Page 27 of His Lair
“Not what you said yesterday.” He raises a brow. “I recall something about the girl you’re dating being thesweet and innocenttype.”
“I said I was fucking a girl who’s thesweet and innocenttype, not seeing her. You know me, E. I don’t do serious.” I smirk.
His jaw ticks. “Right, well, whoever she is, I hope she knows she’s too good for you.”
“I’m sure she does. Gotta go. See you around.” I wave and continue walking out of the hospital. It’s getting late, and as much as I told Lailani I don’t care if she snoops, I don’t want my stuff touched either.
I need to get there before she does. I don’t need her to see the level of crazy I am when I search through my entire apartment just to make sure nothing has moved.
I’m too fucking late.
When I walk into my apartment, I find Lailani sitting in the living room.
“Hey.” I smile. Can’t say I hate coming home to the sight of her. “You’re not naked and in my bed.” I bend down and press my lips to hers.
“Neither are you,” she counters.
“I’ll be right back. Don’t move,” I tell her while scanning the contents of the living room. I head into the guest room, then my home office. When I walk back out, I head to my bedroom and into my closet and bathroom, opening every cabinet to check that nothing has been moved. By the time I turn around, Lailani is standing there watching me.
“I didn’t actually snoop,” she says shyly.
“Why not? I would have,” I tell her.
“What are you looking for?” she asks.
“Tylenol.” I blurt the first thing that comes to mind.
“I have some.” She walks out of the room, and I follow behind her, until I reach the kitchen. I then open the cabinets, quickly inspecting them too. I can’tnotdo it. If I have to make up some shit about looking for something else, then so be it.
“Here you go.” Lailani places a bottle of pills on the counter.
“Thanks.” I look at the counter opposite us and then over towards the sink. “Did you make coffee?” The pot is full and there’s an empty mug in the sink.
“No,” she says, and my blood goes cold.
Someone has been in here.
Chapter Twelve
Part of my job is to read the room and the people inside it. And right now, I know something is wrong with Sammie. Really wrong. Most people wouldn’t know it. He’s good at keeping up that easy-going persona of his. If it weren’t for theslight tic of his jaw, the way his shoulders straightened, his eyes darting around the room, you would have no idea that he’s stressed.
“I know I asked you here tonight, and I want you here. I forgot I had a meeting downstairs, though,” he says.
“You want me to wait for you?” I know he wants me out of here and I refuse to make it easy for him.
“No, I have no idea how long it’s going to be. I’ll have one of the guys take you home,” he tells me.
“I’m okay. You don’t need to do that.” I walk into the living room and pick up my bag.
“You’re not walking out on the streets alone, Lailani. It’s late,” he says to my back.
I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes. I’d love someone to try. I could use the entertainment.
“I walk home every night, Sammie. I’m fine,” I tell him.
“It would make me feel better if I knew someone was with you. Please,” he says.
“Okay, fine.” I sigh.
