Hot Secrets (Tall, Dark & Deadly #1)(22)

“I’m at Eden with Lauren,” he said into his cell. “She just got a call we need traced.” He read off the number and then barely a second later, said, “That’s what I thought.” He hung up. “Payphone, but Luke’s headed over there to check it out anyway.” She opened her mouth to protest and he cut her off, “Don’t even think about telling me he doesn’t have to. He wants to and so do I.”

“Is this when you tell me to call the police?” she asked.

“If I did, would you?”

She shook her head. “No. It would end up all over the papers and I can’t deal with that, Royce. Not on top of everything else and not when that might be exactly what this person wants.”

“Who are you trying to convince?” he asked. “You? Or me?”

“I don’t think I have the reasoning skills right now to convince anyone of anything, which makes me wonder if that isn’t the idea. Someone wants to rattle me before the trial.”

“We could make a list of what this person’s motivations might be,” he said. “And of all the things I’d put on that list, you picked the one that makes you feel better, the one that makes you feel like you aren’t in danger.”

“Are you saying you think I am?”

“I’m saying that refusing to accept that you might be is danger in and of itself. You know that. Your job has allowed you to see what people are capable of.”

“You aren’t making me feel better.”

His hand moved down her hair. “I’d rather make you feel safe.” He brushed his lips over hers. “Let’s get out of here.”

***

Half an hour later, Lauren stood at the door of her apartment, Royce by her side. He leaned in and kissed her. “Let me check it out before you go in.”

“I’m feeling pretty good about the bodyguard routine right now,” she said. “Feel free.” She pressed her key into his palm and then watched while, instead of entering, he felt around her doorjamb.

She squeezed her eyes shut and leaned against the wall, knowing all too well that he was looking for some sort of trip wire or surveillance equipment. It was overkill, she told herself, suspicion and caution built into his blood by a lifetime in law enforcement that he was incapable of fighting. But deep down, caution felt right, and that meant something was very wrong.

The minute he opened the door, his gaze dropped, he squatted then stood, having retrieved an envelope. “Does your doorman allow people to just come and go?”

Lauren stepped toward him, reaching for it. She half expected him to resist. “No. You’ve seen how he hovers.” To her dismay, her hands shook, yet again, as she fumbled with the seal and opened the envelope. Inside she found a single sheet of paper that appeared to be a calendar.

“Today’s date is marked off,” Royce observed from over her shoulder. “Any idea what it means?”

She shook her head. “No. Should I be touching it? What about evidence?”

“There won’t be any,” he said, as if he were sure.

Her heart hammered in her chest as she let him take the piece of paper from her hands. The envelope slipped out of her hands onto the ground.

Drawn to Royce’s strength, she studied his profile as he examined the calendar. His jaw was tense, his eyes probing and intense. He bent down and picked up the dropped envelope, inserting the page back inside.

When he spoke, his voice was unaffected. He seemed calm and collected, so very unlike her right now. “I need to check out the rest of the apartment.” He reached out and smoothed a piece of wild hair behind her ear. “Stay put.”

It wasn’t a question, and though taking orders normally wasn’t her cup of tea, it suited her just fine if it meant she didn’t have to go inside alone. She nodded and leaned against the wall, suddenly feeling exhausted. The adrenaline high from her initial scare was wearing off to be replaced with stark fear.

***

Royce waited to pull out his gun until he stepped inside the door. He didn’t want to upset Lauren any further, and right now, things that wouldn’t normally bother her, might. She was just that rattled, and that sensitive.

He searched the apartment, all the while aware of the leaden feeling in his gut. Gathering his thoughts, he stood in the bedroom, giving himself a minute before returning to Lauren’s side. He wasn’t sure what weighed on him more heavily, Lauren’s safety or the fact that he knew she didn’t give trust or control easily, but she was giving it to him. No, no, the thing that weighed the most heavily was knowing he was bound to hide the secret pact with her father until this blew over. Part of him even wondered if he could simply never tell her, but he discarded the idea, knowing all too well that he’d end up captive to her father, and even more so, to guilt. Running a hand through his hair, he let out a loud breath. Then he heard Lauren’s voice. “Royce?”

He holstered his weapon before responding. Walking into the living room, he found her looking nervously around the room. “Woman,” he said, “I thought I told you to wait.”

She bristled. “You took forever. I was worried.”

He smiled, unable to help himself. The idea of her worrying about him wasn’t such a bad one. “You were, huh?”

Her brows knitted together. “Why are you smiling?”