Page 15 of Shadow Lies

Without comment, he raised it to his lips and drained the remainder. Then he wiped the bowl, inside and out with the rag in his hand before placing it and the spoon to the side.

He folded the towel and placed it over the bowl before finally turning his attention to her.

Ritual. The word skidded into her mind. She suspected that were she to sneak into the main part of the monastery to observe the other monks, she’d witness them performing the same motions in the same exact way Kane had.

Was that what had drawn him here?

After years in the Navy where there was a proper way to do everything, did he crave a strictly regimented life?

Curious as she was, discovering why he was here wasn’t why Charley had sent her. Getting him to accept Charley’s job, whatever it was, was her goal.

As Kane watched her with eyes that spoke his confusion and curiosity, she said, “So, how are you?”

He tipped his head in the slightest nod. Almost a bow. “Well, thank you. And you?”

“Good, thanks.”

This awkward small talk was ridiculous and getting her nowhere. But she had to warm him up to the idea of talking to Charley. As she considered how to do that, monk Kane seemed to take a step back and cocky college Kane took a step forward.

Standing in front of her, he leaned against the desk.

Kane folded his arms across his chest and leveled a hard stare on her. “I have about twenty minutes before I have practice. So why don’t you tell me, Alexis, why are you really here?”

Apparently, she hadn’t charmed him with her quick wit, or wooed him with her new slick look. There wasn’t much left in her arsenal.

What there was, was the truth.

Drawing in a big breath, she began. “I was at work when my cell phone rang—”

“At work where?” he asked, interrupting her.

That was one question she wasn’t going to answer. Kane Lee did not need to know exactly how sucky her life was. “Uh, just a part time gig I picked up. It doesn’t matter. Anyway, the caller ID readunknown number. I answered it and it was some woman I didn’t know. She said her name was—”

“Charley,” he finished her sentence for her before letting out a huff.

“Do you know who she is?”

“No. But she called here too. What did she say to you?” Kane asked.

“She asked me about you.”

“About me?” His dark eyes widened. “What about me?”

“If I knew where you were.”

“So you told her?” Dark brows lifted high above his eyes.

“No. I mean I didn’t know then. I had to call my mother and ask if she’d heard from your parents lately. I figured they would know where you were.”

“Why would you do that? Go out of your way to find out where I was for a woman you admitted you didn’t even know?”

Because she paid me to,sounded like the worst possible excuse.

Alexis decided to cite the other reason for her diligence in finding Kane—the reason that didn’t make her look bad.

“Because she said she wanted to offer you a job.”

Kane drew in and let out a breath in one forceful huff. “Lexi, I appreciate you going so far out of your way to help me get a job, but you shouldn’t have. I don’t trust this Charley person and you shouldn’t either. And I’m definitely not interested in any offer she makes.”

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