Page 73 of Reckless Knight (Knight's Ridge Empire 7)

I don’t say anything, assuming that she still doesn’t want to talk.

I understand. I don’t want to talk about my life either, but the silence when I’m with her is almost as bad, the truth taunting me, tempting me.

“My boss accused me of stealing,” she finally says sadly.

“What?”

“I didn’t,” she says in a rush, as if I was questioning that she might have done it, not that she was accused. “I’d never.”

“I know.”

“You don’t even know me, Toby.”

“Maybe I’m a good judge of character. And you don’t scream ‘thief’ to me.”

A sad laugh falls from her lips. “If only my boss agreed.”

“You can get another job. It’s just a coffee shop,” I say, hoping she doesn’t take offence to that. It’s a perfectly acceptable job, she’s just… worthy of more, I guess.

“Yeah, I know.” She falls silent, but it’s full of unspoken words which I don’t push her for. “The whole thing was a setup.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, my gut twisting with her words.

She pauses. “Matt… he… He accused me of stealing from the till and demanded I open my bag…”

“It was in there?” I finish for her.

“I’ve never so much as opened that fucking pocket, but there was a stack of notes in there. I just… I don’t understand. I thought I got on well with everyone I worked with. I thought—” A sob cuts off her words.

I squeeze her tighter, gritting my teeth when my ribs smart.

“It’ll be okay. Maybe it’s for the best you get out now if someone is gunning for you.”

“It just doesn’t make any sense,” she breathes, nuzzling into me. It makes my heart race, knowing that she’s finding comfort in me. The very last place she should be seeking it right now.

“I’m sorry for dragging you away. Were you in school?” she asks softly, her fingers finding the hair on the nape of my neck. Goosebumps erupt from her delicate touch and a shiver runs down my spine.

“Looking like this?" I ask with a laugh. “Nah, I was hanging out at a friend’s place.”

“What happened?” She pulls her head from my chest, her eyes darting to each cut and bruise on my face before she cups my jaw and gently rubs her thumb over my split bottom lip.

“Just some drunken idiots.” It’s not entirely a lie.

“Seems like it’s not just me needing a new job.”

If only it were that easy.

“So… did you bring that champagne and weed out here just to look at or…”

“Cheeky,” I mutter, a smile pulling at my lips. “Not interested in the food then?”

“It’s at the bottom of my list.”

“And what’s at the top?” I ask, wanting to know what to reach for first.

“Your cock.”

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