Page 212 of Between Secrets and Obsession
He groans, shaking his head. “If I tell you, will you leave me the hell alone about it?”
“Yes, promise!” I say overeagerly.
He sighs. “She wasn’t my girlfriend, but her name is Gemma. She’s my sister’s best friend.”
“Oh my God!” I squeal, my eyes widening in excitement.
“Shut it.”
I hold back my laughter, but then fail and release it. “What else? Tell me more.”
“Nope, that’s all you get.”
Sticking out my lower lip, I give him my best pouty face. “That shit might work on Liam, but it doesn’t faze me.”
I roll my eyes, crossing my arms. “Rude.”
Chuckling, he pushes off the car, then shuts the hood. “You need a new battery. I’ll run and grab one.”
“What, that’s it? How do you know?”
“Because I checked it when you were unloading groceries, but you also needed your filters replaced and an oil change.”
“Well, that’s good, right? That means no one messed with it?”
“Nope, just normal age and slacking on car maintenance.”
Whew.
Tyler packs up all his tools and supplies. “So…what’s Gemma look like?”
“I haven’t seen her in years.”
“Not even on social media?”
He shakes his head.
“You weren’t curious?”
“Curiosity killed the cat, Maddie.”
“Oh come on! Is she single? Have any kids? Does she still live in Lawton Ridge?”
“No idea…on all three.”
“Wow…you’re weird.”
He shrugs. “Guess so.”
Tyler opened up a little more today and gave me some personal details of his life, but I’m determined to crack him in half before he goes back home. I don’t know who hurt him or why he’s so private, but I have a feeling there’s a story behind it. And I want to hear it.
CHAPTER FORTY
LIAM
I’ve been trackingthis asshole for the past week between training, and the longer he takes me on this cat and mouse chase, the thinner my patience becomes. I have a lead on a house and watch it for hours, but I can’t see him clearly enough inside to merit barging in without a warrant. I don’t need one if I know without a doubt the fugitive’s in a residence, but this sneaky bastard hops from one place to the next.
After another failed attempt, I decide I’ll try again in a couple of days. Tomorrow’s our Christmas party with everyone, and with the fight on our minds, it’s been tense around the house. I’d like just one day when we can forget and have fun together.
