Page 68 of The Heartbreaker Next Door

“What’s he driving?” the man on the phone asked.

“Rented white Porsche,” I offered.

“Can you send me a photo, age, and description of him?”

“Yep.”

“Alright, I’ll put out a BOLO.”

A BOLO? He must be talking to the police.

“Thanks, man.” Dean hung up the phone.

“Who was that?” I asked.

“Donovan Valentine, he’s a detective.” Dean was typing on his phone, I assumed texting Donovan the information he’d asked for.

My stomach flipped with uneasiness. I felt like this entire thing was getting blown out of proportion. “I don’t think the cops need to be involved.”

“He’s a friend. It’s nothing official.”

“Still, I don’t think⁠—”

“I’m going to go look for him.” Dean acted as though he didn’t even hear me as he walked to the front door.

“Okay, I’ll come with you.” The last thing I wanted was for there to be some sort of confrontation. Plus, if he left I’d be back to pacing the floors alone.

“You need to stay here in case he brings him home,” Dean pointed out.

Shit. He was right.

“Keep your phone on you. I’ll call you as soon as I know anything.”

With that, Dean was gone.

As I watched him jump in his truck and speed away, all I could think about was what Tanner accused him of riding up on him of being my white knight and riding in to save the day. That comment seemed to upset Dean, but if the armor fit… I didn’t think Dean had any idea what his support meant to me. It was everything.

23

SKEE BALL AND ASSAULT CHARGES

Dean

Iwas turning around in the high school parking lot when my phone vibrated in my pocket. Ten minutes—maybe less—and already, Damon was calling with an update. That was the Lockhart family for you. If you needed someone tailed, found, or discreetly interrogated, you couldn’t do better than my brother, who’d spent his entire life turning small-town gossip into an Olympic sport.

I thumbed to answer, not bothering to pull over. “Yeah?”

“He’s at the arcade,” Damon said, voice tinny over the speaker on account of wind. “Far wall, by the skee-ball.”

“Anyone with him?”

“Nope. Just the douchebag and little man. You want me to go in?”

I cut the wheel at the intersection, pointing the truck back toward Felicity’s house. “No. Stay put and watch him. I’ll be there in ten and bring Felicity with me.”

There was a beat of silence. “Copy that, boss. You want me to make him sweat a little?”

“Just keep eyes on.”