Page 63 of Keep Him Like Secrets

Her hair was blue.

It had been dark the night before, and whatever temporary dye she used was still there in part, but in the harsh morning sun, the strands were more blue than brown.

My hands tightened on the mug handles, a strange churning sensation moving through my stomach.

I despised being lied to professionally.

But things with Saff had never been strictly professional.

Being lied to personally was a whole different kind of terrain. And I didn’t have the right boots, compass, or skills to navigate it.

I did know one thing, though.

Saff was not going to let me grill her for more information. Not if I wanted to be able to have her in my life.

And, after last night, there was no denying that I did.

Almost desperately.

Not wanting to wake her, I set the mug on the nightstand beside her, then made my way back downstairs, where my phone was ringing on the kitchen counter where I left it.

Teresa. Of course. Who else would it be?

“Hey, T. What’s up?”

“What’s up? I thought you were dead in a ditch somewhere.”

“This is Manhattan. We don’t have ditches,” I said, smiling.

“Fell in an open manhole cover. Pushed onto the tracks. Shanked and left for dead in Central Park.”

“Little dark there,” I said, letting out a huff of a laugh.

“My point is. I’m here. You’re not. What’s up with that?”

“I slept in.”

“You… you slept in?” she asked, astonishment clear in her voice. Then, “Oooh, youslept in. Well, good for you. A man shouldn’t spend all his nights alone. It’s not natural. So, who is it?”

“T…”

“Oh,” she said, tone suddenly more clipped. “It’s her, isn’t it?”

“Dunno who you’re talking about.” I poured myself another cup of coffee, wondering why Teresa would be so cold about Saff all of a sudden.

“Sure you don’t. Look, I’m gonna say my piece then move on. That girl’s trouble. I think you need to be careful. And that’s all I’m gonna say about it.” I could practically see her throwing up her hands as she said it.

“Heard,” I said, hearing footsteps upstairs.

Saff was up.

And, knowing her, ready to run.

Hell, bolt. Especially after finding out she’d spent the whole night.

“I’ll be at the office in an hour or so.”

I hung up just as Saff was running down the stairs. Fully dressed, save for the bra that was still half-hidden under the couch.

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