“Hey,” Preston greeted, taking the final bite of donut.
“I asked Alexis and Cliff to join us for lunch, if that’s okay.”
“Yeah, sure.”
It would mean that no one was taking calles at the station, but they’d manage. Since Alexis’ case was closed two months ago everything had died down some.
A few minutes later, Cliff and Alexis join them, their smiles lighting up the room as they stepped inside. Preston was happy for them both; they deserved it about as much as anyone he knew.
And by the way Alexis kept a firm grip on her husband’s backside, Preston was positive that kids wouldn’t be far behind their wedding.
Marriage and family didn’t seem to be in the cards for him, but much to his mother’s dismay, he was fine with bachelorhood. Though Carson was small it was not hard to find a woman to warm his bed at night.
They ordered lunch, a few sandwiches and chips, and Dylan told them that his “other” boss would like to see if they were interested in working with the local FBI as needed.
As Preston expected Cliff and Alexis declined, but he agreed to learn more. It was not that he needed the money, but rather he was interested in finding something to occupy his time.
“So, when is the big day?” Dylan asked Alexis, though Preston already knew. He was probably one of the few.
“Well, it already passed. We eloped over the weekend.”
“What?” Sydney shouted from her station.
“I told you,” Preston muttered under his breath.
“It was just the right time. And we wanted to get started trying to have a baby.”
“Well, what are you doing still working? Shouldn’t you be on a honeymoon?” Dylan narrowed his gaze toward Preston, as if he made that decision. He raised his hands in the air in innocence.
“Don’t look at me. I tried to pay for a trip to the Caribbean; you know how stubborn she is.”
“Hey! I’m right here. And we are going to wait until the season slows so that Cliff can close his shop.”
“And what if you’re pregnant,” Dylan asked, the same question on Preston’s lips.
“Oh,” she exclaimed looking at her husband. “I hadn’t thought about that.”
“It’s fine. We’ll stay close by,” Cliff told her, leaning in to place a soft kiss on her lips.
Preston would never lead on that watching his friends fall in love had been like a knifing thrusting in his chest repeatedly. He thought one day he’d have that, but that dream was washed away by his own doing.
Finishing their lunches, his friends at the table dispersed, leaving him to catch up on the national news with the paper. Though Alexis’ case had been closed, he kept a close eye on any missing girl and drug trafficking cases. The FBI hadn’t been able to take out her father’s cartel, just put a kink in it.
“Cassidy!” Sydney shouted. “I thought you were on tour with Harlan?”
“I am, we’re just passing through. But guess who finally decided to pack her bags and move here?”
“Who?”
Yes, who? Preston wondered, his attention pulled away from the paper and now focused on Cassidy.
“Shelly. I need help finding her a place to stay. She’s showing up tomorrow.”
Oh no. If there was one woman capable of unraveling him it was that woman. She was smart, beautiful, and had a mouth like a sailor. He had been drawn to her the few times that she had visited.
He couldn’t stop the words before they rolled out of his mouth.
“I can help.”