Page 157 of Wild Card

I’m taken aback by her question. “You know Willow?”

“We went to school together. I chat with her sister sometimes on Insta.”

“Better yet, how’d you know I’m with Willow?”

“I saw the pictures posted on Sayge’s social from the party this weekend. She has such a sad story; it was nice to see her having a good time.” Her lack of sincerity burns a trail through me.

“Don’t know what you heard; her story is anything but sad.”

“But her sister and her boyfriend… it’s hard to come back from that. How humiliating.” She twirls a strand of hair around her finger. “I’d hate to see you as the rebound.”

“The ex-boyfriend was a spineless piece of shit. The sister was no better. Willow is fine.”

“I thought you needed time to recover.” She repeats the letdown I used the first time she made her move.

“Recovered a while ago.”

Any hope is dashed as anger sparks in her gaze, before sliding into confusion. “Did you say Max? As in Max Roberts?”

“The one and only.”

“He’s here? I haven’t seen him.”

Smart man must have used the private entrance. “Maybe he hasn’t arrived.”

She straightens, a new determination taking over. “I’ll watch for him.”

Good to know she’s an equal-opportunity manhunter.

I flick a half-wave and make my way back to Robbie’s office. Finn and Max greet me with shit-eating grins.

“How’s Taylor?” Max points to the screen that monitors the lobby.

“On the prowl. She’s got her eyes out for your arrival now that she knows I’m taken.”

Taylor sits behind her desk and unzips the top of her skintight sweater to reveal a peek of lace.

“I let her down easily, but she may need a big, strong Marine to erase the sting.”

“Asshole. Now I can’t even go to the break room.”

“You two run off our receptionist, we got problems. Dad will be pissed.” Robbie shakes his head.

Probably best I don’t mention the conversation about Willow. “Any news today?”

“Rylee was in Willow’s last Friday.”

“You have proof?”

“Lawn service technician knows the family. His uncle owns the company and he’s been working there since high school. He helped get Rylee in the house. She approached him with the story she was surprising Willow with dinner. He blocked the view long enough for her to get in.”

“He bought that shit? Any friend of the family would know there’s a rift between the sisters.”

“She had a grocery bag and a key. And he didn’t strike me as the type to follow the gossip chain.”

“What else?” I barely contain the hatred in my voice. “Even dipshits have to think that was an odd request. She had to do something to convince him.”

“He obviously carries a torch for her. My guess is she played on his attraction. He didn’t think much about it until I showed up this morning.”

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