Trusting Nicole (The Last Hangman MC #4)(11)

“Who says I’m trying to heal you? I just want to make sure you’re not going to blow your head off tonight when I go back home.” I roll my eyes and walk to the kitchen, desperately needing coffee if we’re going have this conversation.

A few seconds later he’s behind me. “You’re going back home?” I could be wrong but I swear I could hear a hint of despair in his voice.

“Yes. I can’t stay here forever.” I turn to look at him.

“Right. I just thought we could talk.”

“And have you be a dick to me? I don’t think so. Besides I have to study for finals. I might have moved back here, but I still need to finish college.”

“Okay.” He sighs and gets two mugs and the milk out, frowning as he pours the milk in my mug.

“Stop judging the amount of milk I take in my coffee.”

“You’re ruining a perfectly good drink with milk. You’re f*cking crazy.” He chuckles.

“I know. That’s why you love me so much, oh mighty Detective Sanders.” I shake my head and press the button on the coffee machine, watching the dark liquid mix with the milk in my cup.

“Ah, you have no idea, Kitten.” Argh, that nickname…

“Stop it with that nickname, will you?” I raise my eyebrow as I make his coffee.

“Why should I? I thought you loved it.” He shrugs and takes his mug, leading me outside onto the patio. I never noticed how gorgeous it was outside. There’s a small pool and a small pond with wild flowers growing around it, a barbecue area and a few lounge chairs around the pool.

“It’s just weird.” I shrug and sit down. “It’s beautiful out here.”

“It is. I’ve never taken the time to really enjoy any of it though.” He sighs. I rub his hand and squeeze it.

“Don’t beat yourself up about it, it’ll be okay eventually.”

“Eventually.” He smiles softly and kisses the back of my hand. We smile at each other and hear someone clear their throat. We both turn quickly to see who it is and I groan internally.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” Gabe and Aleck both walk towards us and lean on the porch railing.

“What do you think? Two friends having coffee.” Jason explains looking at my brothers, not bothered in the least by their intrusion.

“Sure. And that’s why you’re holding her hand and kissing it?” Aleck asks him, raising his eyebrow.

“Well, I didn’t think frenching her would be an appropriate way to thank her for being here for me when I needed her. ” Jason shrugs and I choke on some coffee trying to stifle a laugh.

“Serves you right for laughing at us, Nic.” Gabe glares at me then at Jason. “No, it wouldn’t, not now, not ever.”

“Right,” Jason says before taking another sip of his coffee.

“Nicole, a word.” Aleck demands, glaring at us as well.

“Aleck, a word.” I mimic, making Jason laugh openly and Gabe bite his lip trying not to laugh.

“Bro, you’re supposed to be on my side, not laughing at this brat.”

“Know what the brat is saying?”

“No, what?”

“Piss off you twat!” I flip him off and walk over to one of the loungers, leaving Jason on his own on the patio. I don’t want him to hear what these two f*ckers could have to say.

“She’s hanging round Viv too much.” Aleck groans as he and Gabe come over and sit with me.

“That she is.” Gabe chuckles and sighs. “Know why we want to have a word with you?”

“No, but I’m sure it’s going to be interesting.”

“You can’t be getting close to him that way, Nic. He’s not the man for you, he’s going to break your heart.” Gabe says, always the voice of reason.

“And he’s a freaking cop! You can’t date a cop!” Aleck chimes in and I shake my head. I can’t help the laugh that escapes my lips at his outraged expression, it’s as if he had only just found out Jase was a cop.

“That too, but he’s just lost his wife and he’s heartbroken, you two hanging out together and you showing him what he could have with a sweet girl like you isn’t fair to him or Jenny.” I look back at Gabe, not saying a word.

“He’s not the man for you. He’s the opposite of us, even though we’ve grown close to him and he’s sort of a friend, you can’t be fraternizing with the enemy that way. That’s off limits, Sis.”

I keep looking between Aleck and Gabe as they each give me pointless arguments.

“You’re not going to say anything?” Gabe asks looking at me wearily.

“I was just waiting for you two to shut up.” I shrug.

“So?”

“So…Who said I wanted to date Jase? Who said that I wanted to f*ck him or for anything to happen? I was there when his wife was shot, I held her in my arms as she took her last breath, I had her brain splattered all over me. He needed answers about what happened that day and I gave them to him. I didn’t want to but I know he was torturing himself about it. He needed a friend and someone who wouldn’t sugar coat the details of that night. Seeing the way you two live your life, I thought you’d understand more than anyone how important it is to have someone with you during your roughest times.” I tell them calmly, completely shutting them up.