“Matty, we can all be flirts.”
She stared at him, shaking her head. “Not you,” she said softly. “When Serena was alive, you never…I’m sorry. It’s just that you never acted like…you even noticed any woman but her.”
He didn’t even know what to say to that. It was true, though.
“Aidan, there have been nights when he hasn’t come home.”
“What has he said to you?”
“That he was working.”
“Maybe he was working.”
“Right. At a bar.”
“Matty, honest to God, sometimes you do start working at a bar. Surveillance. And you have to act like you’re there for the good times and the show.”
“Talk to him, will you?” she asked.
“Matty, this has to be between the two of you.”
“If he’s cheating on me, yes. If he’s already called a divorce lawyer, I want to know.”
“I’ll talk to him and see if I can get him to talk to you. How’s that?”
“Thanks, Aidan. Only, please, don’t tell him that I called you. He’ll be furious.”
“I won’t say anything, Matty,” he promised. “I’ll be subtle.”
“He likes that place where Vinnie plays. He says he goes for the music. That it’s some of the best in the city.”
“I suppose it depends on what you like, but I can tell you this,” Aidan told her gently. “He really might be going for the music. Both my brothers—who know their stuff—agree that the Stakes are really good. So he’s not lying to you about that.”
Matty shivered suddenly. “I don’t know. Sometimes the place gives me the creeps.”
“Really? Why?”
“I’ve been in there with him a few times, you know, and I always feel like someone is watching me.”
“Well, I told you. You’re a beautiful woman. I’m sure lots of men watch you.”
She didn’t blush, smile or even thank him. “No, it’s not like that. Not even like…well, a drunken leer. I just feel like there’s someone who skulks in there and pictures all the women with their clothes off or something…. Oh, I don’t know. It’s just not a nice feeling.”
She gave herself a little shake and met his eyes again. “Anyway, thanks, Aidan. And I’m sorry about Serena, you know. So sorry. Isn’t life ironic? Here are Jonas and me, and it’s not looking so good for us. There were you and Serena, and everything about the two of you was perfect, and so life took a brutal swing at you.” She gasped then, as if she’d just realized she might be trespassing on territory that was too private. “Oh, that was a horrible thing to say, Aidan. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s all right.”
She brightened. “Three years…and here you are, in New Orleans. I hope you find someone new, Aidan. The right person. She’ll be very lucky.”
“Thank you, Matty. And listen, things will work out.”
He wanted to leave it at that, but he couldn’t. “Matty, how long has this been going on? I mean, Jonas not coming home at night?”
“The first time was about three months ago. The last time? Let me think. Week before last. Oh, Aidan…”
“Matty, don’t worry. I’ll talk to him.”
When he left her, he thought she was happier. He wasn’t.
He was suddenly wondering just how his old friend was spending those nights out.
Saturday brought a continual flow of people in and out of the shop. Luckily Vinnie had come in and stayed to help.
Kendall had decided that she wasn’t going to do any readings that day. She told Mason from the start that she wouldn’t; any walkins who demanded her services specifically would just have to make an appointment for the next week. She was looking forward to the party that night, even though she wondered if she was becoming too dependent on Aidan’s company.
And she was already in a slightly weird place. Had she imagined the man in the kitchen? She must have, because she had checked the entire downstairs and there had been no one there.
She didn’t believe in ghosts, she told herself. She didn’t.
At two, when it trickled down to empty for a few minutes, she noticed Mason and Vinnie standing side by side and staring at her, grinning.
“Hey. Where did you go last night?” Mason asked her.
“Go?” she said.
“I went by your place to see if you felt like going out. You weren’t home. Your car was there, but you weren’t. Or at least, you didn’t answer when I rang your bell.” He moved closer, winking confidentially. “Were you sleeping? Or were you out?”
“She was out, all right,” Vinnie teased.
“Out at the plantation,” Mason said knowingly. They looked like a pair of boys hiding behind the bleachers and telling exaggerated tales of their dates.
“Yes, I was out at the plantation,” she said, staring back at them.
“Well, that was no fun. She gave in too easily,” Mason said.
Vinnie shrugged. “I thought we’d get her to blush, at least.”
“Hey, did you hear about the guy who threatened the Flynns on the radio last night?” Mason asked her.