Page 9 of Killer Notes
“We were,” I admit, feeling the hollowness in my chest at losing the man who taught me everything. Pops showed me how to fish. How to handle a knife and gun, in case I got lost in the woods alone. It never mattered to him who I liked in my bed. My parents on the other hand… I shake the thought ofthemout of my head.
“Harper might be our boss, but you know he called you in just to be a dick,” John explains. “If it was—”
“But it isn’t you. It’s me,” I slap back with too much venom, but I won’t apologize for it. John understands that discussing my ex is a trigger and I’d rather not talk abouthim. Or so I thought.
“I’m looking out for you, man. Ever since you broke it off with his douche of a brother, Harper finds ways to fuck with you.”
“He’s fucking with me because I’m the one who broke off theengagement. Not Carl,” I clarify, knowing the truth to that. Working with Carl’s brother wasn’t bad while he and I were engaged.
“But you found Carl balls deep in some guy inyourbed. You had justification to break off the engagement.
“And I immediately moved out, so he’s no longer my problem,” I throw in.
John grunts his approval, but doesn’t say a word.
Those several months after I left Carl were tough. Not two months later, I got news that he’d moved that same guy into our home. The home where we were supposed to spend our lives together. Not liking the idea that the home I planned to live in with my future husband was being occupied by another, I did a shitty thing. I got a lawyer, wanting half the equity out of the house.
Petty? Maybe. Justified? Abso-fucking-lutely.
Carl had to sell the place to be able to give me back the down payment I’d made and half of the profit. He had no reason to balk at the sale since he got the other half of the equity.
Now a year has passed and I’m still working for his brother. Stupid? Maybe. But the money is worth the hassle, and soon enough, I’ll be out from under Harper’s thumb.
“Tell me why you’re leaving,” John says.
“It’s time to move on. I want nothing tying me to him, Carl, or the agency anymore,” I confess to my friend, which eases the heavy weight I’ve been carrying. I shrug, because really, that’s a good excuse for leaving a job that pays a mint. “I’m one of the best trackers in the western hemisphere. I won’t have a problem finding another job.”
“I can understand that. I’m just surprised you tolerated his bullshit for this long,” John says sincerely.
“Trust me, once I’m done here, I’m handing in my resignation.” I smile.
“You let me know where you’re heading. I may join you,” John says with chuckle.
I narrow my eyes on the ex-Marine, surprised at hearing that coming out of John. “I thought you liked working for thebastard,” I say with a smile, then abruptly stand when I see Danny in the doorway, his eyes wide and his plump lips slightly parted.
“Is everything all right, Raven?” I ask, as I take a step toward the singer.
His eyes stray to John before returning to me. “Umm… Nothing. Sorry.” He then turns and runs back inside the studio without another word.
“What the hell was that about?” John slices me a frown.
“Who knows.” I sit back down, but my attention never leaves the door the singer fled through. He looked like a scared bunny caught in headlights, because the singer froze on the spot just like the furry animal.
“I can never understand musicians,” John mumbles, then adds, “Most of them are fucking strange.”
“You got me,” I say before returning my eyes to the phone in my hand. But every once in a while, I cast a look to make sure Danny isn’t standing there, staring at me.
I don’t care how pretty or how sweet and appealing he may sound. I don’t even care if he makes my cock stand at attention. I would never act on my attraction. For one, he’s a client. And two, Danny Raven Wells would lay waste to my heart the instant another came along to replace me.
It was done once before, and I never want to go through that pain again.
CHAPTERTHREE
Danny
I race to the bathroom, my lungs losing air with every step. With the twist of the lock, I lean against the bathroom door and finally suck oxygen into my lungs. The black spots floating about begins to fade, while I try to ease my galloping heart and order myself to calm the fuck down.
But that smile. His white teeth. That damn fuckable mouth. And those, dick-sucking, kissable—biteable lips. I know I’ll be dreaming about them tonight and every night while he’sbabysittingme.