“You really have gone goo-goo over her.” Colton tilts his head at me. “You need to be certain. Like, really fucking certain before you drag some innocent woman into our world, August.”
He’s right. I had no business dragging Hayley down into the depths of hell with me. Now that I have her here, though, I’m not sure I can let her go. I don’t know what I’m going to do after the twelve days are up.
I pull the IDs out of my pocket and toss them towards Colton. “Find out who these assholes work for. I want names, addresses, all of it. I’m going to turn this fucking city red if I have to.”
“You know, it’s not the first time you’ve had someone try to kill you,” Colton says.
“It’s the first time I’ve had something other than my own life to lose,” I correct him.
“Gee, I won’t take that fucking personal.” He pouts.
An ear-piercing scream has us both standing and running out of the office towards my bedroom.
Hayley is sitting up on the bed. Her eyes are open but they’re vacant, and the scream she’s letting out could rival a banshee.
Shoving past Colton, I sit in front of her. Picking her up and settling her on my lap. “Shh, it’s okay. I’ve got you. I’m right here.” I rub my hands along her back.
“August?” Hayley looks up at me. “You left.”
“I was in the office, in the room next door,” I tell her.
She shakes her head. “I woke up and you left.”
“I’m sorry. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.” I pull her tight against my chest and hold her like that until I feel her body relax again.
Chapter Seventeen
Ineed to get a grip on myself. When I woke up and August wasn’t right next to me in the bed, I freaked out. To the point I screamed, because my first thought was someone got him. That whoever is trying to kill him actually found him.
My blood turned cold.
I’m still shivering. Even now, after being enveloped in his warmth, I’m still shivering with terror. The scary thing is, I was afraid for him, not me. I need to find a shrink. Or maybe I should call Jade…
But I can’t do that. What would I say?Oh, by the way, I was shot at today?She’d be over here in a heartbeat, threatening August with all kinds of bodily harm.
I don’t need to get her mixed up in this mess. It’s my mess. Well, it’s Riley’s mess, which I’m forced to endure yet again. Although as August’s arms tighten around me and I sink farther into him, I’m not sureendureis the right word. I can’t say I hate being this man’s fake girlfriend.
I could do without the whole shooting thing, but other than that, he really has been the perfect gentleman. He hasn’t pushed for anything sexual. He hasn’t been harsh or cruel to me. He’s been nice, oddly nice. I don’t think any of my real boyfriends were this nice.
Without thought, I lift my face, shifting upwards until my lips brush his, my tongue pushing into his mouth. Not that he puts up a fight. Then I lift onto my knees, straddle his lap, and press myself even closer against him. My kiss turns hungry. I’m like a madwoman. I’m starved. I need him. My fingers tangle through his hair. It’s soft, and I make a mental note to look at what products he’s using.
A knock at the door has me pulling back, breathless. I look behind August to see his friend.
“Sorry to interrupt, kids,” Colton says, not seeming sorry at all as he struts into the room—yes, struts.
When I go to slide off August’s lap, he tightens his grip around my waist and I flinch. His eyes shift from the tray Colton places on the bedside table to me in a heartbeat.
“What was that?” August asks.
“Nothing,” I tell him. “What’s in the bowl?”
“I thought you might need a pick-me-up. I didn’t know August was already giving you one.” Colton winks. “Anyway, I made you tea. And by some miracle, this asshole actually had real food in his pantry for once so I made cereal salad.” He smiles proudly at me.
Maybe I was too hasty in judging Colton. He seems like a totally different person when he’s not trying to sleep with me.
“Cereal salad?” I peer over into the bowl. “Did you mix Lucky Charms, Froot Loops, and Fruity Pebbles?”
“Yep, cereal salad,” Colton confirms.
