“What was the ETA?” Leona asked. She stretched out across the backseat of my car, her dark hair spreading like a fan across the leather upholstery.
I leaned against the headrest. “An hour ago.” Here we were, camped out in front of an all-night miniature golf course, and we couldn’t even play. The parking lot was deserted, and the sky was nearly starless. There was little pep in this car.
Luckily this was a small assignment, only two Kittens needed. And Leona was the only one available to help me. I was very thankful. Alone, I might have fallen asleep.
We were on a potential boyfriend background check. We reserved that only for our repeat clients. It wasn’t something I was proud of since officially, the clients weren’t dating the suspects. But if SOS had investigated for them at least three times, the client was given a certificate for a complimentary background check. Hopefully it could save them future heartache.
“He works here, right?” Leona asked. Sometimes it was difficult being alone with her. She didn’t have the perk that Kira did.
“Yep. And my informant said he was working ten to two this morning.”
“It’s after eleven.”
“Thank you, Leona. I hadn’t noticed.”
“Whoa.” She sat up, and I could feel her glare on the side of my face. I turned slowly to her.
“Sorry to snap,” I said quietly. “I just want to go home.”
Leona eyed me from behind her glasses. She was angry. She didn’t like to be scolded or talked down to. And I should have controlled myself better. Being short-tempered just wasn’t the Smitten Kitten way. I pursed my lips.
“Things have been getting harder,” I said apologetically.
She nodded, her face clearing. “I know, Tess. And you’ve seemed, well a little distracted. Is everything okay with Aiden?”
My mouth opened. That was an unexpected question. “Of course. Why would you ask that?” My heart beat a little faster.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. You two don’t seem to be spending as much time together.”
I blinked rapidly, a stabbing pain in my ribs. She was right. We hadn’t. But Aiden had basketball, and I had cheerleading. Between that, I had SOS assignments. Lots of them. Oh, my word. Were we growing apart?
“Great Caesar’s ghost! Give me your phone, Leona. Mine’s dead.” I needed to talk to Aiden. I needed to hear him.
Leona’s eyes widened at my abrupt change in demeanor, but she pulled out her phone anyway. “I’ll be outside with the binoculars,” she said cautiously.
I waited until she got out into the parking lot and shut the door before punching in the numbers. “Pick up, Aiden,” I whispered, glancing at the dashboard clock.
“Hello.” Shoot. Mrs. Wilder.
“Hi, it’s Tessa.” For the first time, my voice wasn’t dripping with sweetness. I just wanted to talk to her son. “Can I speak with Aiden, please? It’s important.”
“He’s not with you?”
My stomach dropped. “What?”
“Aiden’s not here, Tessa. I thought he was out with you tonight.”
I was shaking my head, even though I knew she couldn’t see me. “No … I’m … I’m not with him.”
“Huh.”
That was it? That was all she had to say? I tried to take a deep breath, but I was having trouble breathing. What was going on? Where was my sweetie?
“Tell him I called,” I murmured and hung up. I couldn’t stick around and wait for any of her snide remarks. My eyes stung, and I sat up straighter to check my reflection in the rearview mirror. I was surprised to see that a little bit of my mascara had smeared. I wiped it quickly. What else could go wrong?
There was a knock on my driver’s side window, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. I turned, my hand at my throat.
Christian was bent down, looking in. He waved. What in the world?
I turned my key in the ignition to get power and lowered the window, my brow furrowed. “Christian?”
“Hi, Tessa.” He smiled. “I thought this was your car.”
I took in a sharp breath. How did he know my car?
He chuckled, pushing his hair behind his ears. “Sorry, that sounds sort of stalkerish, right?”
It definitely did, but I was too stunned to nod. Wait. I was on assignment. He’d now caught me twice on assignment. Not good.
“Um … what do you want?” It wasn’t a polite question, but it needed to be asked.
He grinned, as if he had a dirty joke waiting. Thankfully, he decided to act appropriately. “I was just wondering why you were parked in the back lot. And why your friend was watching the course with binoculars.” He tilted his head. “Are you guys spying on someone?”
Cracker Jacks! “No. That’s a silly question.”
He narrowed his eyes, studying me. “Is it?”
I stared back at him, speechless, as the wind blew around his chocolate hair. He really was attractive. Not Aiden cute, but still handsome. I swallowed hard.
“Are you here alone?” I asked. A subject change was in order.
“Nope.”
I waited. When it became apparent that he wasn’t going to volunteer the information, I pressed further. “Who are you with?”
He smiled. “Don’t worry, I’m not on a date. I’m with Colton.”
I made a face. I wasn’t worried he was on a date. I just wanted him to trot away. “Wonderful.” He didn’t move.
“So,” he said, looking around at the interior of my car. I was hyper-aware of the equipment on my passenger seat—the camera with tripod, the utility vest, and the grappling hook that Leona had wanted to bring (even though I was pretty sure we didn’t need it). He glanced at it, then back at me. “No boyfriend tonight?”
My face stung. “Maybe later,” I said. But it was probably a lie.
“Too bad.” Christian straightened, sliding his hands into the pockets of his khakis. I looked for Leona, but she was sitting on a parking curb observing the course, clueless of the complication that was just outside my window.
“You and Leona want to join us for a round of golf?” Christian asked.
I turned back to him. “What?”
He leaned over, resting his forearms on my windowsill. I moved back in my seat. He was so different outside of school, much bolder. It scared me.
“You’re here to play golf, right? Why else would you be here, Tessa?”
Holy cocker spaniel! Did he know? He was smirking, daring me to lie. My mouth felt suddenly dry; my stomach flipped.