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Besides, she was no innocent princess.If this was the fairytale, she’d be the villain.The wicked witch who poisoned her own true love—or rather, stabbed him right in the heart.
If she’d ever even loved Hudson.Eb doubted that she had.With Hudson’s death, she’d inherited all his assets.
So why the hell is she driving that old pickup truck?
“If you aren’t here to hurt me, then help me.I will owe you.”
He’d wanted an opportunity to get close to her.Earning her trust would be paramount in this game.Eb just hadn’t expected the opportunity to be handed to him on a silver platter.But, then again, his twin Jake had always said that Eb was the lucky one.
“I’ll help,” he said, making the words sound grudging.He put away his gun.For the moment.“But you have to do exactly what I say, understand?”
She threw herself at him.Curled her arms around him and wrapped him up in that sultry scent of hers.“Thank you!”
He should not—a thousand times,should not—have responded physically to her, but he did.The dark truth was that he’d always responded physically to her.Even when she’d been walking down the aisle to marry his friend, his dumb dick had been saluting her.He’d even entertained a fast andwrongfantasy about stealing his friend’s girl.Running with her from that chapel.
But he hadn’t moved from his position.Hadn’t said a word when the officiant had asked if anyone objected to the wedding.He’d stood in silence.
I lusted after my friend’s bride.
And now I’m going to wreck her world.
His hands slowly closed around her.She was warm and soft against him.Deceptively delicate.No wonder she’d been able to slip past Hudson’s guard.She didn’t look like a killer.
His head moved near her right ear.“You have to get back in that truck, and you have to go home.”
She stiffened against him.Began to pull back.
He kept his grip on her because he wasn’t done.“That gang will erupt if they see you again.So do what I say.My plan, my rules.You get in the truck.You go home.I’ll get the dog.”How the hell was he gonna pull off that magic trick?Eb didn’t know yet.But he’d always been pretty good at figuring shit out in the heat of the moment.“I’ll bring him to you.Then you pay me back.Deal?”
He heard the whisper of her breath.A second or two later, he felt the movement of her head as she nodded.
Slowly—more reluctantly than he should have—Eb released her.
“What does the payback entail?”she asked.
“Does it matter?”
Naomi’s head tilted to the side.“Perhaps.”
“We’ll start by saying that you let me crash at your place.Staying in a guest room at your place will be better than me having to find a hotel room for the night.”I need to get in your house.I need to search every inch of the property.I need to be close so that I can learn your secrets and catch you when you slip up.Because, sooner or later, she would slip up.
Criminals always did.
Laughter sputtered from her.The sound was warm and rich, and it caught him completely off guard.
“You have clearly never seen my place if you think it’s better than a hotel room.Not in its current state, it’s certainly not better.Despite the dreams I once had.But, sure, I’ll be happy to give you a place to crash.”She brought her hand up between them.“You give me back my dog, and I’ll give you a crash spot.Plus, whatever else you add to our deal later.”
He closed his hand around hers.“No more questions?”He didn’t buy that.“What if I want things you’re not prepared to give?”
“Just what sort of things would you mean?”Her hand was soft against his.
I want everything you have.All that you are.“I want the truth.”Shit.Clusterfuck.He had not meant to make that stark statement.
“The truth about what?”Careful, now.She began to tug her hand back.
He let her go.“The truth about you.The truth about Hudson.”A pause.“I want you to help me find your husband’s killer.”
She backed away fast and rammed into the side of the truck.“What?”