by Eva Luxe
I didn’t want all of this to implode on me, and I needed Kami’s help to keep me rooted.
“Paige! You’re back!”
I embraced her tightly just as she was coming out of her bakery.
“Shutting down early, I see,” I said. “You hungry for some dinner?”
“I’m exhausted is what I am. Pizza at my place?”
“I’ll follow you back,” I said.
Twenty minutes later, Kami was ordering us both pizza and soda. We flopped down onto her couch, and I could see the exhaustion in her eyes. I grabbed her hand and held it tightly, watching as the stress of the day slowly sank her into the cushions.
“Wanna talk about it?” I asked.
“No, I’m not ready to yet,” Kami said breathlessly. “Now spill. Why are you here?”
“Because I live here?” I asked.
“I’m serious. I know when you’re panicking. It’s your eyes. They’re always a dead giveaway.”
I frowned. “I hope not. I’ve been spending a lot of time with my mark.”
“Give me the headlines, and I’ll ask questions as necessary,” she said.
“I don’t think my mark is the person my client says he is, despite what I’ve found.”
“What have you found?” she asked.
“A bunch of firewalls and shit on his computer when I tried to access any basic file.”
“So, you’ve been on his computer,” she said. “Which means you’ve been in his house?”
“Yes, and even though I panicked about the firewalls and password-protected files, once I calmed down, I realized my gut instinct hadn’t changed. I still think he’s innocent.”
“Do you have proof to back that up?” she asked.
“Not exactly.”
“So, it’s just your gut?”
“That, and the night I just spent with him, yes,” I said.
Kami slowly lifted her head before her eyes connected to mine. “You didn’t.”
“You’re the one who told me to get laid, remember? We let the painting thing fall to the wayside, and you talked about me getting dick or something.”
“Not with the criminal!”
“He’s not a criminal. I’m telling you. None of this feels right.”
She shook her head. “Then why are you here? Why are you not there, clearing his name or some shit?”
“Because I’m panicking, Kami. I need my best friend to help me focus and make sense of my jumbled thoughts.”
“Was his cock that good?” she asked.
“Yes, but he also bought me a gift.”
“What the hell could he have possibly—”
“He went to an art supply store and bought me canvases.”
Kami sat up straighter on the couch. “You told him about your painting? That’s awfully personal, isn’t it?”
“Telling him a few personal details gets him to open up about his. And all of the stuff he’s telling me confirms what I’ve been finding, and it gives me more to research.”
“You told him about your painting. So much so that he felt the need to get you canvases. What did you say to him?”
I shrugged. “Just that I went to college for it and had the job I do now to pay the bills.”
“Holy fuck, you didn’t tell him what you do, did you?”
I shook my head. “He thinks I’m still working at the credit collection agency. I’m not an idiot.”
“Well, you fucked the guy, so I don’t know where your head’s at anymore!”
“Kami. Not helping.”
“What do you want me to do? Give my stamp of approval? You’re fucking a thief.”
“Not according to what my evidence says. And since when are people guilty until proven innocent?”
“Since the media started getting involved with criminal cases for ratings, but that’s beside the point.”
“Kami, this guy isn’t who my client says he is. The problem is, I don’t understand why my client wants information on this guy.”
“Your client just wants information?” Kami asked.
“When we had our initial meeting, he harped on that more than he did the theft that was taking place. When we ended our conversation, he made it a point to remind me of reporting back to him whenever I started watching this guy.”
“You’ve taught me enough over the years for me to know that’s weird,” she said.
I nodded. “And it burns my blood that I’m stalking an innocent man for no reason.”
“Obviously not for no reason. That’s probably why this client has hired you and why he didn’t want you taking on any other cases but his.” She sighed. “I don’t know. It sounds like you need to be digging into your client instead of your mark.”
“Exactly. I just have to go about it without raising any red flags.”
“Just be careful, Paige, okay?”
“I’m always careful.”
“I just worry.” Kami sighed just as a knock came at the door, and I stood up to get the pizza.
I signed the receipt and shut the door behind me with my pizza firmly in hand. “What is it, Kami?”
She crossed her legs on the couch, her face looking troubled. “I just hear it in your voice when you talk about him. How giddy you get.”
“I don’t get giddy,” I said, walking back over to her.
“You do, and now, talking with you about him face to face, your eyes are lighting up.”
“They are not.” Despite my protest, I kept my eyes averted as I put the pizza down onto the coffee table in front of the couch, just in case she was right.
“Deny it all you want, but I’ve known you for years. You’ve got a crush, and it’s gonna skew your mindset if you’re not careful.”
“I don’t have a crush,” I said.
“You can lie to yourself, but your eyes can’t lie to me,” she said.
“You should get that put on a shirt,” I said.
“Here’s all I know: you have a hunch that this guy is innocent with no evidence to back that up, and all the while, he’s being portrayed as a criminal. If you think he’s innocent, take the information you have and refute it, but you won’t find his innocence in his bed.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” I said, murmuring.
Kami shot me a look as I picked up a slice of pizza.
“Be careful,” she said sternly.
“I will. I promise.”
“When are you heading back?” she asked.
“What makes you think I’m heading back?”
“You have an unfinished job. Of course, you’re heading back.”
I shrugged. “I figured I’d stay the night, then travel back in the morning. It’s a nine-hour haul, and I’m pretty beat.”
“You can stay with me. We’ll eat this pizza, drink this soda, and pass out.”
“That sounds glorious,” I said.
“And a good night’s rest will help you center your mind for what you’re about to do,” she said.
“Thanks for talking with me, Kami.”
“Anytime. I just want to make sure you’re safe. You’re a very logical person, but your emotions get in the way a lot.”
“Isn’t that how all people work?” I asked.
“It’s not how I work. Some people tell me I emotionally compartmentalize like a sociopath.”
“You just don’t show your negative emotions because you feel it makes you weak.”
Kami peered at me over her pizza, and I felt a grin sliding across my cheeks.
“Love you,” I said.
“Uh huh.”
“Thanks for talking with me,” I said.
“Thanks for paying for the pizza.”
“Anytime, Kami. Anytime.”
“You gonna talk to your boss before you go back?” she asked.
“I’m gonna have to. I promised I’d call him with a report after the date last night. Which extended into this morning and bled into now.”
“You still haven’t called him yet?”
Kami asked.
“I shot him a text saying I was okay and that I was gathering things together before I called him. I just didn’t tell him the things I was gathering were mental and not factual.”
“You’re treading a thin line, Paige.”
“I’ll call him tonight. I promise.”
Then, as if hell itself was trying to mock me, my phone rang with the ringtone that was only set for my boss. It rang out just as I received a text message from Mr. Kent.
“I really hate my job,” I said, groaning.
“Boss first, client second,” Kami said.
“Could I ignore them both and enjoy my pizza?” I asked.
“Pick it up,” Kami said.
So, I took my boss’s phone call and braced myself for the verbal assault that was coming.
Chapter 26
Zach
I opened my front door, and Caden looked at me with a relieved expression. “Finally, man. I feel like I haven’t seen you outside of work for decades.”
I rolled my eyes and stepped aside from the doorway. “It’s been a week since we got our last beer together.”
He stepped inside. “So, seven years. One for each day. Anyway, how you been? How’s the wife? Kids? Dog?”
I shut the door and followed him into the kitchen. “I don’t know why I tolerate you, Caden.”
“Because I’m the only one that tolerates you,” Caden said. “Speaking of, I think there’s someone else tolerating you as well, isn’t there?”
I grinned as I pulled two beers out of my fridge.
Caden noticed. “I knew it. Is it the same woman? What gives?”
“I don’t know. I was just seeing how things went before I talked about it.”
“Wait a second. Have you been on dates with this woman?”
I nodded. “A couple.”
“What’s her name? What’s she like? Have you slept with her yet?”
“Damn, dude, relax,” I said. “Her name’s Paige, she’s unlike any other girl I’ve ever been with, and yes.”
“Awesome. I knew you had something going on. You don’t ever turn down beers with me.”
“Yes, I do,” I said.
“Not when I’m paying.”
“When have you ever paid?” I asked.
He waved my comment away. “Semantics. So, are you still seeing her?”
“I think so, yeah. She had to go back home for a bit, but she said she would be back.”
“So, she doesn’t live around here?” he asked.
“Nope. Seattle.”
Caden gave me a tentative look before he drew in a deep breath through his nose. “How do you feel about that?”
“Not as shitty as you’d think. She grew up in Spokane. In the foster care system.”
“That’s rough.”
“Yeah. She went to college in Seattle and just stayed. So, she’s not technically from there. Just calls it home now.”
“You think she knows—”
“Don’t,” I said sternly. “Just don’t.”
“Well, what else is there about her? Other than she’s already got you whipped.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” I asked.
“One question. When you slept with her, did you kick her out?”
I tipped my beer back and took a long pull from it. My silence was answer enough.
Caden laughed. “You got it bad, Zach. Admit it.”
“We’re just having some fun,” I said.
“Tell me, did she cook you breakfast?”
I shrugged. “Only because I cooked her dinner the night before.”
“You cooked her fucking dinner, man?”
“I know how it sounds, but it’s not like that,” I said.
“I’ve never known you to do anything other than a one-night stand, Zach. How many times have you seen her?”
“Three.”
“Did you sleep with her all of those times?” he asked.
“No.”
“So, you willingly saw a woman again without the prospect of sex?”
“What’s so wrong with that?” I asked. “I like a girl with standards.”
I fell back into the kitchen chair, frowning.
Caden threw his head back and laughed at me. “You scout out women who don’t have standards. You can lie to yourself about this if you want, but you can’t hide this shit from me. You got it bad, and if this girl’s traveling from Seattle just to see you, then she’s got it bad, too.”
“You think?” I asked.
“Oh, dude,” he said as he shook his head. “This is too perfect. I’d much rather talk about this.”
“What the hell were you here to talk about?”
“Our restaurant,” he said, grinning.
“We don’t have a restaurant, and I should’ve known one of your schemes is what brought you into my neck of Brookings.”
He held up his bottle. “That and the free beer.”
“Are you still stuck on the hopping food restaurant or whatever?” I asked.
“You might hate it, but I think it’s unique. That type of unique shit is popping up everywhere. Hell, Brookings has an entire food store dedicated to spicy foods. Spicy foods, Zach. It’s that simple. The interior of the restaurant could be muted and down to earth, but our food could punch them in the gut. And with your cooking—”
“Who the hell said I was cooking?” I asked.
“I know how well you can cook. You don’t wanna admit it, but you’re a fucking stud in the kitchen.”
“You just want this dick,” I said, grinning.
“Nope, I’ll leave that job for Paige. What does she do, by the way?”
“She wants to paint, but right now, she’s an information collector for a debt collection agency.”
He frowned. “An information collector? The fuck is that?”
“She gathers basic information on people they need to call about debt and bills that have been sent to collections. Addresses, phone numbers, previous places of employment.”
“Oh, shit. She’s like a fucking Sherlock Holmes.”
“Nowhere near it,” I said, grinning. “And if you want a restaurant that specializes in meats that hop, or some shit, to stand out, then the interior has to stand out, too.”
“See? You’ve got valuable insight into this world of business.”
“No. I’ve just got a bit of common sense. Look. If you really want to start your own business and build a restaurant or whatever, then I’ll help.”
“Are you serious?”
“Of course. Look, I’ve known you since I was fourteen. You were the first friend I made in this town when my mom and I moved here. You were lazy in high school because you were bored. You slept in the back of class, never cracked a book, and you still fucking graduated valedictorian. For as long as I can remember, you’ve always had these idiotic ways of making money.”
“Hey, the strawberry-lemonade slushie stand was a hit,” he said.
“After we fried two blenders with the faulty extension cord we were using,” I said.
“It’s a learning curve.”
“And you’ve had plenty of practice. But in all the years I’ve listened to you ramble on about shit like this, this is the only moment you’ve come back to me with the same idea twice.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, it’s a different one every single time. Always. But this restaurant is the only idea you’ve approached me with twice.”
Caden seemed to consider what I’d just said before a smile crossed his face. “I guess so.”
“So, if you’re serious about it, then draw up a business plan. Price out what you need. Get serious about it, Caden. And if you are, and if you’re ready, I’ll help you fund it.”
“Will you cook? In the restaurant?”
“One step at a time, tiger,” I said, grinning.
“On a serious note, I really appreciate that,” he said. “I’ll think on it and get back to you.”
“I’m
sure you will,” I said.
“So, tell me more about this Paige girl. You think she’s really gonna come back into town to see you?”
“I’m not holding my breath.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “Uh huh. You can be real with me, you know?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re secretly hoping she comes knocking on your door tonight, begging for your cock,” he said.
“Doesn’t every man want that?”
“Hell yeah. But something tells me that even if she wasn’t, you’d be just as happy letting her in.”
“If she drove all the way from Seattle to see me, then yeah, I’d let her in,” I said.
“Whatever. It’s just nice to see you sticking with one girl for a change. Maybe she’ll convince you that you’re not a terrible person.”
“I know I’m not terrible. I’m just broken. And as long as she doesn’t wanna fucking fix me, things will be just fine.”
“Or maybe she’s the only one that can,” Caden said.
“Maybe you watch too many romantic comedies.” Before he could protest, I cut him off. “I’m ordering pizza.”
Caden and I spent the rest of the evening shooting the shit over a pizza piled high with vegetables. He bitched and moaned about there being no meat the entire time, which led to a lot of inappropriate jokes at his expense. By the time he left, I think he was genuinely annoyed, which was fine, because he didn’t fucking leave until one in the morning.
I went and checked my phone to see if Paige had messaged me. I didn’t have anything from her, but I figured a call could wait until the morning. She was probably exhausted from the drive and busy with work. Maybe she was just sleeping to prepare for the drive back.
Either way, I didn’t want to wake her.
I hopped into the shower, but a knock at my door interrupted me. I stepped out of the bathroom as steam poured into my living room, and the knock came again. It was light, but frantic. Like someone was upset or afraid.
I wrapped a towel loosely around my waist and strode for the door. “Caden. Is everything okay?”
Paige stood in my doorway, and I could hardly believe my eyes.
“Can I come in?” she asked.
I stepped off to the side, and she barreled into my house. Her shoulders were rolled back and she staggered. Her chest rose and fell quickly with her breathing, and her eyes fumed with fury. Something had pissed her off.