Call Me Cat (Call Me Cat Trilogy #1)(33)

"Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"I should have, but I didn't want it interfering with our relationship. I didn't want you to think differently of me, or her. I'd hoped to leave the past in the past, but I should know by know that secrets never stay buried."

I had to leave, had to get out of there and think. I handed him the book but he shook his head. "Keep it. She'd want you to have it."

I didn't know how I felt about that, but since I no longer had my copy, I didn't argue. Maybe this book held a clue to her murder.





Chapter Twenty Six


Cat and Mouse


CLASSES STARTED THE next day, and I went to my 7 a.m. lecture bleary-eyed after staying up all night re-reading my mother's book. I learned nothing new about her work, though, and she'd apparently left no notes about her sequel. I'd talked to Detective Gray and he reviewed the case notes. They had interviewed everyone she knew at the time and looked through her house and office, but hadn't found anything about the new book she'd planned on.

By 10 a.m., after three hours of lectures, I was ready for my coffee date with Jon, if for no other reason than to get a much-needed shot of caffeine. I called him. "You there yet?"

"Who is this?"

"Catelyn."

"Oh, sorry. You sound different on the phone. Yes, I'm there. See you soon." He was leaning against a tree when I arrived, clothes meticulous, hair arranged neatly, like a Ken doll. So different from the wildness of Ash.

Just thinking about the tall, dark and handsome older brother made my stomach clench. I hadn't heard from him as Cat or Catelyn since our night in Greece.

Lucky smiled his crooked smile and made me my coffee without asking, while Jon and I sat at a two-person iron table under a tree that still clung to the last snowfall.

"How are you, Catelyn?" asked Jon. "You look tired."

I sipped my coffee, sighing as the heat burned down my throat and into my stomach. "Lots of studying. How were your classes today? You must be excited to graduate after this semester."

"I am. I'll be spending every waking moment studying for the bar exam, of course."

"Yeah, that's going to be tons of fun. Are you worried?" We'd all heard the stories of people spending years in law school studying their asses off only to fail the bar over and over. It was our collective worst nightmare.

"Not too much. I think I'll do okay with the way my dad's pushing me."

I shivered as a cold wind blew through us, pulling my coat tighter around me. "It was nice meeting your dad at the party. How is he?"

He gave me an odd look. "He's fine. Same as always."

I tried to keep my voice casual. "And Ash? He must be shaken after that night."

Now Jon frowned. "I don't see my brother much. We mingle in very different circles."

"What kind of circles does Ash 'mingle' in?"

Something built behind Jon's eyes and his normally friendly demeanor hardened. "Did you only agree to meet me for coffee to ask about my brother?"

I blushed, ashamed at being caught. "No, of course not. I was just making small talk."

"I saw how you led him on that night at the party, only to reject him later. What game are you playing at? Cat and Mouse? Seeing which one of us you want more?"

Now my face turned hard and I stood, tossing my empty coffee cup in the trash. "That's out of line. As I reminded your brother, I'm not a toy in some twisted game. Nor am I the prize. I have to get to class," I said, slinging my backpack over my shoulder. "Thanks for the coffee."

I turned just as Jon punched the table, and I jumped at the sound. He walked away with long strides, his shoulders set like granite.

Guess Ash isn't the only Davenport with a temper.





Chapter Twenty Seven


Tangled Webs


BRIDGETTE AND I worked out an agreement for my work. I'd take my calls late at night, while she slept, and she'd sleep with headphones and music on. It wasn't ideal, and I was a zombie during the day, but it was the only thing we could think of.

Ash called that night, as if he could sense my need to talk to him. Or maybe his brother brought up my coffee non-date, and he needed Cat to keep his mind off of Catelyn.

It didn't seem to matter to my heart, because it still skipped a beat when I heard his voice.

"Hi, Cat."

I wanted him to call me Catelyn, and cringed when I heard my phone sex name. This wasn't who I wanted to be, especially not with him. I didn't mind the sex. Well, to be honest, I looked forward to it. But I didn't like him thinking I did this with him as a job. And I didn't want him knowing Catelyn did this for a living, either.

Oh, the tangled webs. "Ash, it's good to hear your voice again."

I detected a slight smile in his voice as he asked, "Did you miss me?"

"Yes," I confessed. But dammit, the more I let Cat get close to him, the further I pushed Catelyn out of his mind.

"How would you like to go to Bali with me tonight?"

Did he mean for real, like, that's where he wanted to meet? Or in the same way we went to Greece? "Um… "

He laughed. "Don't worry, I'm not going to kidnap you. For now, I'll settle for the phone trip."