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He leaned on the doorframe. “So…since I’m rescuing you both, I take it the code hasn’t been figured out yet?”
“We’ve got nothing,” Jake said, his cheeks flushing as he did up his button. “I thought locking us in would help, but she still can’t figure it out.”
Cooper eyed Jake’s hands. “I see. I’m not going to lie. I’m disappointed.”
“It’s not his fault,” Tara said quickly, watching Jake out of the corner of her eye. It wasn’t Jake’s fault she refused to help Soltese, and she couldn’t let him get caught in the cross fire because of her. “He’s been trying his best to help me, but I can’t remember how I did it. Arrest me now if you have to, but don’t blame him. It’s not his fault.”
Cooper cocked a brow. “Is that so?”
“Yeah. Give me your word he won’t be punished for my shortcomings.”
“Tara, stop it.”
“No.” She gave Cooper a pointed look. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help you, but he’s been the perfect employee to you.”
Cooper nodded. “I believe you.”
“Tara, stop defending me,” Jake snapped. He glared at her. “He knows I’m doing my job.”
Cooper cleared his throat. “Look, we need to get Tara to—”
“I know.” She sighed, wanting to get this over with. “Are we going straight to the jail from here?”
Jake stood in front of her, blocking her from Cooper. “No. Your time isn’t over yet. We have tonight, too.”
“Will a few hours help?” Cooper asked.
She shook her head. “Probably n—”
“Yes,” Jake said, his tone hard. “Maybe later tonight, it’ll come back to her.”
Cooper lowered his brows. “I hope so. After what you discovered about this Soltese guy…I’d hate to be on his bad side.” He gave Tara a meaningful look. “More so than you already are, that is. Word has it he’s heading back here tomorrow. I suggest you remember, and remember fast.”
Well, crap.
Chapter Twelve
Later that night, Jake stood under the shower stream, letting the water slide down his aching body. It had been a hell of a long day, and it wasn’t anywhere near over yet. He needed to get her to tell them the code, no matter what. Had to get her to tell him how she did it, or tomorrow morning…
She’d go to jail.
No matter what he did from this point out…he’d lose her.
When she’d rubbed his leg earlier and called him a hero, something inside him had broken. He’d wanted to be a hero, for her. And some part of him had actually believed her words. Believed her. Believed that maybe, with her help, he could be a complete man again. One who deserved love and happiness and…yeah, maybe even her.
But those were the foolish thoughts of a foolish man.
He shut the water off and glowered down at his scars. They were more pronounced than ever in the bright fluorescent overhead lights. As if from a distance, he could hear his ex telling him that no one could love a lame man. That no one would want him. He slipped the shower curtain back and froze. “What. The. Hell?”
While he’d been washing up, his bathroom had been completely redone. It now had pink towels. And a pink rug. And a fucking pink toilet seat cover. No. Hell no.
This had to stop. She had to stop playing these stupid little pranks on him. Stop trying to make him laugh or smile. Stop…
Being her.
Yeah, he didn’t want that. Leaning back against the wall, he surveyed all the pink, his lips tilting into a smile. No, he definitely didn’t want her to change.
He liked her just the way she was.