Page 54 of Just One More Moment

“What about you? Are you okay? I know Remy took his heart attack hard,” Raven said.

Fallon drew a deep breath, remaining silent while she closed her eyes, obviously attempting to compose herself.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

She waved a hand, dismissing Raven’s concern. “It’s fine. I’m… I guess you could say I’m a daddy’s girl and proud of it. More so since Mom died. I was only ten and I clung to him afterward.”

Thinking of her own parents and their deaths, a lump rose in Raven’s throat. “Understandable,” she murmured.

“But the doctors’ prognosis helped me calm down.” Fallon picked up the bottle of vodka and poured a touch more into her glass.

Stevie did too but Raven declined. She wanted to be clearheaded to hear what Remy and the guys discussed.

“So,” Fallon said. “You and my brother, hmm? I like it.” She tipped her glass back and took a sip.

“So do I,” Stevie said, saving Raven from having to reply.

Which was good since she didn’t feel like getting into the whole Lance problem or the potential that she might decide to pack up and leave. She was as over Lance as she was of her own thoughts about him.

“You should see Raven and Remy together.” Stevie fanned herself and grinned.

Raven shook her head. “Cut it out,” she muttered.

“What about you, Stevie? Any special guy in your life?” Fallon curled a leg beneath her and leaned back.

Her friend stuck out her lip in a pout. “No one.” She lifted her glass. “But Raven’s brother, Caleb, is super cute.” She waggled her eyebrows and took a long drink.

“Oooh a potential match. I like that.”

But Raven stiffened. “Unless Lance goes back to prison, you stay away from my brother,” she warned Stevie. “I do not want to have to worry about you.”

With a sigh, Stevie curled up into her corner of the couch. “I get it.”

Dammit, Raven thought. Not only was she a party pooper but she was also the biggest worrier on the planet. And she was sick and tired of all of it.

“Okay, let’s raise the mood,” Fallon said, rising and walking over to where she’d left her phone on a counter.

She pressed a few buttons and soon music filled the large room. “One day, we’ll all go out to a club and party and I’ll introduce you to my friends but until we can, let’s dance here!”

Fallon didn’t stop until they humored her and before Raven knew it, they were spinning and laughing and she’d even finished two glasses of her drink.

By the time Remy arrived to bring her home, she fell into his arms, all thoughts of Lance buried where they should be.

Chapter Nineteen

Raven couldn’t believeRemy had agreed to go along with her plan. He’d brought her home and because she was tipsy, he’d carried her out of the elevator and into bed. Next thing she knew, she was waking up the next morning with a nice little headache and a glass of water and two acetaminophens by the side of the bed.

She’d also found a note from Remy letting her know that he was at the gym, a security guard was outside the private elevator on the ground floor, and he’d be home in time for them to go to work. While he was gone, she showered and made herself a breakfast of scrambled eggs and hash browns, then holed up in Remy’s room, reading a book on the Kindle app of her phone.

When he arrived home, he stopped by where she was curled in his recliner, and he paused to kiss her long and hard. “You might want to get ready for work. You got your wish. Operation Bait Lance begins today.” And on the way to the bar, he’d laid out the details worked out between himself, Zach, and mostly Garrett. She owed the detective a huge thank you for taking his own personal time to help her out.

Once at work, Remy stuck to her like glue, as in, he didn’t disappear into his office at all. No doubt he feared her going outside while he was unaware.

The one time Raven did take the garbage out back for the first time since Lance’s release, her heart pounded hard in her chest. But she knew that Remy had worked fast, having cameras installed first thing this morning to watch the alley, and out front, as well. Money bought whatever you needed, whenever you needed it, something Raven had learned from the Kanes. But in this case, Remy was doing it to protect her and she was grateful.

Remy remained close by as she stepped outside into the fresh air alone, tossing the trash and stalling for a little while. She didn’t know where security was located, just that there were eyes on her, which helped her stay calm. When there was no sign of Lance, Raven returned inside to find Remy waiting, jaw clenched, fists curled and every muscle in his body tight.

Another time, she walked a delivery person out the door, for no reason other than to see if her stalker brother lurked where there were more crowds. Unaware of the plan, Stevie joined her a minute later and they talked for a while before going back inside. Again, no Lance. And Remy sat at a table next to the window overlooking the sidewalk, his tension high.

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