Page 39 of Spy With Me
That didn’t seem like a great idea. On a lot of fronts.Including the one where she hated Zach and still couldn’t stand the thought ofnot being around him. To torture him and get revenge.
Yeah, sure. That’s what she was doing.
“I’m staying. It’s safer for everyone.” Still a lie, butcloser to the truth. She couldn’t leave until she had some closure.
“I love you,” her mom said and cut the connection.
And Devi stood ready to figure out what the hell washappening with the man she definitely shouldn’t love.
* * * *
Zach walked back into the kitchen, his heart heavy. How hadhe forgotten? In all the drama of the last day and a half, he hadn’t told herthe biggest secret of all. “I didn’t tell her about Cooper. I…should have. Hermom told her and she’s angry all over again.”
Lacey looked up from the stove where she was stirringsomething that absolutely would not include a side of beef. “When were yousupposed to tell her? She pretty much woke up and started yelling at everyone.Honestly, not what I would have expected from a Taggart.”
“You keep saying that. Almost like you know a few.” Zach wasconfused. Lacey was normally completely cool under pressure. Her calm demeanorwas one of the reasons he trusted her and had for more than a year. Lacey knewa bit about the team he’d been on. She knew about Big Tag and his daughterTasha. But as far as he knew she thought what the rest of the world did. ThatMs. Magenta was Kara.
Lacey shrugged. “Only by reputation, but I would expect herto have a bit more fire.”
“She’s fiery enough.” He should know since she singed thefuck out of him. He could still feel himself bleeding. He had to be strongerthan this. He wasn’t supposed to…feel this deeply. This was why he should neverhave touched her. He shouldn’t have brought her into his world.
“No, she’s bratty and privileged. She’s not thinking aboutany situation but her perceived one.”
He thought she was being a little harsh. “She’s been throughsomething traumatic. I lied to her about a lot of things.”
“You had to. Look, Zach, if you want me to assign blame, Ican do it. You shouldn’t have started a relationship with her. Your life is fartoo dangerous with your mother unwilling to come in and your father in playnow. This is not the time to look for love.” She glanced over to the door thatled out to the hallway and then focused on the task of plating again. “In fact,I’m going to say you were much more reasonable when your affections weredirected at the other Ms. Taggart.”
He did not need to talk about that. “It was a crush. I nevermeant to make a move. Devi is different.”
“Different how? Because I don’t understand. From myperspective she’s nothing but trouble. She was annoyed by the cat.”
Despite the fact that he’d recently had the revelation thathe shouldn’t have brought her in, Lacey saying it bugged him. Seriously buggedhim. And he didn’t like the way Lacey was talking about Devi. He had a deepprotective instinct when it came to his sub. “She was not. She was surprised,and then she made a whole plan of how she’s going to befriend the damn cat. Youdon’t know her. You met her on what must be one of the worst days of her life.She had to watch her cousin get taken away by Huisman. She fought. She wasbrave. Don’t talk about her like that. I won’t listen. If you dislike her somuch, we can both leave. Don’t forget. I help you out, too. Well, I’m callingin those favors for her.”
“See, just when I’m ready to hate you,” a soft voice said.Devi walked in. She shot Lacey a look. “You shouldn’t do that to him.”
“Do what?” Zach was confused. She looked awfully pretty inher new jeans and button-down. Her sneakers were the only thing left from herprevious outfit. She’d taken something plain and made it interesting by rollingup the bottom of the legs, showing the difference in color and tying off thebottom of the shirt so it clung to her curves and exposed a bit of her midriff.
Devi walked a few steps into the kitchen. A bit wary,looking around like she needed to know where the exits were. “She knew I wasstanding here, and she baited you into saying a bunch of nice things about me.She knows damn well I’m fine with the cat. She helped me set up the bedding forher in the closet. Her name is Sunny, by the way.”
“Not how I would have gone,” Lacey said, taking two platesto the small table and setting them down. “Did you want to know what hehonestly thought or not? I was trying to do a sister a solid.”
Yep, still confused. “I thought you didn’t like her.”
Lacey shrugged. “You’re right. Our first meeting wasawkward. Also, sorry about the drugs. They can affect you long after, but whenI got back from town with her clothes and all of the supplies, we had a finetime. Well, we had a painful time because Sunny has sharp claws.”
“So he never tried to bring my cousin to meet hisunderground warrior woman?” Devi asked.
Lacey grinned. “See, that’s why I’m fond of her. I really aman underground warrior woman. I should get a tattoo. Mum would be so proud.”
“How did you two meet?” Devi sat down like they were havingan everyday regular meal.
“Devi, we should talk.”
She nodded. “And we will, but I have questions. I have beenutterly out of control for weeks now. Give me this. How did you meet? I’d likean answer, and I’d like it to be detailed and thorough.”
A snort came from Lacey. “She wants to know if we’veshagged.”
Zach grimaced at the thought. He had never viewed Lacey thatway. There was zero between them except work and a friendship he’d come to relyon. “No.”
