Page 18 of Time Out

“It’s a theory she has,” I said quietly. This was not at all how I wanted this to go. Probably should have left Belle at home.

I’d been right, though. He was definitely not looking happy in any way, shape, or form, and as he stood there, gaping at me, his tanned skin paled with every heated, silent moment that passed between us.

“You’re not lying,” he finally said, and the words came out of his mouth thick with grit.

Pretty sure regret was in there as well.

“No.” I shook my head, unable to say anything further. What else could I say? We’d agreed to one night—not a lifetime of being connected to each other.

“I need a minute.”

Davis stalked off, palm of his hand pressed to his forehead, eyes glazed over. I spun on my feet as he threw open the sliding door to his deck and then slumped into one of the lounge chairs right outside the door.

His feet hit the ground, elbows to his knees, and his head fell forward, staring at his hands, the cement floor. More likely, he wasn’t seeing anything except the end of his life as he envisioned it.

“You should have stayed quiet,” I told Belle and grabbed the water bottle she’d slid across the island to me. “You promised you’d stay quiet.”

“I’m sorry. Forgive me?”

“Never.” Of course I would.

She’d been there for me when no one else was, and without Belle in my life, I had no idea where I’d be, but it wouldn’t still be in Nashville that was for certain. Although, then I wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place.

“I can leave. I really am sorry.”

“Don’t leave yet.” She was my ride, after all, if he came back in and told me to get the heck out.

She nodded and glanced outside. “Think we should go see if he’s alive?”

A very unladylike snort escaped me. Belle was bonkers. I turned to see Davis hadn’t moved an inch since he collapsed into that chair, but as I ran my fingers through my hair, his head lifted, and our eyes met. His steely dark eyes slammed into mine and stole my breath with the intensity. The worry. The fear. The anger.

He pushed off the chair, and this time he was gentle when he opened the sliding door. It closed behind him, and he shifted that look of his to Belle.

“I’d like to talk to Maggie alone.”

I immediately changed my mind about needing a ride. I’d call an Uber if I had to, but this was something I should have done on my own in the first place.

“I’m good,” I told Belle. “You can go.”

“I can wait in the lobby?”

I was already shaking my head. “It’s okay.”

“You drove?” Davis asked, and the question was for Belle, but he was still staring at me.

“She did.”

“I’ll get her home. I swear she’ll be safe with me. Besides…” His lips quirked, that first hint of his playfulness returning as he smirked at Belle. “I’m guessing you not only know where I live but what I do and where I work and probably my bosses’ names and my entire family’s history?”

She smiled with no shame. “Not your entire family history. Things get hazy before your grandparents on your mother’s side.”

“Of course.” At least he was being a good sport about Belle’s insanity. He chuckled and settled his hands on his hips. “You okay with staying here with me so we can talk?”

Not in a long shot. Hard conversations were never my strong suit, and this was sure to be a doozy. “I’ll be all right.”

“I’ll leave then.” Belle grabbed her purse and walked toward Davis. “But hurt her, and I can bury your body. I have connections. Besides, she’s been through enough.”

His jaw fell open, and she walked away, winking at me before squeezing my shoulder. “You’ll be good.”

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