Page 2 of Deathtoll

His eyebrows twitched as his eyes met hers again. “When?”

“Day before yesterday.”

His mouth—that had done unspeakable things to the most sensitive parts of her body—tightened. “Were you going to tell me?”

Murph had always treated her family as his own. He’d gone to LA with Kate every time she visited. He and Emma had hit it off from their first meeting. Of course, he would want to see Emma. But just then, inviting Murph over was beyond Kate. She was still working up to it.

Silent reproach thickened the air between them for a second, then two.

And then, his expression closed, Murph moved past Kate. “Tell your sister I said hi.”

She fought the urge to follow him as the tide followed the moon.Habit.They used to shop together, going down the aisles side by side. They used to do everything together.

Kate rocked on the balls of her feet. “See you at the office!”

He looked back. She should just have kept her mouth shut and let him go. She clenched her jaw.

Don’t say anything. Please.

Because he knew her, he heard her silent plea. He simply nodded at her before he walked away.

And then she could finally breathe.Sweet chocolate-covered cherries.

She hurried in the opposite direction, toward Emma, who just turned the corner with a bag of carrots and avocadoes for her breakfast smoothies.

Her sister craned her neck. “Was that Murph?”

A twenty-something guy trailed behind her like a puppy. An almost comical look of disappointment crossed the guy’s face when he realized Emma was with Kate. He’d probably been hoping to chat her up.

He moved on with a barely stifled, mournful sigh.

Kate sympathized.No love to be found in aisle three today, buddy.

Emma noticed none of that. She’d always been oblivious to the effect her long legs, enviable raven hair, and overall LA glamour had on men. She was…shiny. No,radiantwas a better word. Then again, she did work out like a professional and took her smoothie boosters as seriously as a heart attack, which, obviously, she was never going to have.

“Is there anything more annoying than ridiculously beautiful women who don’t realize they’re beautiful?” Kate punctuated the question with a long-suffering sigh.

Emma looked around. “What? Why? I’m not beautiful.”

Kate sent a pointed glance toward the admirer who just then walked into a shelf because he was still looking back.

“Is there anything more annoying than ridiculously beautiful women who don’t realize they’re beautifulandinsist that they aren’t?” Kate amended. “Andthey’re good at math? You’re my little sister and I love you, but if you discover a sudden special talent for art or music, I’m going to have to let you go.”

Emma rolled her eyes. And, really, she was so good at it, it could almost be considered an art form. “Mind if I go and say hi to Murph?”

Now?

“Would you mind, not to?” Kate felt like an idiot for asking, but she did it for self-preservation. “Not right now? I’m just having a weird morning.” A weird couple of days. “The lack of sleep is starting to get to me. I feel like…” She let out a frustrated groan.

“Like?” Emma stepped aside so they could move on to the next aisle.

“I don’t know. This stupid insomnia is beginning to affect my mental state. I keep thinking I’m being watched. You know that weird feeling at the back of your neck?” Kate flashed an I’m-stupid-right smile. “I’ve spent so many years running and hiding. I have trouble fully settling into safe and normal.”

Emma watched her with concern. “Being vigilant all the time, living your life on guard, is not a good way to live. You have to learn to relax.”

“I’m not sure if I know how.”

“It’s literally your job. You make people relax for a living.”