“There’s, uh, a third bedroom. It’s down this way.”
When I reached the end of the hall, I went inside to switch on a lamp. Then stepped out again and let Keira go inside.
I leaned against the doorframe. Waiting. Fucking holding my breath.
This room was nothing like the rest of the house. It was finished and ready to live in. The lamp cast a warm yellow glow over the blue-painted walls and the simple, modern curtains. The bed was a queen, dressed in white sheets and a navy comforter. Two mismatched nightstands flanked it.
A worn leather chair sat in the corner by the window, and an armoire of plain dark wood stood against the far wall since the house was old and there was no original closet in here.
It wasn’t fancy. The only real decoration was an art print I’d picked up already framed. But the place looked nice. At least, I thought so.
I hoped she thought so too.
Keira stopped by the window, which had the curtains pulled closed. She stayed there with her back to me, eventhough there was nothing to look at. Was she hiding her face from me?
I stuck my hands in my pockets. “What do you think?”
She didn’t turn around. “Hardly matters what I think.”
“Sure it does. Matters to me.”
“Yet you didn’t even bother to tell me about it,” she said hoarsely. “The only reason you brought me here is somebody tried to kill us today.”
This was true. Completely true.
Maybe I’d had a vague idea of bringing her here at some point, but not yet. The state of it right now made me feel exposed, like parts of me were laid bare that I wasn’t ready for.
So much had happened today, andthiswas still the thing that was throwing me. Really?
Keira turned around. “How long have you owned it?”
“Bought it about three years ago. While I was living here before.”
“I don’t get it, Dean. But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. There’s so much about you I still don’t know. Makes me wonder who you really are.”
“Sometimes I wonder that too.”
“And that’s supposed to make me feel better?” Keira shook her head. “When you left, you said you’d stayed too long. That you’re not the type of person who sticks around. But you bought ahouse? How the hell does that make sense?”
I scratched my head. If only I could explain it, even to myself. “It was supposed to be an investment. I didn’t think I’d actually live here.”
“Oh,” she murmured. “Then maybe it does make sense.” Her smile appeared, but it didn’t reach her normally expressive brown eyes. Those were flat. Distant. “I’m sure it’ll make a lovely home for someone someday. Once you’re finishedand you rent it out. We’re lucky it’s available as a safe house for now. Highly convenient.”
“But youdolike it?”
“Just told you I did.”
“I’m glad,” I said softly.
“But I’m still kinda pissed you didn’t tell me about it.”
“You being pissed off at me seems to be a common occurrence these days.”
“Yeah. Because I finally realized how damn annoying you are. I’m getting to know the real you.” She brushed past me as she left the room.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Dean
