Page 77 of Illicit

After Teagan walked across the stage, we went out to eat at her favorite local diner before her parents, Micah, and Evie flew home on Evie’s private jet. It wasn’t a long goodbye. We’ll see them in a matter of days.

The moment we waved them off, Teagan fell back into investigative journalist mode. She wanted to see Stella Hayes one more time before she moved.

That was a longer goodbye. There were a few tears and so many hugs, I lost count.

None of them were for me.

Needless to say, I was ready to have Teagan to myself. I had to drag her out of there. I have my own plans, which requires alone time to work on our secret contract.

The moment we left her apartment this morning, I was forced to pretend I’m not into Teagan Coleman.

All fucking day.

I’m not well.

I knew this was going to be the case. But what I didn’t know was that it would piss me off as much as it did.

Our big, fat secret hasn’t even been put into effect for fourteen hours. I’m not okay and feel like a grumpy old man.

I’m still in my twenties, for fuck’s sake.

At least I am for another month. I’m holding on to that for as long as I can since I’ve given into the temptation who’s only twenty-two.

So, yeah. I’m ready to have her to myself again.

When my cell rings, it makes me even grumpier.

“What?” I bite after I put the phone to my ear.

“You know, you can drop the ‘tude, dude. You didn’t even bother to come and see me one more time on your way out of town.”

If Taylor only knew how anxious I am to get Teagan back to Florida, he wouldn’t complain about missing one last drink with him.

Who am I kidding?

He’d still complain.

“I already told you I was behind schedule. What do you want?”

Teagan frowns and whispers, “Why so hormonal?”

I’d like to show her what hormones are coursing through my body, but I was the idiot who laid down the gauntlet for no sex.

“I’ve got news on Jules Robichaux. Do you want it or not?” Taylor demands.

I inhale a deep breath to calm down. “Yes, I want it.”

I pull into the parking lot as he talks. “It seems Jules has friends all over the place. And by friends, I mean business associates who like to make a little cash on the side. Some of those friends work at the Parish Tax Assessor’s Office. He’s even got people across state lines in multiple counties. These so-called friends are selling him private information of people behind on their taxes. I haven’t confirmed it yet, but I’d bet my collection of snowboards that he’s targeting the elderly.”

I meet Teagan at the front of the car. She looks down at our entwined fingers after I claim her hand. A small smile settles on her lips.

“Fan-fucking-tastic,” I drawl. Teagan’s eyes dart to me when the sarcasm seeps from my tone. I shake my head and lead her up the stairs to her apartment for the last night ever. “How did you figure this out?”

“We’ve been tailing him since you left town. The judge rushed the warrant for a wire. Boom, bang, bamboozle—I’m the information king.”

“I’m going to miss you, Taylor.”

Teagan lets us into her apartment, and I lock us in for the night. I drop my keys and wallet on the kitchen counter, since it’s the only space not covered in boxes and bags. I watch as Teagan goes straight to the bathroom and shuts herself inside.

---