Page 83 of Nothing to No One

“And why were they working? The power was out—”

“I know the answer to that one because most security systems follow the same rules these days.” He waited for her to raise her brows before carrying on. “Terrorism. If someone breaches the building, they might try killing power to the security system.”

“But the owners still want to get their eyes on who is breaking in.”

“And it stands as evidence if a case gets to court. Security systems, Dysaic security systems anyway, hold backup power on an isolated system that runs off renewable sources.”

“You really do know a lot about it.”

“We’ve hung out.”

“We?” she asked. “We who?”

“Zane Dyce, his was the island we were on in the Pacific. He’s a good friend of Zairn and Roxie’s.” He paused for breath. “Oh, and my cousin.”

Now that was something to note. “Your cousin? One of the richest men in the world?”

“It’s a convoluted family thing, but, yeah.”

She laughed and bowed to snuggle against him again. “Is there anyone you don’t know?”

Again he cradled her head. “The good people of Wishbone.”

Hadn’t taken him long to come up with that response.

“Why would you care about Wishbone when you have Hollywood and Pacific islands?”

“They didn’t give me you.”

Being his was a dream that would never come true. Worrying her lip, she couldn’t decide whether to say more. They could disappear down the rabbit hole of what would never be, but it wouldn’t do either of them any good.

“That night, the night we met, would’ve been special to me, even if it was all we got.”

“Ah, don’t want me to visit home anymore?”

Slipping her hand beneath the sheet, the warmth of his skin reassured her. “Talking as if this is forever breaks my heart. I have to be honest with myself and just hope we come out of this as friends.”

“Friends? That all I get?”

“You can’t date your brother’s ex-fiancée. I know you’re not stupid, you’ve played this through just the same as I have.”

“I’m not ready to give up on this.”

And, boy, did she understand that. They were trudging to the gallows through the howling wind. Leaving the path was a choice; one neither of them would make.

“And if we get caught again?”

“We won’t be caught here. And Roman can’t get in, we’re safe here.”

“We can’t live here forever.”

“Roxie will be gone all night.”

“Roxie’s not the one asking us to cool it.”

No, that was Magnus. And Roman was the one saying no to their relationship. Except he wasn’t, and it wasn’t fair to put it on him. The man might be guilty of a lot of things, their predicament wasn’t one of them.

“Just at work,” he said. “People know us there and are more likely to know the difference between me and Roman. For one thing, they’ll know where each of us are supposed to be and—”

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