I had to come clean at least a little.“He thinks I know where a friend of his is, but I don’t know Rusty or his friend.”
Belinda sighed.“Okay, fine.This one sounds like a dud.What time will you be in today?”
“I’m taking another PTO day.”
“Do you have closings scheduled?”
“No, ma’am.I’ll follow up on some inspections and appraisals, but those are just phone calls.”
“All right.Keep me posted, you’re on track to hit a million in closings, I don’t want you to lose any momentum.”
A tentative smile curled my lips.“Neither do I.”
I ended the call and saw Nickel lounging in bed.“Rusty called for you, I take it?”
I gave a bitter half chuckle.“More like he’s telling my boss that I didn’t do my job.Lying bastard.”
Ryan nodded.“He probably expected that would force you to call him.”
I nodded once.“What time do you have to leave?”
“Two-fifteen.Same as yesterday.”
“Is there any chance I could go to my place?”
“Babe, I’d rather you be somewhere I know is safe.”
“How about we go to Mom’s?You can meet her, check out the lay of the land, and leave me there until tomorrow,” I suggested.
He stared at me for a long moment.“I’ll meet your mom, but I’m pretty sure you liked me coming to you last night.Damn sure seemed that way in the shower.”
I felt my cheeks heat.“Well, sure and—”
“If I’m tailed, I can’t lead them straight to your people or your home.”
I twisted my lips to the side.“What if—”
“Trouble, come here.”
Hearing him call me that gave me a bizarre thrill.
I wandered to the bed.He moved over and patted a spot next to him.Once I was situated on the bed, he pulled me close and kissed the top of my head.
“What’s the problem?You did fine being here yesterday.”
With my index finger, I drew circles on his abdomen.“Yes, but I got stir-crazy.I’m not sure I can deal with that today.”
His chest rose with his deep inhale.He leaned toward the other nightstand and grabbed his phone.“Let me check something.”
He tapped the screen a few times, then I heard the whoosh sound effect of a text being sent.“I think Tic is gone until Saturday.If so, you can hang in the common room.If you get uncomfortable, you come back up here.”
I grinned up at him.“Thanks, Ryan.”
That earned me a dry look.“Don’t thank me.I haven’t heard back yet.”
“Right,” I said, leaning a little more of my weight against him.
He chuckled.“You aren’t fooling me, Trouble.It’s time to run, and you’re coming with me, so get up.”
