“We all came from rough home lives. Jackson ran away from his abusive parents and lived on the streets until Gish caught him sleeping in the alley at the bar. Luke’s father killed his mom and them himself, leaving Luke alone. He and Jackson played football together, so Jackson invited him to come live with him and Gish. Ben was the only one of us who didn’t come to Gish as a teenager. He was about seven years old when he was dropped off at the bar, half-starved. I don’t think any of us expected to wind up with the family we have, but we wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Bailee finished her section of the porch and stepped back, more invested in Easton’s story than she wanted to be. “I think I want to meet this English guy.”
Easton’s grin was wide. “Yeah? I think you’d like him. He’s an interesting character, that’s for sure.”
“He would have to be. I mean, it sounds like there’s something about him that draws people to him. Becky, you,your brothers. People who cross his path never seem to want to leave.”
Easton chuckled. “I never thought about it, but I guess that’s true. He acts like a grump most days, but he has this protector side of him. He wants to help people if he can. He raised us to be the same.”
Bailee grabbed her bottle of water and settled on the porch steps to rest a moment. She wasn’t surprised when Easton joined her. She was surprised at how her body responded to his proximity. A shiver snaked down her spine, and she shifted her body to hide the reaction.
His thigh brushed against hers, and her skin burned from the heat of the contact. He smelled of sweat and the outdoors, not a combination that should entice her, but it did.
She forced herself to concentrate on their conversation and not on how sexy this man was. “I can relate to the helping people part. My family is that way, too. I think that’s why I became a cop, and my brother decided to go into the military.”
“Darby Anne told me your brother’s in the Army. My brothers and I only did one tour each in the Army too. None of us chose to be lifers like your brother.”
“My Dad wanted to be, but he was medically discharged when he was a lieutenant. I don’t think he expected Adam to follow in his footsteps, but Adam loves it. It’s like he was born to it. We miss him though. He doesn’t get to visit often.”
“What about you? When did you decide to be a cop?”
This back-and-forth, getting-to-know-each-other conversation was not how she saw her morning going, and yet she enjoyed talking to him. When he wasn’t laying on the charmwith his empty flirting, Easton was surprisingly easy to talk to and very likable.
Tread carefully, Bai. Likable is more dangerous than charming.
Keeping the self-imposed warning at the forefront of her mind, she sipped her water before opening up to Easton just a bit more.
“I went to school with a girl whose mom worked for the FBI. She did one of those career day talks when I was in high school, and I never forgot what she said about women making history in law enforcement. I considered enlisting in the military or pursuing a career with one of the alphabet agencies, but my dad mentioned something about making a difference in my own backyard. He wasn’t exactly touting for me to settle in my hometown as much as he wanted me to consider working in communities that needed good people to keep them safe. So after graduation, I went to a community college and then went through the police academy.”
“Now you’re a detective. Louisville, right?”
Bailee twisted her head sharply, her brow arching a bit. Easton grinned and shrugged.
“Darby Anne brags about you and your brother all the time. I pay attention.”
Her eyes narrowed, but to his credit, he didn’t shy away from her scrutiny. He met her gaze, and instead of trying to distract her, he waited for her to respond.
“Can I ask you a personal question?”
That infuriating grin widened. “Let me guess, boxers or briefs? Do you want me to answer, or would you prefer to find out for yourself, Detective?”
Bailee’s arm shot out, her fist connecting with Easton’s bicep hard enough to cause him to lean away from her. His muscle was solid, so her knuckles stung from the contact.
“That’s not the question, smartass,” she retorted. “I was going to ask why you chose to live here. In this subdivision. I know most of Gran’s neighbors, and they aren’t exactly your speed. They’re senior citizens and married couples with two-point-five children. You are more of the singles bar, swipe right kind of guy.”
He shook his body in an exaggerated shudder. “Dating apps? You think I look like someone who would have a profile on a dating app? I’ve got more game than that.”
Bailee rolled her eyes. “Don’t you ever take anything seriously?”
“Okay, okay. Here’s the serious me.” His grin disappeared, and he regarded her with solemn eyes.
Bailee blinked.Damn, how can his serious expression be just as sexy as his playful one?
“The truth is, I have been on a dating app before and met some nice people that way. They aren’t my usual thing though, but I don’t really have a problem with them. You thinking of trying one?”
“Can’t you just answer the question without playing games?” This guy needed an award for how quickly he could push her buttons.
“I can, but teasing you is so much fun.” He winked at her, and she hated the way her stomach somersaulted in response. “To answer your question, this is the type of neighborhood I always wanted to live in but never did growing up. When I decided to make it on my own, I knew I’d own a house like that in a neighborhood like this one day. It may seem out of character, but it works for me.”
