayne shifted into park, Christian activated his scanner app and checked the vehicle. Kayne helped him.

"Clear."

"Same," Kayne agreed.

The door behind them opened, and Presley appeared with a box of items. Aja Blue followed with a rolling suitcase that Christian took from her. Nicole trailed after them, trying to navigate her crutches on the cracked pavement. They didn't have time to pussyfoot around, so after he stashed the box in the back, he swept the detective in his arms and placed her inside the SUV.

"I could've done it myself," she groused, as he'd expected her to do.

Instead of answering, he boosted Aja Blue into the back seat and jumped in behind her.

"Go," he instructed Kayne.

The man didn't have to be told twice. He gunned the accelerator, and they shot out of the parking lot as he belted in. In the passenger seat, Presley checked the mirrors and watched for any tails. Christian did the same from his vantage point.

There was no sign of the motorcycle man, but once again, their vehicle had been compromised. He was embarrassed to text BeBe, but she quickly reassured him it wasn't a problem. This time, she guided him to a small lot that had a deep-blue SUV with tinted windows waiting for them. After another sweep, they transferred their belongings inside and drove away.