“Hell no.”

“Then you can’t just get back together.” A burst of inspiration hit him. “You’re gonna have to date her.”

“Date my ex-wife?” Denny looked confused.

“Yeah. Get to know each other again. See if you’re compatible now. Having kids and grandkids in common might not be enough. Take her out to dinner and go to a movie or Blazer game. You know . . . talk.”

Denny stared at him for a few seconds. “Is that what you did with Ava?”

“Sort of. We worked together. It forced us to talk to each other and spend time in each other’s company. When our case was over, I didn’t want our time together to stop,” he said gruffly, wondering if he’d shared too much information.

I’m way out of my comfort zone.

“Dating,” Denny said as he rubbed at his chin, lost in thought. “I’ve dated quite a few women over the last decade. Never found one where I wanted our time to never stop. I was always finished at some point. You haven’t hit that point yet?”

“Not going to happen,” stated Mason. “We’re in it for the long haul.”

“Everyone says that at first.”

“Yeah, but I know. I’ve got enough years under this belt to know it’s true. I only say it when I mean it. I’m not swayed by mushy stuff.”

Ava touched Mason’s hand and startled him out of his musings.

“Hey,” she said. “Where were you?” Her dark-blue eyes studied him, and he suddenly understood how she’d felt every time he’d analyzed her, looking for signs of stress over her sister. It was like a spotlight on his face. But a light that was aimed with concern and love.

“Thinking about last night. Denny and I had a long talk.”

“A good one?” she asked.

“It was.” His smile was genuine. “I realized how lucky I was to find you. Denny gave me a glimpse into what my life might have continued to be.”

“All work and no play?”

“Exactly. And lots of doubts and what-ifs and concern for my future.”

“What do you mean what-ifs?” Her brow furrowed.

He swallowed but plunged forward. They’d pledged not to keep secrets unless it was truly for the good of the other person. “I used to wonder how it would be if Robin and I got back together.”

“Ah. I understand. That would be a normal train of thought. You have a son together and you’ve told me you liked being married.”

Mason held her gaze. “Do you know how incredible you are? I just told you I’d thought about getting back together with my ex-wife and you didn’t blink an eyelash.”

“But that was before you met me. I don’t care what you did or thought about before then. I only care about after.” She paused. “Do you still think about what life with her would be now?”

His ex-wife had been remarried for several years. Mason had struggled when she first told him the news, but he’d seen it was a good situation for her and his son Jake. “Never,” he stated. “That’s the honest truth. Denny made me look at it for the first time last night, and it was hard for my brain to go there. I like where I’m at now.”

She smiled. “Me, too.”

He wanted to touch her but held back. They’d already broken their rule once that day and he wasn’t about to do it with a suspect ten feet away. But he felt the invisible ribbons of affection that bound them together. Sometimes he wondered how other people couldn’t see it.

“Dial it down, guys,” Zander muttered.

Maybe they did.

From his expressions Ava could tell that Sam Gates was a professional at giving attitude. Right now “surly” and “defensive” were accurate descriptions of his mood. The deputies were very familiar with Sam Gates. They’d told the detectives that Sam was known for his temper and fists but not for any crimes involving a weapon.

“His mouth is his primary weapon,” said one deputy. He’d glanced at Nora and Ava apologetically. “Just saying. Wanted you to be prepared.”

Ava was amused. The deputy looked like a clean-cut kid straight from a farm and no doubt had been raised with good manners. “We’re fine,” she’d assured him.

Zander opened the back door to the patrol car and grabbed Sam’s arm, forcibly hauling him out and to his feet.

So that’s the role Zander’s taking.

Ava hadn’t seen Zander play the hard-ass very much. Nora started to step forward and then moved back, letting Zander take the lead, a look of understanding on her face.

He held Sam against the car and frisked him again, getting his face close to Sam’s while not saying a word, his hands rough and fast as they sped through Sam’s pockets and felt his limbs. Sam swallowed hard but was silent through the exam. He glanced at the two deputies, who’d taken up a position several feet away, clearly yielding the situation to the people Sam didn’t know.

Zander finished and stood eighteen inches from Sam with his arms across his chest. Zander was tall and built like a long-distance runner. The attitude of barely restrained anger he’d adopted was having the expected effect of making Sam nervous as hell. Usually Zander had a calm manner that was comforting to witnesses.

“Where were you last night between nine P.M. and two A.M.?” Zander asked.

Ava could barely hear him, his voice was so low and rough.

Again Sam looked to the deputies, who’d intentionally turned away, and then glanced at Mason, Ava, and Nora. Ava met his gaze. No friends to help you here. He looked down at his feet.