Page 94 of My Fallen Saint

Which is why as I climb the stairs, I text Millie and ask if she could poke around a bit and send me anything she can find on Ronan Thorne.

Anna’s at her desk when I reach the fourth floor. She smiles at me, and I ask if he’s in. “I thought I’d steal him away for lunch.”

“He had to go out, but if you’re looking for company, I’m starving.”

Oh. Fortunately, I catch myself before I say that out loud. “Yeah, I’d love to.” Actually, I would like to hear about what it was like growing up with Devlin. But since I don’t know if he’s told Anna that I’m in on the secret, I can’t initiate the conversation.

We end up at a cute little place across the street with counter service. “There’s a patio out back,” she says. “Let’s grab a table and I’ll tell you all my boss’s secrets.”

I laugh and follow her. Now that I’m sure she’s not sleeping with Devlin, I’m seeing her in a whole new light.

We’re almost finished with our sandwiches, and I’m still not sure what she knows, when she says, “Devlin told me you two knew each other when you were younger. Before he was Devlin, I mean.”

“Oh.” I look around, but the place is empty. “I wasn’t sure if he’d told you about me. He told me the same.”

She grins. “Guess we have that in common. Except I’ve known him the whole time. You had a gap.”

I nod. “Yeah. That sucked.”

“Well, I’m glad he found you again. It’s hard giving up your life and walking away from friends.”

“It is,” I say, realizing that from the way she’s talking, I can’t tell if she knows that Devlin and I were—are—more than friends. Of course, even I’m not sure what we are. At the very least, I guess we’re friends with benefits.

Not that it matters, because the conversation moves quickly on to my research, then to the fact that we’re both excited to read the manuscript of Christopher’s book before he even sends it to his editor, and then on to the best shopping in Laguna Cortez.

By the time we’re walking back, I’ve shifted my perspective on Anna entirely. At the gala, she’d seemed like a glamorous foe. Now she’s not only a put-together and competent woman I could be friends with, she’s one more link between me and Devlin.