“I didn’t enjoy it either but it’s my fault. She shouldn’t have to call us to get permission to do her job.”
Patrick let out a sigh and nodded at another friend as he walked past him. “You know what? I think she understands and accepts that we’re territorial. What bothers her is being confronted and being told what she can and can’t do.”
“At least we don’t have to worry about her being able to defend herself. She damn near snapped my fingers off when I fussed about the Abbott brothers.” He flexed his fingers as if he was remembering the moment. “She’s stronger than she looks.”
Patrick smiled broadly as he flexed his shoulders, enjoying the sensation of the scratch mark that still lingered on his back from the night before. “Yeah, she’s a little wildcat.”
Beck groaned and closed his eyes, a smile crossing his face, too. “Did ya have to remind me?”
Patrick tipped his beer to his lips with a smile. “No regrets, man.”
Beck let out a long sigh and nodded. “None.” The contentment in his eyes said it all.
“Ethan said they’ll be meeting with Ace and Kemp, and those other investigators soon, about Chloe Rhode’s case.”
Beck raised his eyebrows in interest and said, “Good. I’m glad you wanted to help. I’d like to see her have some justice. I felt bad for not knowing more about her past.”
“She never wanted to talk about it?”
“No. But I could’ve pushed her a little and encouraged her to open up.”
“Don’t feel bad, Beck. Everything happens for a reason. She’s happy and we have Lucy. I never knew what pushed Elizabeth to act the way she did, either. Not that I’m comparing my cheating ex-wife with Chloe. I’ll take what we have today over anything in the past.”
“I know, me, too.” Beck cleared his throat and toyed with the edge of his beer glass. “I wanted to talk to you about something important.”
“Okay.”
“You’ve got PJ to be concerned about so I wanted to put it to you and see what you thought first. How do you think things are going with Lucy? Are you ready to take it to the next level?”
“It depends on what you mean by the next level. Are you asking if I want us to move in together? If so, the answer is no. Not with PJ around. I want him to have as much stability as possible and I’m not the type to ask her to live with me anyway. No judgment at all, Beck. Okay? I know you lived with Chloe. I prefer to wait until we’re ready for something permanent.”
“No offense taken. That was what Chloe and I both wanted at the time. This—with Lucy—is different.”
“Do you think you’re ready to make a permanent commitment? Like…vows?”
Beck nodded, looking into his beer before turning his gaze to Patrick. “I’m ready for something permanent with her. How about you?”
Patrick turned to face him at the bar. “Two years ago, when I was still stinging from Elizabeth’s betrayal, I would’ve said you were crazy if you’d told me I’d love and trust someone enough to make that kind of commitment ever again.”
“Things are different now, aren’t they? It’s the same way for me, man. I wanted to die after I found out Chloe was engaged. I was ashamed for letting a woman have that kind of hold on me, to have the power to make me want to die, I missed her so much. But Lucy has a way about her.”
Swallowing the lump in his throat at the memory of the way her eyes had glazed over with passion the night before, Patrick nodded. “But this is even more than that. It’s not just her that I’d be making the commitment to. It’s the three of us. You’re my best friend, Beck. I’d be there for you, too. As a brother.”
Beck grinned and lifted his glass. “To the two luckiest motherfuckers in the universe.”
Patrick drank the toast and then said, “That’s if she’ll have us. I’ll talk to PJ about it and see what he thinks, too.”
“I’ll talk to him with you if that’s okay.”
“Sure.”
Beck pulled a jeweler’s box from his pocket and opened it so Patrick could see the slightly worn-looking diamond engagement ring nestled inside it. He’d carried it on his key chain for months and it definitely showed the wear and tear. “Reckon that’ll polish up good enough?”
Patrick groaned and buried his face in his hands. “No way, man.”
Beck frowned. “But Chloe never wore it. If it’s a little scuffed up, I bet Clay could buff it up pretty for Lucy.”
Patrick shook his head. “You don’t expect a woman to wear a ring you bought for another woman. Besides, Lucy knows about that ring and why it was on your keychain. She’ll have your balls on a necklace if you offer that to her.