Page 69 of No Way Home
Magnolia’s gaze flicked to mine.
“Follow my lead.” I placed a hand on her lower back and whispered in her ear, “I’ve been thinking. If you don’t want to file a complaint and get yourself yanked from this rotation, we have to come up with another way for you to shake him loose.”
I kept close to her side as we rounded the corner of the building. Topher was already there, standing at the top of the ramp, blocking the doorway. His eyes narrowed when he saw the two of us walking so closely. Whoever he was talking to must’ve left.
I pressed a kiss to Magnolia’s temple. My gut thrummed and my breath hitched, having my lips on any part of her. She stiffened under my fingertips but she didn’t lean away.
“I think the fastest way to get him to stop is if he finds out you’re taken,” I whispered. “My Uncle Holden and Aunt Christy did a little fake dating back in the day, and I think it could work in this situation.”
Her gaze flashed to mine, worried. “You told him we were just friends though.”
I shrugged. “We’ll play the we’re-keeping-it-on-down low card.” I didn’t have a better plan.
She watched me for a second, her brow furrowed. “Okay. I’m pretty desperate. I’ll try just about anything.”
Consider my ego officially doused, not an ember of confidence left. But this wasn’t about me.
Topherstood in the doorway, his gaze volleying between us, trying to figure out what he’d just seen.
“Morning, Topher,” I grinned when Magnolia came to a stop in front of him. “Good man. Thanks for opening the door for us.”
“No.” His face twisted into an intense frown, chest puffed. “Magnolia knows the drill.”
I ran a thumb lightly over her elbow, reminding her I was right here. She leaned into me a little, her shoulder brushing my arm. Heat shot through me in a heady rush.
Focus.
“What do you mean, ‘the drill’?” I asked.
Topher’s expression went hard. “She has to give me the password if she wants to come inside.”
Was this dude for real?
It took everything in me not to laugh in his face. “You’re making her give you a password to get in the building?” I repeated, hoping he’d hear how ridiculous it sounded.
“That’s right.” He lifted his chin defiantly. Apparently, he was done trying to figure out Magnolia’s angle. He was going to harass her into dating him.
Not on my watch, NPC.
“Oh man.” I glanced at Magnolia. “Are we back in elementary school?”
“Right?” She forced a light laugh, reminding me not to make waves.
Topher’s shoulders dropped an inch, his confidence waning just barely. But then he straightened. “It’s our thing,” he said, like he believed she secretly ate it up. “If she gives me the password, she has free access to this lovely clinic, as well as otherprivileges.”
I didn’t want to know what he meant by that. “Well, tell the man the password.” I winked at her.
“I can’t.” She sighed. “I have yet to figure it out. Guess I’m not smart enough.”
“You knowthe password,” Topher said, nostrils flared. “Just say it.”
“I really don’t. Guess we’re not going to work today,” she said to me like,Oh darn.
I rubbed my jaw, pretending to think. “Hmm.” snapped my fingers. “99999.” I tipped my head toward Magnolia. “My mom still uses that for everything. Not very clever, is it?” My mom actually used very sophisticated passwords—and promptly forgot them, forcing her to make a new one every time she logged on to whatever site she was trying to enter.
Magnolia giggled.
“Wrong.” Topher huffed. “Try again.”
