Page 170 of The Invite
“Not funny.”
“Where are your manners, teach?” I tsk admonishingly. “No talking while eating.”
“You’re annoying.” She throws the lame insult and turns her attention back to eating.
I ease into finishing my steak, knowing I’ve diverted her mind from stressful thoughts. At least, for a while. The mild silence doesn’t stretch into awkwardness.
Meanwhile, I’m acutely attuned to every breath she takes, the subtle way she crosses her thighs and the side glances she gives my profile like she can’t resist the pull of the invisible thread either.
The caveman feeling she elicits spreads like wildfire inside my body at the sight of my jacket dwarfing her small frame, touching her velvety skin. Perhaps I can tweak my rule a bit. Except in the bedroom, the rest of the time she can wear my clothes while we’re alone at home.
I dab my mouth with a napkin after pushing aside my empty plate, hating I have to dampen her mood. However, as much as I’d love to keep us locked away in her house, time is of the essence.
Nessa picks up on the subtle shift in the air, also finished with her food, and peers at me under her lashes. Unlike earlier, she holds her composure.
“We cannot involve the detectives, Ness,” I state. “If we do, they’ll want to know everything, including all of our secrets. Whether or not it’ll help.”
My mother is already pissed at me after the fiasco with Nessa. If I draw attention by causing another scandal, who knows what she’ll do?
Nessa nods in understanding, and says, “Then I have a plan.”
“Tell me.”
“It’s risky.”
“I should hope so,” I reply. “It means we’ll have a chance of winning, or at least getting the upper hand.”
“We throw Anonymous bait.”
“I’m listening.”
At my intrigued and encouraging tone, she sits taller and explains her plan. “We give them what they want. All of us post secrets about each of us but make them false. If they accept them, then we’ll know they have nothing on us. If it goes the other way, then they’ll be angry and overreact. It’ll lure them out to go ahead with the threat.”
I mull it over and I won’t lie, it’s analmostsolid plan.
We stand to catch him if he comes after us.
“You all can pair up so when they attack, you’re prepared,” she finishes.
“And leave you alone?” Tension coils in my shoulders at her insinuation, making my gaze harden. “Not happening.”
There’s not a snowball’s chance in hell I’m going to allow Nessa to fend for herself. At the same time, I don’t want to reveal her involvement to the others. Questions will be raised when I refuse to pair up with any of them.
Alternatively, it’ll still put one of us alone because there are seven of us. Scarlett will want to be with me, which will again leave Nessa alone. I could put Maverick with her but I don’t trust anybody but me to guard her. Neither do I want to hand someone else the job, when it’s solely mine.
“Maybe it won’t come to that,” Nessa softly placates. “As I said, the plan could go either way.”
“I’m not playing fast and loose with your safety.” Both of us know the planwillgo sideways. We’re essentially throwing one of us as bait and risking Anonymous’s wrath by taking him for a fool. Nevertheless, it’s our best shot to lure him out. It’s the only reason I’m debating going forward with this. However, not at the expense of Nessa.
“Who says I’ll be alone?” she says cautiously.
I peer at her deeply. She better not be thinking of—
“Ace can keep company.”
My expression could freeze off an entire desert. “Say that again.”
Either she’s too brave or stupid because she continues. “He’s my friend and he can protec—”
