He looks over his shoulder at me, his nostrils flaring. “What happened with your ex?”
I wave my hand. If he’s in a hurry, now is not the time to discuss Vigo. Not that I intend to tell Rush about him ever. “I’ll be right back. She might not even be hungry yet. This is more of a just-make-sure-she-doesn’t-climb-anything-and-hurt-herself assignment.” And then I turn and race toward the bathroom, closing the door.
And that’s when I realize, I have no clothes to change into. I sigh. I’m not going back out there now.
Turning on the shower, I step in, the water still freezing cold, as I start scrubbing. Maybe ice water will help me regain my senses because this is crazy.
I wash my hair, even though I won’t have time to dry it, just so it smells nice at least. I’m out in a flash, and pulling an old robe around my body, before I pick up my dirty clothes and head back out to the living room.
When the door opens, both Rush and Emma look at me from their spots at the table. Emma is in her booster seat, Rush holding a spoonful of yogurt in front of her. “Everything all right?” I ask, pulling the frayed edges of my robe tighter around me.
“Fine,” Rush says and he does a good job of keeping his voice low, his rumble to a minimum. Emma still eyes him like she’s not sure what to think.
I only bob my chin and then head into my bedroom to dress. Pulling on a bra, T-shirt, and some leggings, I comb out my hair and then grab my laptop.
I swipe my cup of coffee from the counter before I join them at the table.
Pulling open the device, I draw in a deep breath of air. “What am I looking for?”
“Anything that doesn’t make sense.”
Emma reaches out and taps his hand. Automatically, he gets her another spoonful of yogurt, placing it in her mouth.
I don’t know how to tell him that she can feed herself with a spoon. He’s being played by a three-year-old.
So instead, I start looking through the sheets. Telling me to look for something that doesn’t make sense is ridiculous.
There are hundreds and hundreds of lines of proposed expenses, involved companies, contractors, and more.
But then, one pops out at me. Wilson’s Tire and Auto.
First because, I’m not sure why a place like that would even be on the list of contractors for a major real estate development project. Maybe to repair construction equipment?
But also…it rings with a familiarity that makes my stomach dip and swoop.
Sure enough, I make my way through the document and find it listed multiple times, each for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
That can’t be right…
I nip at my lip. How did no one pick up on this before? “When was this document sent?”
“Yesterday,” Rush says even as Emma taps his hand again. Honestly, I’m relieved to see her touch Rush freely.
She hadn’t been afraid of his brother yesterday either. It makes some ache I’ve been carrying ease, to think she’s not completely frightened of all men.
“Do you have the old document?” I ask, even as I google Wilson’s Tire and Auto. Maybe they sell large construction equipment or…
A website comes up, but the address listed on the front page makes my heart leap in my throat. I’ve been there many times.
It’s a front shop owned by Vigo.
He’s changed the name, added a new sign, but the place is the same.
This is his doing…
CHAPTER NINE
Rush
