Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 163802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 819(@200wpm)___ 655(@250wpm)___ 546(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 819(@200wpm)___ 655(@250wpm)___ 546(@300wpm)
I scrolled faster—still stuck in the calls from the week before.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.” I forced a laugh. “Just trying to remember the last number. You know, all those experts might be right about screens and technology. The impact on our memories and attention span is...”
The date of the party shown proudly on the screen, where it did indeed log a call from Alex to his aunt... in the morning. There was no other incoming or outgoing call between them for the rest of the day. There was no call between them that night.
“Shocking,” I finished, meeting his eyes over the screen.
You lied to me. You didn’t go upstairs to make a call, Alexander Montgomery, so why did you feel the need to lie about where you were in your own house?
Unless you were somewhere you shouldn’t be.
Quickly, I hit the phone app and tapped in Courtney’s number. The forced smile remained on my lips as I backed away, breaking free of his gaze as the call picked up.
“Hello?”
“Court, it’s me.”
“Sarah? Thank goodness,” she cried. “Why’d you hang up on me like that? Are you okay?”
“No, that’s not a problem. We’re about to have dinner, but the guys will keep a plate warm for me.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“Yeah, I’ll swing by your mom’s, pick up Taylor, fill her full of burgers and soda, then bring her home,” I said. “You finish up your order.”
“You need a reason to go out and you don’t want them to know the real reason why.” Courtney was nobody’s fool. “Are you in danger? Just yes or no.”
“Nope,” I breezed, drifting into the bedroom.
“Where are you really going? I’ll meet you there. Back you up.”
“Nah, that’s okay.” I quickly went to the dresser to gather my purse and keys, straining to keep the voice floating through the open door relaxed. “You don’t owe me. Anything to cement my destiny as best auntie ever.”
A presence loomed behind me.
“Sarah—”
“See you soon, bye.”
Click.
“Everything okay?”
I turned around, the smile already fixed on my lips by the time it met Alex’s eyes. “Everything’s good. Courtney’s assistant called out sick, and she’s finishing up a big order by herself. It’s taking longer than she planned, so she needs me to pick up Taylor.” I gave him a crooked smile. “First rule of not burning down your business and home—don’t leave when the stove’s on and the oven’s running.”
“Good rule,” he agreed, chuckling.
“I shouldn’t be long.” I sidestepped him and made for the door. “Save a plate of the spicy shrimp for me, yeah?”
“Rhodes will do that. I’ll go with you.”
“No need.” I didn’t slow my steps. “You’re busy helping Lily with her homework.”
“Micah can do that too.” A hand slipped around my waist, snuggling me against his chest and sinking me in a cloud of cedar and cinnamon. “It’d be nice for us to have some time alone together.”
I forced out a giggle. “Except, we won’t be alone. There’ll be a five-year-old in the car.” I turned in his hold, peering at him through my lashes. “But if you really want some alone time with me, naughty boy, then let’s make it count.
“Stay and order some candles and dessert from room service.” I winked. “When I get back, we’ll see about ending that dry spell—hard.”
A pleasantly pleased grin stole across that handsome, charming, disarming face. “Really? Are you sure?”
“Oh, I’m very sure.” Rising on tiptoe, I kissed him. My lips burned everywhere they touched his. “But no ice cream,” I continued, nipping his nose. “Despite what the movies say, eating ice cream off each other is not as sexy as it sounds. It’s just a sticky, runny, cold mess.”
“No ice cream.” Alex winked right back. “You got it.”
With that I hurried out, tossing a quick goodbye to Rhodes, Micah, and Lily on my way to the door.
I need to go back to the manor. I need to retrace it all in my own steps, and see it through my eyes. There has to be another explanation. Another perfectly valid reason why Alex wouldn’t share the real reason why he went upstairs.
Alexander has been the most closed off to me, but that was only because he thought he was dealing with his lying, cheating, gaslighting wife. The same wife who already knows him. He has no idea that our relationship is beginning again with a ten-year gap in the middle.
I’m sure if I just look through everything again with no interruptions and no false explanations, I can fill in the gaps on who these men I love have truly become—
—because killers cannot be the answer.
I threw open the door. “Ah!”
“Ah!” Balogun cried out, grabbing her chest. “Goodness, Mrs. Kim, you scared the daylights out of me.”
“I scared you?” I held my racing heart in the same way. “What are you doing here?” I flicked over her shoulder to her partner, Kaplan, and a woman I didn’t recognize. She wore a cream pantsuit and a kind smile. “What are you all doing here?”