Kissed Blind (Hot Pursuit #2)(71)

“I guess I did.” I watched the traffic as we drove along and didn’t say another word.

As we walked across the parking lot outside of Oliver’s apartment, I ambled ahead of Vance. He grabbed my shoulder and tugged me back. “What’s going on? You’re not yourself at all.”

“Maybe I had a bad night. I bet you had a great one.”

He was silent for a beat. “Is that what this is about? Because I went out with Cici?”

Well, yes, but not entirely. “Please, not everything is about you.” Like I was going to give him the satisfaction after the way he treated me. I had so much piss and vinegar flowing through my veins I was practically a salad.

“Holy crap.”

“Just give me some space today. I’m not in the mood for this, or you.”

He held his hands up in submission and let me walk on. When Cici let us in the apartment, I read way too much into the way she said hello to Vance. The extra flutter in her eyes, the higher pitch in her voice, the tilt of her head, everything said they’d kissed. The thought of it made me want to go insane. Who did this girl think she was to waltz in here and take him from me?

And then it hit me: I’d officially arrived at Irrational Town. Population: 1.

“How’s Oliver doing?” I asked.

“He’s so great. I swear, what happened energized him in some way. He has this, like, new appreciation for life or something. I think Camille was more shaken from the experience than he was.”

“Really?” Vance said.

“Yeah, she’s been taking it hard and has been pretty upset. But at least it was kept out of the media, which seemed to be what she wanted.”

“Hello, good morning, everyone!” Camille said, sauntering down the stairs. “How are my favorite bodyguards doing?”

If this was Camille distraught, I guess I had no idea what chipper Camille looked like. The woman had more faces than Eve.

“Morning, Camille,” Vance said.

“I can’t thank you both enough for what you’ve done for me and Oli.” She inhaled a deep breath, which seemed to be laced with roses and sunshine. She floated on air toward us and held out a slip of paper in each of her hands. “Here’s what I promised.”

Vance and I took our checks for twenty thousand dollars.

“Thanks,” I said, folding it in half and putting it in my pocket.

“Great. Thank you,” Vance added.

“No, thank you both. You have no idea what you did for me.” She smiled. “Oliver should be right down.” She spun around and gave Cici a once over. “Do you have that tea I asked for?”

Cici’s mouth dropped open like she’d realized she’d forgotten. “I was just getting ready to when they arrived. Give me one second.” She held up a finger and shuffled into the kitchen.

Camille sighed and rolled her eyes. “Bring it up to my room when you find the time. I have to get ready.”

“Ready?” Cici called.

“I swear, sometimes...” She moaned looking at us, exasperated. “I have the designers from Milan coming today with dresses for the event this weekend.”

“Oh, that’s right. I’m sorry, I forgot.” The lid to the coffee maker shut and foil popped on a small plastic K-cup of tea.

“You’re forgetting lots and lots of things lately, hmm?” She turned and started back up the stairs. “I’m sure I’ll be seeing you both during the week. Be safe out there protecting the precious cargo.” She grinned at both of us. “I’ll be waiting for my tea.”

“Yes, Camille. It’s already almost finished,” Cici called.

The machine in the kitchen spurted and coughed as Camille disappeared to the second floor.

Vance and I walked into the kitchen and stood around the island as Cici mixed the correct blend of things into Camille’s tea: a splash of almond milk and a teaspoon of raw honey. She stirred it up and placed it on a saucer.

“I’ll be right back.” Cici nearly ran with the cup up the stairs.

“Boy,” Vance whispered under his breath. “That woman is a piece of work.”

“We talking about Cici or Camille?” It was snide and petty, but what can I say? It felt right.

Vance huffed and walked away from me. He looked through the large windows out at the river when Oliver came down the stairs. Seeing Oliver again after all that had happened wasn’t something I’d prepared myself for. And when I saw him this time, he wasn’t as cute or mysterious as he used to be; he was just a man.

“Diana,” Oliver said, “May I speak to you privately for a second?”

I glanced over at Vance, and he shot me a peculiar look. I quickly turned away. If he saw my eyes, he’d see right through me and know. I adjusted my ponytail. “Sure,” I answered.

Oliver led me to the office. He closed the French doors and sat on the sofa, patting the spot next to him. “Please, sit for a second.”

I joined him and every squeak of the fabric echoed the emptiness of the room. My cheeks grew hotter by the second, and I couldn’t look at him.

“Those are pretty flowers. Peonies and irises are some of my favorites.” They sat in the center of a table close to the window.

He grunted acknowledgement, but that was all the attention he’d given to the flowers. “How’re you doing?”