The Cunning Thief (Stolen Hearts #6)(24)

He pointed to where he’d dropped his shirt when he’d originally walked in. “I managed to pick up your purse before I left. Don’t use your phone until Toni has a chance to disable the GPS. Until then, keep it off.” Her eyes lit up in interest at the possibility of getting her phone back, but she didn’t say anything. “If you want to sleep, that’s fine. I’ll stay here, and I won’t say a word.”

“What does it matter if you’re not saying a word? You lie about everything anyway.”

“I don’t lie about everything.”

“Then tell me one thing you said the truth about.”

“I really am trying to bring down Blackthorne. That wasn’t a lie.”

“And is it true what Toni said? Are you really some kind of weird do-gooder?”

“No,” he said instinctively. “I mean, yes. The deal is, I’m not a do-gooder. I’ve never been a do-gooder in my life. I’m here because I get paid for it. I don’t want you getting misconceptions about me.”

“If you don’t want me to get any misconceptions about you, why lie?”

He winced. He didn’t know how to tell her what he was feeling. Maybe because he never actually talked about his feelings to anybody. “The version that you met of me, the advertising exec who traveled all the time, yada yada yada, that isn't me. I lie. I lie to everybody. Quite frankly, I don’t know how to tell the truth. And I don’t want to.”

“How can you have any friends if you never tell the truth?”

“Do I want any friends? What do I care if people like me? You want to know what friends are? A liability.”

“So Toni isn’t a friend?”

He scoffed. “I barely know her. If anything, she’s my boss.” He felt suddenly defensive. “Hey, it’s not like I see you trying to get a cell phone to let all your friends know you’re okay.”

“I don’t have friends because I move around a lot.”

“What exactly do you think I do?”

“At least I’m nice to people where I go.”

“Hey, I’m really nice to people. When you want people to give you things they shouldn’t give you, you should be very nice to them.”

She was quiet for a moment before she looked up at him and met his eyes. “I’ve never talked to a thief before. You seem so casual about it.”

“Correction. You’ve never known that you’ve been talking to a thief before.”

“Isn’t it hard? Always fearing you’re going to get caught. Never knowing if you’re going to spend the next few months in jail.”

“That’s only a problem if you get caught. I don’t get caught.”

“You’re very confident.”

“I’m very good at what I do. Like you. You know you’re going to sell that house you’re working on for a profit. You’re not worried about it. It doesn’t keep you up at night. You know it. Like a fact. That’s because you’re good at what you do. I’m good at what I do.”

“You got caught that first night. When we were in a closet together.”

“But I also got out.”

“That’s right. You got out and abandoned me. Don’t think I forgot.”

“I’m the one who called the cops. I waited until they came for you. I waited until I saw them bring you out and you were safe and sound. I never abandoned you. I would never—” He broke off before he said anything stupid, but he saw Shae’s eyes narrow. She knew what he’d been about to say, and she looked as confused by it as he felt.

She set the brownies down without taking one. “I think it’s time for me to try to get some sleep.” She looked around the room questioningly and pulled the top blanket off the bed. That still left one more blanket and a sheet. Not really enough, since the old house could get drafty. It might be Florida, but the nights still got chilly. Nonetheless, the alternative was that he slept in the bed with her, and he was happy enough that Shae let him inside. He wasn’t about to push his luck.

She handed him the blanket, and he came over and got it. She didn’t ask where he was going to sleep, but her eyes followed him as he made his way to the armchair and sat down with the blanket over his legs. It wasn’t going to be comfortable, but it would be better than the floor. Also, he had one of his spare guns stashed in the drawer right next to the chair. This house was pretty much Fort Knox, so he wasn’t expecting anyone to come in, but he’d rather be safe than sorry.

She turned off the lamp next to the bed, and the entire room was plunged into darkness.

He stared at the bed. He couldn’t make out her shape, but he could hear her breathing. He imagined her cuddled up under the blanket. As she adjusted her position, her skirt would ride up, and those delicious legs would be bared. He knew he shouldn’t, but he imagined crawling into bed with her. He wouldn’t touch her, but he would lean in close, feeling her heat and inhaling her scent. Tristan clenched his hands into fists, forcing himself away from the fantasy. After today, he knew he was never going to get that with her.

He closed his eyes and willed himself to stay focused. After a few minutes had passed, he knew she wasn’t sleeping. He could tell by the uneven nature of her breaths. And then, through the darkness, he heard her soft voice. “Good night, Tristan.”