Page 37 of Preying Heart
Did he kiss me to make her jealous? What am I doing here?
Even though it’s sticky hot, and the air conditioner is too low, I rub the hairs on my arms and replay the kiss. Did he move first or was it me? The moment was too vivid because it was then that I realized Heath hadn’t left me at the clinic to fend for myself. He hadn’t palmed me off on Lucy or taken off, never to be seen again.
He not only came back to fetch me, but he fought to hold on to me. He didn’t consign me to Lucy or the women’s shelter. And while he was in town, he investigated and found news of the Greasleys putting out a reward for my capture.
Would Slade have done that for me? As much as he cares for me, he’s always looking over his shoulder and looking out for his own hide. Slade left me like my mom did and my unknown father before I was born. Every friend I had growing up was lost either to my being transferred to another home or their parents discovering I’m a bad influence—mainly that I was sleeping with my much older foster brother.
Gavin may think I’m his dirty little secret, but he has no idea the investigative skills young people have these days. Everything from hacking email to stalking online to good, old-fashioned stakeouts with the additional advantage of cell phone videos and the ability to order listening devices on the internet.
Yep. I was the talk of the school, which made me an automatic bad girl—popular with the boys but hated by the girls and definitely shut out of the high school elite.
What would it have been like to have Heath protecting me instead of sleazy Gavin Greasley? Then again, he was probably tangling up the sheets with Lucy.
The two are fire and oil, and despite that shared kiss on the deck, I don’t rank when it comes to what they had or still have burning between them.
Rather than pace circles around a stranger’s house, I should contact my brother. Maybe make contact with a few of my online friends. Or apply for a job somewhere far away. It sucks being so helpless and dependent. I must seem so listless and dull compared to Dr. Cole.
A useless embroidered pillow—pretty to look at but not even good for sleeping on.
I walk by Heath’s bedroom and quickly turn around. I don’t want to be there when the argument turns into moans and screams of passion. Putting my hands over my ears, I circle through the kitchen toward the guest room and notice Heath’s office door is open a crack.
He forgot to lock it. Since Lucy is giving him a tough time and Heath doesn’t trust her enough to let her eat by herself, I might be able to get on the computer. Glock, the ever-present shadow, follows me into the office. I leave it slightly ajar so I can escape through the Jack and Jill bathroom. I left my side unlocked, so it’ll work.
Disappointment hits me when I move the mouse. The screen is locked.
Why would he lock the screen when no one else is supposed to be inside his office?
I don’t think he’s stupid enough to write his password down, but I do know Gavin’s tricks. He circles dates on his calendar or underlines words in a motivational quotes book he keeps on his desk.
Oh, face it. I’m bored and I snoop. That’s what happens when a man doesn’t pay attention to me. He leaves the room to take a call or goes into the bathroom to check his email or text another lover. Leaves himself wide open.
Heath’s drawers are all locked. There’s a stack of gun magazines on his desk and a pile of mail. I flip through the mail but it’s all bills and ads addressed to Tristan Summer. I wonder if everything is reversed, and he’s really Tristan but made up Heath Ruger, a darker and more broody name.
An opened envelope slips from the pages of the most recentAmerican Riflemanissue. The handwriting resembles the one offering a million bucks.
Why haven’t you called? I know you have her. You can’t hide her forever.
I gasp and stare at the words. When I look up, Heath is standing at the doorway.
“Get out.” He takes my arm and rips the letter from my hand. “I told you the office is off-limits.”
I squeak and raise my other arm to shield my face. “But they know I’m here.”
He lets me go like I’m a hot potato. “Remi, don’t make things difficult for me. I need you to go to your room until I calm down. You shouldn’t have snooped.”
“I have a right to know.” I can’t believe I’m standing my ground, if only for a tiny inch. “If I’m the one in danger. Who is this guy and what are you going to tell him when you call?”
“I’m not calling. He doesn’t know anything. Let him assume I haven’t found you.” He glowers at me, his face one dark scowl. “Leave me alone. I’m not having a good day.”
“Why? Because Lucy won’t cooperate?” I step back in case he takes a swing at me.
Instead, he massages his forehead. “She’s a loose cannon.”
“Let me speak to her. Maybe I can convince her I’m truly in danger.”
“How? She’s so jealous of you she’s fit to stick you with a fork.”
“Jealous? Wow. You think so highly of yourself.” I give him a light push. “She’s furious at you because you manhandled her. Don’t you understand anything? How frustrating it is to be physically restrained by someone stronger than you and there’s not a thing you can do about it?”
