Page 138 of Into These Eyes
Jamie’s head swivels in her sister’s direction so fast, I’m surprised she doesn’t lose her balance and topple off her stool.
“No need,” I tell Anika. “Just like I’ve told Jamie, none of what happened is your fault.”
“I know that. I’m talking about how we met. I’m sorry for speaking to you that way. And for kicking you out of …” she gives Jamie a pointed look, “your home.”
“Thanks, but you don’t have to apologise for that either. You acted exactly how I’d expect, given what you knew.”
She glances from me to Jamie. “Well, then, I guess I should apologise to you. For not trusting your judgement.”
My eyes flick between the two, understanding in that this is something new for them.
Jamie shakes her head. “Thanks, but if I’d told you earlier, none of it would have happened. So, out of everyone here, I’m the one who’s sorry.”
Anika’s gaze falls firmly on me. “Well, Gavin. As much of a shock as all this is, at least it’s put to rest one of my questions about Mum’s murder. I’ve always had this niggling feeling about you insisting that you were innocent. It seemed crazy to me thatyou’d deny it when it was on camera for everyone to see. That was some pretty damning evidence.”
I’m shocked when the apparently tough little nugget before me swallows and tears well in her eyes.
“Jamie told me you were only trying to help Mum,” she barely manages.
Jamie rests her head against her sister’s and puts a comforting arm around her, squeezing her tight.
Trying to distract the poor girl, I say, “I’m surprised you looked into it, since you were so young when it happened.”
“I like investigating. And reading,” she answers, taking a deep breath before letting it go.
“Like your sister,” I point out.
Anika shakes her head. “No, I like to read true crime stories, books and articles. For fun. She likes to read smut. For fun.”
Jamie pinches her hard on the arm.
“Ow! That’s assault!”
“It’ll be more than that if you don’t stop trying to embarrass me,” Jamie mutters.
“Well, buckle up, big sister. It’s about to get a whole lot worse.”
Jamie blushes a moment before she buries her face in her hands and groans.
Anika turns an amused gaze my way. “She’s told me you two haven’t bumped uglies yet, and I don’t wanna be here when that happens. It doesn’t take a genius to see that the chemistry between you two is fucking nuclear. I don’t want to hear it when it detonates, thank you very much,” she finishes, giving a repulsed little shudder.
I glance at Jamie, wondering what the hell her sister’s talking about. All I get is a shake of her head and one eye peering out between her fingers.
“She’s the one who set the rule, so she’s already agreed to this. Now it’s your turn,” Anika says.
“My turn for what?”
“No fucking my sister while I’m under this roof.”
I flick a glance at Jamie. Still hiding.
“Don’t bother looking at her. It’s her rule. When I turned sixteen, she laid it out. I wasn’t to have sex in this house while she was in it and vice versa. It pissed me off at the time, but I understood. She didn’t want tohearit.” She gives a little chuckle and nudges Jamie with her elbow. “Guess she didn’t think it’d come back to bite her. And I’m guessing, that since my sister likes you, you must be a man of your word, right?”
“I am,” I agree, even though I know I’m stepping right into a trap.
“Then promise you’ll keep your dick out of my sister while I’m here.”
Christ. She’s fucking serious.
