Page 28 of A Geek Girl's Guide to Kissing a Video Gamer
Sadie rubbed her palms down her jeans. “It’s not me you need to listen to; it’s Xavier.”
All day she’d worried about him. He seemed so withdrawn. Then when he returned from the restroom, he’d given her a crypticneed to talk to you alonestatement. She knew it was because he’d read something in that email he’d been sent. She had no idea what could make him look so disappointed, but she also knew trying to deny it would only make it worse.
When they’d returned to the hotel, he’d told her about the private investigator and listening in on a conversation Buck was having. Sadie knew it was a risk, but she couldn’t in good conscience let Cinnamon get taken advantage of if she could help it. Of course, he’d left out the part about investigating Sadie, but she still couldn’t have hard feelings about it, knowing what he’d been through.
Cinnamon looked at Xavier and nodded. “Okay.”
Just like he’d done with Sadie, he explained everything, starting with the private investigator. As he did, Cinnamon’s entire demeanor changed. “So you heard him telling someone on the phone that he was meeting her at the dock?”
“Yeah, but you don’t seem surprised that he’s been conning you.” Sadie crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes. “Why is that?”
The woman laughed. “Because my dad is an ex-Marine with serious trust issues. I’ve known about Buck for months. My dad has some friends at a private security firm in North Carolina, and I’ve been working with them.”
“What?” Surely Sadie had heard her wrong. “Working for what?”
Cinnamon took a deep breath. “Look at me. I look like a walking billboard for cosmetic surgery.” She paused. “Which incidentally, I’m not.” Then she gave Sadie a pointed look.
She winced and groaned. “I’m so sorry.”
The woman waved her off. “I’ve gotten used to it—”
“You deserved better than that from me. I shouldn’t have said that.” Sadie wilted. “I hope you can forgive me.”
“In your defense,” Cinnamon replied, “I think you were angrier with Buck than actually judging me.”
“Mostly, I was just in awe of how perfect you look.” She trudged to the couch and flopped down.
Following her, Cinnamon joined her on the couch. “Apology accepted. But the best apology I could get would be to bring this money-stealing conman of a jerk to justice. We’ve just been waiting for the right time. That night after dinner, he was laying on the charm about stealing your company. He needs to go down. Down for the two previous women and you, and we need to do it before he does it again.”
Xavier laughed. “I agree with that.”
Cinnamon tapped her ear. “I think they’re game if you guys want to get them in on it.”
“Who are you talking to?” he asked.
“The guys who’ve been shadowing me the last few months.” Cinnamon stood and walked to the door, lifting her hand and then counting down using her fingers. A knock sounded on the door as she hit three. “Come on in, guys.” She waved three muscular men and a tiny woman into the room. “This is Noah Wolf, his wife Mia, Hendrix Wells, and Thaddeus Tru. Guys, this is Xavier Parker and Sadie Baylor.”
Mia approached Sadie and shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.” She turned to Xavier. “And you…just wait until I tell Ryder I got to meet you.” She looked at Noah. “He’s gonna be so mad he stayed home.”
“Uh, thanks?” Xavier replied.
Sadie felt like she was standing in front of a hiccupping baseball pitching machine. Just when she thought it was out of ammo, another ball hit her right in the gut.
Mia set her large purse down, pulled out a laptop, and took a seat at the small desk located next to the television. “Okay, so that call Xavier overheard was Lewis Smith, also known as Buck Nash, Nigel Harris, Nick Santini, and his newest alias, Dillon Davis.”
Cinnamon crossed the room and sat beside Sadie, taking her hand. “I know this is a lot to digest. I’m so sorry I couldn’t tell you before now. I didn’t know who to trust.”
“And we told her not to tell anyone.” Noah stopped by his wife and set a hand on her shoulder. “The guy is slick. He’s managed to weasel his way out of trouble, and we don’t want to give him another chance.”
Sadie pinched her lips together. “Oh, I’m with you. Just a little overwhelmed is all.” Her brain finally caught up, and she turned to Cinnamon. “So, you have evidence against him?”
“Well, yes and no.” Mia swiveled the chair to face Sadie. “We’ve been trying, but he’s good. Everything he’s done or said could be explained away. If he posts bail, it’ll be hard to find him again. We want to make sure when we take him down, we’ve got enough to keep him in jail until his trial.”
Xavier sucked in a sharp breath. “I’ve got an idea.”
Everyone turned to him. He looked so…short standing next to the security guys. Sadie appreciated him even more. He was normal and average and wonderful. She could be herself around him. Those big guys probably ate raw eggs for breakfast or something gross like that. They probably went on runs, and the only run she was interested in was to the grocery store for ice cream or candy.
Xavier’s gaze caught hers, and she smiled. To her, he was the cutest dark-haired, glasses-wearing guy in the world. She loved him, and she’d find a way to tell him, even if that meant not hearing it back. At least he’d know, and she’d have the satisfaction of being brave enough to tell him.
