Page 20 of Bad Situation

“I don’t know for sure if you’re innocent, so we’re even.”

Her features turn determined. “I am innocent, Eli.”

“Then you can trust me, Jen,” I counter.

She sighs. “I’m used to proving myself. I’ve had to do it all my life—show everyone I’m deserving of what I’m given.”

I don’t take my hand away when I add, “Well, this time you’ll have my help. If you’re smart, you’ll take it. From what I’ve read on you, you’re pretty damn smart.”

She tips her head. “You’ve read up on me?”

“Jensen, I investigated you.”

“Don’t call me Jensen.”

This time I don’t try to fight it—I smile. “My five minutes are up. In case you didn’t keep it, I programmed my number into that phone.”

“I memorized it,” she admits.

My smile turns into a grin. “Now I feel special.”

She stands straighter and puts her hand on top of mine that’s still on her hip, but she doesn’t pull me away. She gives me a firm grasp and she’s back to business. “You shouldn’t. I retain numbers, it’s how my brain works. Trust me, I’ve tried to forget it. And up until two minutes ago, I hated you.”

“See? Subconsciously, you wanted to call me.”

She shakes her head and pulls my hand from her body. I miss her already when she shoves it away and takes a step back.

Jen grips the door in one hand and is ready to shut it on me as I leave her with one last solid reminder. “You’d better take my calls. If not, I’ll be forced to track you down. And sometimes, like today when I called your office to warn you Bree was on her way with an arrest warrant, time is of the essence.”

Her eyes widen slightly with the news I’d tried to give her a heads-up. My warning wasn’t going to change anything, but she could have at least rounded up her attorneys.

“Yeah,” I add. “From now on, I hope you’ll answer.”

“Your five minutes are up.”

“I’ll talk to you soon.” I lean in one more time while I have the opportunity. When my lips brush her ear, I warn on a whisper, “Answer the phone.”

I step out of her doorway just in time to catch a glimpse of her small frown right before the door slams in my face like a metaphor for what she most likely dreamed of doing since she walked off the dance floor Saturday night. But tonight, I’m not worried.

Tonight, I’m almost positive she’s innocent and pretty sure she’ll take my calls from now on. But more importantly, I’m one hundred percent sure I want her when I haven’t allowed myself to want anyone in years.

As I turn for the elevator, I wonder how far I’ll have to go to make that happen.

*****

Jen

I listen to If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss being read in the background as Donny frowns at me from about five feet away. Ignoring them all, I click on the browser.

Elijah Pettit, FBI.

I hit enter and wait. Damn, the public library needs a faster router. If anything grates on my nerves, it’s slow internet.

Finally, the results pop up and there’re a shitload. The Washington Post, The New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal just to name a few, not to mention every other media outlet in the country.

Holy shit. He wasn’t kidding when he said I should Google him.

I click on an article from The Washington Post dated two months ago and after the wheels of motion take time off my life, pictures of him slowly unveil before my eyes.

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