Page 67 of Maneater (The Mavens #1)

I roll my eyes once more but loosen my jaw, not bothering to argue because she’s…not wrong. I focus on breathing as I watch the screen some more, as Tanya sighs in a way that tries to get sympathy. Her free hand moves to her necklace, playing with the small charm there absentmindedly.

“You know, it’s been really hard. I moved out of the place we shared, and he’s been contacting me nonstop. I feel like I can’t get away from home. I could really use a friend.”

My body stills, not because of her obvious come-on, but because of the hint she dropped.

“Rory,” I say, not moving my eyes.

“Already on it,” she responds.

“Oh? Where are you living now?” Rowan asks, leaning forward. I don’t miss how he pulls his hand back from hers, resting his fist under his chin.

Tanya doesn’t notice the brush-off and shrugs. “Oh, Daniel has been kind enough to let me stay with him for a bit while I figure things out.” She pauses, then shakes her head. “We’re not an item or anything, though. I’m totally single.”

“Do you feel safe?” Rowan asks, giving her a soft, worried smile. “I want to make sure you feel safe.”

Her eyes go wide and dreamy, and her lips form a soft smile before she shrugs.

“I mean…he’s been a bit overbearing. Always has been, but lately it’s even more. Reaching out, trying to keep in touch with me even though I told him I’m done. I just…I worry, you know?” She looks from side to side before her voice lowers again. “Sometimes I think he’s keeping an eye on me.”

My pulse speeds.

“Why do you feel that way?” Rowan asks, looking genuinely concerned, and in a way, I’m sure he is.

“I just…when we were younger, he would always get really possessive. If he saw me even talking to another guy, he would make a big thing about it. That’s why we broke up. He said he saw me talking to Daniel, but I swear, we were just talking. We work together, you know?”

I roll my eyes at her exaggeration but stay focused.

“The listed address in her employee file is a rental. I’ll have to hack into the system of the housing company to see who is on the lease,” Rory says, and I continue to watch Tanya and Rowan on the screen, endorphins racing.

“That’s hard,” he says.

“Well, you know, I’m grateful I have such a great support system here at Daydream. Like you,” she says, reaching out to touch his hand.

I don’t even care, not now. Not when Rory whispers a little yes, not when she smiles because she just got into the system she needed. Not when she starts speaking.

“Tanya’s last known address was in an apartment complex called Seaside Meadows.” Rory keeps clicking, doing what she does best. “The lease was signed with a Randy Short.”

“Short?” I ask, the name ringing a bell, but my brain can’t move nearly as fast as Rory’s can.

“It looks like Carter Short is his younger brother.”

“No way,” I whisper, then tip my head. “How tall is he?”

Rory types a few more times before answering. “Driver’s license says five ten, so probably five eight.”

I can’t help it: even in a serious moment like this, I have to laugh.

“And Tanya?”

Rory looks up at me with a wide smile on her lips.

“Five five.”

“So that would give a good three-inch gap, right?” I ask, thinking of the video of Tanya arguing with our mystery man. When Rory smiles, a chill races through me.

“Did we just find our guy?” She shrugs.

“I mean, I’d venture to say yes. It makes sense. If he’s as possessive as she says, making the hotel look bad, then, in turn, Daniel would make sense if he thought she was cheating on him with Daniel.”

“We need to set up a trap,” Rory says, and I nod then, reaching for my phone and texting Rowan that we’ve got something and he’s cleared to wrap things up. On the monitor, Rowan pulls his hand away from where Tanya is slowly creeping to him and checks his phone.

“Sorry, I’ve got to take this,” he says, back to all business, any flirting gone from his tone.

It makes me smile, knowing it was all a mask to win her over.

I fight the childish urge to giggle when I see her face drop with confusion at his sudden change.

Then he stands and moves around his desk, walks to the door, and opens it.

“Thank you for taking time out of your morning to meet with me. If you have any insight into the happenings, please let me know.”

Slowly, she stands and then walks toward the door. “We should?—”

Rowan cuts her off again. “I’m sorry, I really do have to go. I have a meeting to get to.”

He ushers her out the door and closes it behind her. Then he turns to where he knows the camera is, smiles, and gives it a thumbs-up. I shake my head and laugh, then text him to say to come up to our room as soon as he can.

“What if Carter isn’t trying to help but cover up his brother’s fuck-ups?

” Rory asks contemplatively, continuing to dig through files she shouldn’t have access to.

“It looks like his brother may have helped to raise him. Single mom, latchkey kids, super close. Their social media channels show they spend a lot of time together. It would explain his trying to cover up for his brother.”

“And possibly why he wouldn’t want Tanya to turn him in. Why is he annoyed at Tanya for flirting with Daniel?” It’s all falling into place in my mind. “He would, of course, think Tanya continuing to date Daniel would be bad: every time his brother got wind, he tries to sabotage Daniel’s hotel.”

Rory nods, mirroring the wide smile on my lips.

“Now we have to catch him,” I say with a smile. Rory groans in exasperation, but my own smile widens further. “My favorite part.”