Naughty Stranger (Dangerous Love 1)

* * *

This morning, Boone woke in the best mood he’d felt in years, which quickly took a downward spiral since the Francis case was growing colder and colder by the second. None of the phone tips led anywhere, and instead of finding out anything, most of the Stoney Creek PD had been running in circles. The latest results of the fingerprints came back with nothing. They still had no suspect, not even a possible suspect.

Before heading home to meet Peyton for dinner—the only bright spot in his day—Boone followed Rhett into Whiskey Blues, after hearing from some of his fellow cops that Asher was at the bar, not looking so good. Listening to the woman singing on stage with the velvet voice, Boone weaved his way through the packed club, heading toward the bar. Asher wasn’t the type to search out a friend when he needed one, and the hunch of Asher’s back told Boone he most definitely needed one.

When Boone finally slid onto the stool next to Asher, the scent in the air was a mix of whiskey and oak and was goddamn delightful. “Tough day?” Boone asked him.

Asher glanced sideways, nodded, then took his shot of whiskey.

While Rhett and Boone had been focused on solving the Francis case, Asher had been working the other case Boone’s father had given him. Boone hadn’t known anything about the case, but the hard silence settling over Asher meant something bad happened on the job. Sometimes they talked about the shit they saw and dealt with. Most times they didn’t.

Boone gave a short whistle and held up two fingers. Remy caught his eye and nodded. Seeing the distress in his friend, Boone held off congratulating Remy at the moment of her engagement that Kinsley told him about an hour ago on the phone, needing to check in on Asher first. While Boone suspected Asher had a bad case, considering he usually secluded himself when anything hit close to his heart, Boone needed to be sure. The last thing Asher needed was to hear that the love of his life was engaged with her standing there watching him.

Remy soon sidled up in front of them, delivering beers to Rhett and Boone, then settled another shot and set it in front of Asher.

“Thanks,” Asher said, not looking up.

Remy’s eyes saddened. “Last one,” she told Asher. “That’s the rule.”

“Got it,” Asher muttered, then tossed the shot back.

Every first responder had a rule when it came to how they dealt with bad cases. Boone refused to drink, knowing he couldn’t drown what he felt in booze. Asher allowed two shots to numb himself, but growing up around an alcoholic father, he had a limit. And Rhett…well, Rhett did whatever the hell he wanted.

Boone grabbed his beer and tilted the bottle at Remy. “Thanks.”

She smiled, gave Asher another concerned look, and then strode away toward a customer at the end of the bar.

Yeah, Boone was concerned too, but probably not for the reasons Remy was. He chugged a good bit of his beer back, damn happy that he’d soon see Peyton. The soft music played behind him, a soothing sound he’d grown to enjoy this past year since his sister bought the club.

With Rhett on his left, already talking to the pretty blond next to him, Boone lowered his bottle to the bar and asked Asher, “Is this about the case or the news about Remy?”

Asher glanced sideways, eyebrows drawn over his hardened eyes. “What news?”

Boone gestured at Remy. “She’s engaged.”

Asher went still. “Remy?”

“Yeah.” Boone nodded.

Asher glanced Remy’s way and muttered “Fuck” when he obviously spotted the new sparkly diamond on her finger. “Damn, I didn’t even notice the ring. When did this happen?”

“I guess last night. Kinsley called me about an hour ago.” Boone had been friends long enough with Asher to know that the only thing he regretted in his life was leaving Remy. Boone always thought they could mend what had been broken between them.

They obviously didn’t agree.

“At least one of us is becoming an adult,” Rhett commented beside Boone, apparently done with the blond for now.

Asher snorted, though the tightness in his eyes said he knew Rhett was right.

Boone thought Asher could use a dose of Rhett’s honesty. Hell, Boone probably could too. No one, including Kinsley or the guys next to him, had a real sense of urgency to get married or have kids. Boone, though, knew his reasons to get married again were probably more fucked up than anyone else’s.

He’d already given marriage a shot and failed miserably. Which, of course, made this thing with Peyton screw with his head a little. He wanted her. He loved being with her. And he certainly didn’t want to hurt her. But could he give her a life where maybe one day he’d marry her?

Before, he would have said no. Now, he didn’t know anymore.

Asher’s deep exhale broke into Boone’s thoughts. He turned to Boone again, his gaze even more haunted now. “She’s happy, though?”

Boone shrugged. “From what I’ve seen, she seems happy, but Kinsley hates the guy, and I’m not particularly a fan of him either.”