Page 38 of The Price of Forever

“You’ll be working with nothing,” I reminded her.

“That’s what you think.”

We spent the rest of the walk bickering like siblings—about pole dancing, about fitness, about nothing at all. It was equal parts amusing and cathartic to just shoot the shit like this with someone. To poke endlessly, to tease, to challenge.

By the time we’d made it to East Eighth, I was grateful for the chance to get some alone time. I needed to focus on my business. Not on my out-of-check-and-only-growing attraction for my client’s sister. I pulled her aside before we entered the warm haven of espresso and muffins.

“You’re off at two, right?”

“Yeah,” she said, “but we won’t be going straight to club after this. I need to make a stop in Chinatown after my shift."

I narrowed my eyes. “Why?”

“I need to swing by my old apartment.”

“We already got your things,” I reminded her. “There’s no reason for you to go back there.”

She nibbled on the inside of her lip for a moment, glancing away. “There is, actually.”

“What is it?”

Her brows drew together for a moment and she tugged at her black ballcap. “There’s a cat who lived in the neighborhood…”

“And…?”

“He was sort of mine,” she finally said, crossing her arms. “I need to check on him. It’s been too long.”

I let this information sink in before I continued. “A cat.”

“Yeah. Have you ever heard of a thing called a pet? Humans have them as companions—”

I lifted a palm to silence her. “I know what a pet is, thanks. But you didn’t mention a cat before. Why is this just coming up now?”

“Because he’s a street cat,” she hurried to explain, “but he’s my cat. He didn’t live inside with me. At least not all the time. I just need to make sure Ranger is safe. I saved him once, and I can’t go abandoning him like everyone else has in his life.”

“Fine. We’ll go check on Ranger. Until then, I’ll be in the corner working.” Pedestrians filed past us on the sidewalk. “Just let me know before you leave for a break or anything.”

“Should I tell you when I have to tinkle?” she asked.

“You can keep that to yourself.”

“Okay. Just be sure to order an Earl Grey or something. I don’t want them thinking you’re my boyfriend or stalker.”

I blinked. “You haven’t told them about the arrangement?”

She scoffed. “Of course not. I’m not trying to look like a freak.”

“You haven’t told anyone about what’s going on, have you?”

Her brows furrowed, and there was real frustration burbling in the background. “No. Why would I? I need to go—I’ll be late.” She pulled open the tinted front doors of the coffeeshop and headed inside, leaving me with my growing suspicions.

Jordan didn’t share shit with anyone. Not even her supposed friends. There wasn’t a single person in her life—that I knew of, at least—who knew she was linked to the Fairchilds and had twenty-four seven protection. And I had a feeling it wasn’t because of who the Fairchilds were.

Jordan was a lone wolf and wanted to stay that way.

You know someone just like that.

I pushed the thought away. I didn’t like drawing parallels between Jordan and myself. Not only did it leave the door open to an emotional connection between myself and a client, it would almost certainly lead to me digging deeper. Getting to know her even more because I was so damn curious. I was already at risk of knowing too much, simply from living with her. I was an expert at keeping up walls, but this was getting to be too much.

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