Page 158 of Property of Whiskey

“My face is innocent.”

He keeps walking.

I lower my voice. “Everybody knows.”

“Knows what?”

I hate the question because I don’t know the answer.

“This.”

Whiskey looks at me. “Whatever this is?”

“Yeah.”

“What is it?”

“You tell me.”

“No.”

“Coward.”

“Says the man who kidnaps women instead of dating them.”

His mouth curves. “Dating sounds expensive.”

“I am expensive.”

“Figured.”

“High maintenance too.”

“Knew that.”

“You ain’t charming.”

“Never tried.”

“Liar.”

That gets a grin out of him.

Sophie returns from the hallway alone.

Her face is composed again. Too composed. She gestures toward the bar. “Come sit.”

I follow her.

Whiskey starts to.

Sophie points at him. “No.”

He stops. “Why?”

“Because I want to talk to her.”

“About?”