Hearts and Aces (Kelsey's Burden Series Book 7)

Bridget and Trigger didn’t fly out until yesterday.”
“Damn. Nice profit.”
“Be sure to mention that to Donovan. He told me the investigations unit would never be as profitable as the rescue and security work.”
“Calvary is here,” Bridget said over the computer. “I’ll leave the video running through the arrest, but you can go to bed now, Mom.”
“Call me Mom again, and you’ll be working retail, Bridget.”
“Sorry, boss. Won’t happen again,” she said as she chuckled.
“Trigger, you good?”
“All set, Kelsey. We’ll collect a check and head home in a few hours.”
“Signing off. Good job, team.”
Tyler reached over and signed out of the video chat and com systems.
“I’d better start baking,” Tweedle said, returning to the kitchen. “Any requests?”
“Apple pie,” Tyler said. “Kelsey has a bushel of apples in the garage, but hasn’t had a chance to make pies yet.”
Tweedle gave Ryan a look that he had no trouble interpreting. Without hesitating, he walked out to the garage. Tyler retrieved the coffee pot and filled our cups. After returning with the bushel basket, Ryan set it on a barstool and joined Tyler and me.
I pointed toward the hallway. “You can nap on one of the couches in the family room.”
Ryan shook his head. “I’m good. Used to it,” he said glancing over at Tweedle with a smirk.
“Tyler?” I asked.
“No. I’m going to finish this coffee then do another patrol.”
“What’s got you spooked? And don’t tell me nothing.”
“Nothing’s wrong. I swear it. The tournament at Silver Aces is bringing in a lot of new faces is all. There’s a lot of people I don’t know, coming and going. It’s making me edgy.”
“They’re all guards, handpicked and hired by Donovan or Grady.”
“I don’t know them,” Tyler said as he stared directly at me. “There’s at least thirty guys already here and another forty coming for the weekend. I can’t tell the good guys from the bad guys. You’re the one who taught me not to trust anyone until my gut told me they were trustworthy.”
Ryan nodded. “He’s got a point. We could pull a couple of guys to run patrols.”
“That still leaves Tyler working with guards he doesn’t know or trust. And Donovan, Bones, and Grady need a break this weekend.”
“I talked to the Players,” Tyler said. “The guys are willing to work security this weekend, if you’re willing to pay for the extra payroll.”
“I am. Keep the focus on the kids and the houses, though. Anything on this side of the highway will be protected by Devil’s Players. Anything on the other side will be monitored by Silver Aces. If you need more labor, call Renato with the Demon Slayers.”
“Sounds good,” Tyler said.
Grady walked into the dining room, looking from the clock, to me, to Tyler, to Ryan, and then to Tweedle who was mixing something in a large bowl. He shook his head as he took a drink of my coffee. He was wearing running shorts, socks, and running shoes. His chest was bare, showing off his sculpted muscles dusted with a fine layer of blond hair. My eyes wandered his body. When I looked back to his face, I found him grinning at me.
“Ever heard of a shirt?” Ryan asked.
Looking into the kitchen, I saw Tweedle’s cheeks were red as she quickly looked away.
Grady winked at me before turning to Ryan. “I’m heading downstairs to work out. You want in?”
Ryan nodded before walking over to Tweedle. He wrapped his hands around her waist as she looked up at him with a bright smile. “I’ll be in the basement. Do not leave this house without me.”
“Where would I go?”
“With you, I never know,” he said before he kissed her forehead and turned toward the stairs.
Grady leaned over the back of my chair. “You need to sleep for a couple of hours.”
“I’m heading that way. Wake me after your workout? I’ve got a busy morning scheduled.”
As a way of answering, he smacked a kiss to my lips before strutting toward the basement stairway. I admired his ass until he was out of view.
“I’m out,” Tyler said. “I’ll text you if I need you.” Tyler left through the living room sliding door.
“Tweedle? You need anything before I go to bed?”
“I’m all set. Looking forward to some quiet baking. The trip here was a nightmare.”
“Why? What happened?”
“First, I tripped on that horizontal escalator thingy at the airport.”
“The auto-walk? Were you hurt?”
She shook her head. “Just embarrassed. After I tripped, my skirt caught in the track which then started to suck up the material as it dragged me across the room. By the time Reel—I mean Ryan—ripped away the material to free me, everyone had a full view of my ample backside, and he was pissed.”
“Not at you, I’m sure.” I stood and carried my cup over to the breakfast bar. “Likely he was mad because everyone could see the bits and pieces, that in his mind, only he gets to see.”
“Maybe. He calmed down after a woman donated a baby blanket and safety pins to rig up a skirt. Our luggage had already been checked with security. But I was embarrassed the whole trip because several of Ryan’s coworkers were there, all flying in together. That wasn’t how I planned on introducing myself. That’s why, even hours later, I feel the need to bake.”
“Well, bake away. We have a stocked pantry in the basement, so if you run out of flour or anything else, just holler down the stairs to the guys and they’ll bring you whatever you need. If we are out of something, there’s always someone willing to run to the store.”
“Mom?” Nicholas called from the end of the hallway.
“It’s still nighttime, Nick,” I said, heading down the hall. “Back to bed. Come on.” I guided