Babysitme? My hands clench at the edges of the towel. He wouldn’t even know what the hell happened with the latest murder if it wasn’t for me.
“You can hate me for the rest of your life, Scarlett, but I will never put you in danger.Ever. If that means you go on a date with someone else, then have the best fucking night.”
“Oh, I will!”
He looks like he’s about to argue but stops himself. Instead, he reaches into his back pocket, the hem of his shirt shifting, and pulls out a small box. He sets it on the coffee table with a frown, his rings clacking lightly against the wood. “I got you this. It’s a tracking device.”
I blink. “What?”
“For Sherlock.” He steps away. “There’s a camera on it, too. I figured you could use it to see how he’s getting out of the house and track him when he sneaks out.”
A mix of anger and warmth spreads through my chest. I haven’t let Sherlock out of my sight since yesterday, but knowing I can’t keep watching him that closely forever has left me anxious and worried. And Rafael just knew.
God, it pisses me off.
“You don’t get to do this,” I say, rushing to the door just as he opensit. My heart is pounding in my chest, stress hunching my shoulders. “I’m not the bad guy here, and you don’t get to act like I dumped you.”
“But that’s what happened, isn’t it?” he says, spinning around to face me on the porch.
“No. Youlied—”
“Fuck that, Scarlett. You’rescared,” he interrupts, his voice rising just enough to cut me off. His eyes burn into mine, and I feel exposed, laid bare. “Just admit it. You’re terrified of the way you feel, and you’re taking the easy way out.”
“Howdareyou!”
He looks away, jaw set. “Yeah, you know what? Now that I think about it, you and Theo would make a great couple.”
“Yes, we would.”
He clicks his tongue. “Too bad you have feelings for me.”
“Yeah, it’s too—” I clamp my mouth shut as he mock-gasps.
“Gotcha,” he says before he turns around and walks away.
“You arrogantjackass—” I shout, stepping forward, but something jerks me back sharply, and I stumble, my back slamming against the door with a thud.
What the hell just happened?
He turns back, confused at first, but when his eyes drop to my waist, his lips curve into a slow, smug smile.
Oh no.
I follow his gaze and realize what’s happened. My towel—the one barely clinging to my body—is caught in the door. The shut, locked door.
Are youfuckingkidding me?
Heat crawls up my neck as I frantically try to yank the towel free, but it doesn’t budge. Worse, the motion makes the towel shiftprecariously lower. I force myself to meet Rafael’s gaze, though the grin tugging at his lips makes me want to crawl into a hole.
“Well, then,” I say, attempting nonchalance. “Bye.”
“Bye?” he mocks, his voice dripping with amusement. “You sure you want me to go?”
I lift my chin, willing myself to act like nothing is wrong. “Yeah. I’m sure.”
“All right.” He studies me for a beat and then, with a shrug, turns to leave. “If you say so.”
I bite my lip, conflicted. I don’twantto ask him for help, but I’m stuck. Literally stuck. “Wait!” The word bursts out of me before I can stop it. “I need—I need help.”
