Asking for Trouble (Line of Duty #4)(34)

Her insanely hot response to Brent concerned her. Big-time. This weekend would be twice as difficult as she’d imagined it would. At worst, she’d pictured them fighting. Maybe needling each other a little harder than usual. Brent obviously had other plans. He didn’t appear satisfied to part ways after one night. She lifted the hair off her neck and blew out a breath. Apparently her body had sided with Brent. And, damn him, he knew it.

What he didn’t know? When this weekend was over, she might very well agree to marry someone else. She needed to put an end to this thing between them. One more slipup and it could easily turn into a habit. Into something that clouded her decision-making process. Her judgment. If she married Stuart, happy or not, she would be 100 percent committed to him. It didn’t matter that it was a business arrangement. There wouldn’t be anyone else once she agreed to be his wife. If she allowed herself more time with Brent, agreeing to marry someone she felt zero attraction for would be twice as difficult.

Hayden’s cell phone buzzed in her purse, interrupting her dark thoughts. Her mother. “Hello.”

“Where are you? I’m standing outside your house.”

She sat at the edge of the bed and kicked off her sandals. A cold shower was definitely in order. “I’m with Story in Atlantic City.”

A long pause. “Is he there?”

“Who?” Hayden played dumb. “Daniel? Yes. Where one goes, the other follows.”

Her mother made an impatient noise. “You know to whom I’m referring. Based on your evasion, I assume he is there.” A pregnant pause. “Honestly, you couldn’t pick someone more discreet to have one final fling with?”

Hayden straightened. “I haven’t made my decision regarding Stuart yet.” She unzipped her bag, drew out her toiletry bag. “And you’ve only met Brent once. I doubt you can vouch for his ability to be discreet.”

A snort. “Oh, please. He’s a loud, ill-mannered cop who moonlights as a grease monkey. Frankly, it’s embarrassing.”

She felt a flash of annoyance, followed quickly by the startling realization that her mother wasn’t saying anything she hadn’t said herself about Brent in the past. Her shoulders slumped under the weight of that thought. “Actually, he’s working two jobs because he helps support his brother’s family. Plus, his sister in college. Which is kind of…well, it’s pretty damn amazing. And he certainly won your friends over the other night. It’s not fair to call him ill-mannered.” Unbelievable. She’d just defended Brent.

A long-suffering sigh. “I’m going to let you go now. But Hayden, if and when you decide to make the right decision, do make sure Brent knows where he stands. We wouldn’t want any loose ends.”

After the line went silent, Hayden stripped her dress over her head. Now she needed a shower not only to cool her heated skin, but also to wash away the conversation she’d just had with her mother. She padded to the bathroom, stopping short when she heard two men’s voices coming from Brent’s room, one belonging to Daniel. After the briefest hesitation, she opened the door on her side and pressed her ear against the smooth, cool wood.

“Danny, sit down.” Brent’s baritone voice. “You’re making me dizzy.”

“You think she’ll say yes?”

“I don’t know…” Brent answered, and Hayden frowned. Perhaps she’d been too quick to defend him. Whatever Daniel planned on asking Story, she had a pretty strong feeling the answer would be yes. “I figure you’ve got about a fifty-fifty shot.”

“Be serious, dick. I’m about to propose here. Me. What would you have said if I’d told you that six months ago?”

Daniel was going to propose? Hayden’s hands flew up to cover her thrilled smile.

“Six months ago? I’d have told you to seek medical attention immediately because you’ve received a concussion.”

“Exactly. I haven’t had a lot of time to work myself up for this. I never thought…” He trailed off. “I never let myself think this could happen for me.”

A deep sigh from Brent. “You’re really going to make me say this Oprah bullshit out loud, aren’t you?” She couldn’t make out Daniel’s muffled reply. “Listen. Story is going to say yes. Why? Because no one in this world loves her more, or knows her better than you. And she knows it. It’s all over her face when she looks at you. She found her soul mate.”

At the unexpected sincerity from Brent, Hayden’s throat constricted. Her eyes filled with moisture. She could practically see both men shifting uncomfortably in the next room and it only touched her more.

“I hope you’re happy. Now I have nothing left for my best man toast at the wedding.”

Daniel cleared his throat. “I haven’t asked you to be my best man.”

“You will.”

“Yeah. I know.” She heard some shuffled steps, then Brent’s hotel room door opening. “Thanks, man. See you at dinner.”

“I’m so going to order the manliest f*cking steak on the menu to make up for this.”

The door closed on Daniel’s laughter. Hayden stayed very still with her ear pressed to the door, absorbing what she’d just heard. It was more than just a profound moment between two friends. She’d already been sliding down her mountain of judgment concerning Brent. First when he’d apologized at the dinner party for not preventing an encounter between her and Stuart. Then again this afternoon, seeing him with his nieces. Learning about his daily sacrifice to support his family. For months, she’d thought of him as nothing more than an irreverent jackass. She’d clearly been wrong. But it was too late to matter.