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THIRTEEN
Another few uneventful days passed for Eden. With the cameras up and running in the salon, it was easier to relax. She felt better knowing they were there, just in case. She was also feeling more comfortable around Chandler. Things had changed between them for the better after the night she’d had him try to groom Gunther on his own. She wasn’t exactly letting him closer, per se, but she wasn’t as concerned it would be the end of the world if she did, either.
They weren’t getting involved romantically though. Nuh-uh.
Even if he did look really cute tonight in his black sweater and jeans. Of course, the guy could probably wear a wet paper bag and look amazing. Eden looked away before he could catch her staring as he drove them home from the salon.
They stopped and picked up takeout for dinner, then headed back to his place to eat while they went over the new intel he’d gotten on the case.
“So,” Chandler said, once they’d settled in at the dining room table with their burgers and fries. “I’m still coming up empty on who the killer might be working with on the outside. From everything I’ve seen on him, the guy’s been involved with crime for a long time, but it doesn’t look like he was ever part of any criminal organization. No known accomplices, no hint that he has any allies. Just a guy on his own, in and out of jail.”
“Well, I’m glad I don’t have a whole mafia after me,” Eden said, trying to look on the bright side. “It’s a good thing if he doesn’t have a lot of connections, right?”
“Yes and no.” He swallowed another bite of fries and wiped his mouth. “I’m also glad the whole mafia isn’t after you…but we’ve already seen he only needs one person to get to you. Not a whole network. Just one loyal guy to do his bidding.”
“Or girl,” Eden added.
“Or girl.” Chandler shrugged. “Though statistically, it’s more likely to be a male.”
“So.” Eden pointed toward him with a fry. “Who are you looking at for it?”
Chandler gave her a funny look. “Been watching those true crime shows again?”
“Maybe.” She grinned. “What? I like ’em.”
He shook his head, then continued. “Well, Ross grew up in the foster care system from the age of five, and his only blood relative is a brother he probably hasn’t seen since then, so I’d say we can rule out a family member.”
“How about a girlfriend? Or even just a close friend? Someone who’d be loyal to him. Like a previous cellmate from his time in jail. You said he’s been in a lot, right? Maybe he got to know a guy who was about to be released, and he paid them off to get me out of the way.”
Chandler seemed to consider it a moment. “Yeah. I guess both those scenarios are possible. I’ll dig into those options and see what I find.” He finished his food, then crumpled the wrappers up before shoving it all back into his bag. “I have a contact who works for the prison system. I’ll see if he can find out whether Jeff Ross gets any visitors. Makes sense he’d keep in regular contact with whomever he sent after you. After all, he’d want to get updates on how it’s going.”
After dinner, they ended up back on the sofa, watching TV. It was becoming a habit for them as they settled into a routine with each other. Nice. Comfortable. Eden found herself actually looking forward to this time with Chandler each night where they could just relax and enjoy themselves.
They flipped through the channels, but there wasn’t really much on except some reality dating show. Chandler didn’t seem to mind watching it, since he was mainly scrolling through stuff on his phone as they sat there, but Eden had never really cared for this kind of stuff. Too silly and melodramatic for her taste.
“You know most of these shows are scripted,” she said, gesturing toward the TV with the remote. “None of it’s real.”
He looked up from his phone to see two people making out in a hot tub. “We can watch something else.”
“There’s nothing else on.” She sighed and scowled at the idiots in the show. “Relationships are not like that—all champagne and fireworks and fancy trips.”
“No shit,” Chandler snorted beside her, his attention back on his phone again. “Real life is messy in a way these shows never even touch. Trying to keep a relationship going? Talk about hard work.”
She rolled her head slightly to look at him. “You got a lot of experience in that department?”
“Some.” He shrugged. “Not really much time for relationships when you’re in the SEALs. Hard to get too intimate when you could be shipped off for months at a time the next day.”
Eden blinked at him. “So, you’re more of a hit it and quit it type of guy.”
His nose wrinkled, though he didn’t look at her. “No. Not really. I just haven’t had time for anything super long term, is all. Why? You’ve never had a one-night stand before?”
“Sure, I’ve had flings. In fact, since I got divorced, that’s really all I’m interested in.”
“Good to know,” he murmured, still staring at his phone.
“What?” She shifted slightly to face him. “Why do you care?”
“What?” His gaze met hers, his phone forgotten. “I don’t care.”
