Page 30 of Off Limits Daddy
“Not at all.Mi casa es su casa.” I got a mug from the cupboard and inserted a coffee pod into the maker and then pressed the button to get my own cup of brew. "I can make you some breakfast. Do you like eggs?"
"I don't expect you to cook for me, Duncan. Besides, I'm not a big eater in the morning, anyway."
I shrugged and set about making eggs for me and Aiden.
“I’ll pay my share as well.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“This is an operation. The FBI will pay for whatever expenses?—”
“Do you want an invoice?” I winced at the curtness of my words. Why did her seemingly benign comments irk me so much? What did I care if she wanted to pay her way? Or in this case, the FBI. Was my ego so fragile that her indifference to me would bother me? Why? I liked independent women. Jesus fuck, this woman was messing me up.
“Or keep a tally.”
I glanced over my shoulder. She was still checking her phone as if she didn’t hear my tone. I suppose that was a good thing. After all, we needed to act like we were in love. But of course, it annoyed me.
I turned back to the eggs, briskly whipping them to work off my frustration. “I guess you’ll be heading in to work. Will there be anything that you’ll need Aiden for?”
“Not at the moment. I plan to see Detective Riker to talk to him about Liam McKinnon's murder, as well as DetectiveDonovan's and Darcy Patrick's. This is all connected, but there are still some pieces missing."
“Pieces Aiden can fill?” I plopped a glob of butter into the pan to heat up.
“Maybe.”
I turned to look at her as I sipped my coffee and arched a brow. “Maybe? You’re going through this fake engagement for maybe?”
She glanced up at me. “I think he was there when Donovan and Patrick were murdered. He may have even heard things in Wally’s home.”
“I don’t know Wally Creighton, but I imagine he’s careful that none of the foster kids overhear him.” I shook my head. “Why do they even place kids with him?”
“On paper, he looks good. Everything else is rumor.” But her expression suggested she agreed with me. “Oliver’s daughter was able to share a little bit about what Donovan and Patrick were doing.”
“Really?” The news was surprising considering how shy Olivia was. Being that she was like family to me, I also got protective. “Should you be interrogating her?”
Veronica’s lips pursed. “You think I’m a heartless bitch, don’t you?”
I flinched. “No… I just… it seems like you’re so focused on the goal, you don’t consider the people you’re dealing with.”
Her green eyes flashed with something that looked too much like pain, but she turned away, picking up her mug and paper towel with toast crumbs. “I have to go.”
Guilt tore through my gut. “Hey.” I went to stand next to her at the sink. “I’m sorry.”
She set her mug in the sink and then rested her hands on the counter. "I suppose my attitude is just more proof of why I'm not married.”
Fucking hell. "I'm sorry about saying that yesterday. I was being an asshole."
She finally turned to me. "I'm not quite sure how we're going to pull this engagement thing off considering you think I’m insensitive and you’re overly sensitive.”
I wasn’t sure either, but I needed this to work.
“I am focused on my career. Maybe I come off as abrasive or rude, and I'm sorry about that, but this is who I am. Maybe you should have chosen someone else.”
“I don’t want anyone else.” My fingers pushed a tendril of her red hair that had fallen from the ponytail she wore. I’d have expected her to flinch or pull away. Instead, she closed her eyes and sighed.
“I don’t know what you want from me. But this is me, and while I might not be an ideal wife and mother, I’m a good FBI agent, and right now, I think Aiden needs that more than a mom who makes him cookies and milk.”
She was strong, and yet in this moment, I thought I saw vulnerability in her eyes. I smiled. “I can make cookies and milk. You keep my boy safe.”