“You’re right. A deal is a deal. Have a nice day off.”
I left as fast as I could to keep from touching her, kissing her, or even carrying her up to my room. Or worse, spilling my guts to her. That I wasn’t prepared to do.
As I trudged up the stairs to my office, I knew more than ever it was time to change shit up.
I dared anyone to stand in my way.
22
FALLYN
ALIAS: JOY
By six that night, I was turning into my dad’s driveway, feeling conflicted, queasy, and nervous. My head was spinning like an F5 tornado.
Duke had walked away angry, not at me but at himself. I thought for a second he would share his secrets with me, especially after that mind-blowing sex.
In a way, I was glad that he hadn’t opened up. I wasn’t prepared to share my secret, but I assumed he thought that my reasons for not wanting a relationship stemmed from the employee-and-boss thing. Or his rule of not sleeping with a woman more than twice.
I checked myself in the visor mirror. Dark circles ringed my eyes, a telltale sign of the toll that the nightclub gig and undercover mission were taking on me. I’d tried to conceal them with makeup before leaving my apartment, but the shadows persisted. I didn’t know why I was trying to hide them. My dad would surely notice, no matter how much concealer I used.
I scanned the immediate neighborhood to make sure I hadn’t been followed. Duke didn’t have anyone tailing me, but I needed to be sure. He hadn’t been happy when I’d gone up to his room to change before I left the club.
A government vehicle was parked across the street in front of Mrs. Dannon’s house. I suspected someone from my team was here, but I hadn’t called anyone. Something must be up. I still hadn’t heard any news about Neal Fitzgerald. That had to be it.
I’d texted my dad to tell him I would come to my childhood home in Weston to see him after my visit to the cemetery. He didn’t think that was a great idea, but my alias profile indicated Joy lived in Weston. Duke knew that. After all, he and I had met at the cemetery.
Regardless, I needed to see my dad and meet Rosie. Since Thanksgiving, I had been feeling a tad homesick. I also needed a pep talk that only my dad could give me. He was an expert on undercover assignments. He’d seen many cases over the years with the Bureau.
Hushed voices, along with a dog barking, filtered into my ears as I entered the house. Rosie came running up to me, sniffing and wagging her tail.
“Hey, girl.” I let her smell my hand. Once she gave me the all-clear sign, I petted her. “It’s nice to meet you.”
I already felt better. I laughed out loud, recalling how I’d told Duke to get a dog.
Dad came out of the kitchen with a smile only for me. “Fallyn.”
I almost cried at the sound of my real name as I abandoned Rosie and hugged my dad more tightly than I had ever done before. “It's so nice to see you.”
He pulled back and clutched the sides of my arms, examining me. “What happened? Did Duke hurt you? Is that why you’re here?”
I shook my head vigorously. “I might regret saying this, but Duke would never hurt me.”
He lost his smile. “Men like Duke don’t care about anyone if their lives are on the line—unless he’s falling for you.”
“If he hasn’t, he’s close,” I said truthfully. Lying to my dad wasn’t an option. He was the best reader of people, especially his daughter. “His sister, Grace, is another matter. She’s trying to set us up. I’m going to a charity gala for Dillon’s Hart of Hope shelter in two weeks. That aside, can’t a daughter come see her father?”
“A father isn’t in Joy Whitlock’s profile, Fallyn. Were you followed? Does he have a tail on you?”
My eyebrows pinched together. “No, I’m good at knowing if I have a tail.”
His facial features relaxed.
“I’m just a little melancholy from knowing you had to spend Thanksgiving alone. I also wanted to come out here to visit Jason and Mom. Duke knows I’m in Weston anyway.”
He reared back.
“Chill. Are you forgetting the cemetery is where I met him? I have to be honest on some occasions to support my alias.”
