“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 samewife 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!”
