Page 56 of Tell Me Something True

Frowning, Tabitha straightened. “You have a very active imagination, don’t you?”

“Yes. But that has nothing to do with this and it’s certainly not an answer to any of my questions. More like an evasion.” She unlocked her phone and pushed a button. “I’m calling Miles.”

Reed slouched back against the rail.

Fuck.

He and Verity’s cop brother had a history. While Reed knew he’d never be able to put his past behind him, he’d hoped his future would be free of Miles Jennings.

The cop didn’t answer. Frown deepening, Verity hung up.

“If you’re done,” Tabitha said, smile long gone, as Verity typed something into her phone—a text to the cop, no doubt, “could you please get me my key? I’d like to get started moving in.”

Verity lifted her phone, snapped a pic of the blonde, then sent it before tucking her phone into her back pocket. “Ha. I don’t think so. What if you’re not the woman who’s supposed to move in? What if you, like, hit the real Tabitha over the head and are keeping her hostage in your basement while you take over her identity?”

Tabitha pulled her phone from a side pocket in her leggings. “I have the text from Mr. Roberts telling me to pick up the key here.” She opened her phone, scrolled and then turned the screen toward Verity. “See?”

“You could have copied that. Or stolen it. Or it could just be a fake.”

“I realize we got off on the wrong foot,” Tabitha said, lowering her phone. “Maybe we can start fresh?”

Princess Verity wrinkled her nose. “That’s your apology? Needs some work. Like, a lot of work.”

“I really need to get into the apartment now. I only have the rental truck until noon.”

Verity shrugged, all high and mighty and on one hell of a power trip. “And I can’t, in good conscience, give you the key until I hear back from Miles.”

Then she opened her phone and started scrolling Instagram.

It was the second rudest thing he’d ever seen her do.

Girl was on a roll.

Tabitha stared at her for a second before crossing the small porch and going down the steps.

He should take off.

He didn’t know Tabitha. Sure as hell didn’t owe her anything. But there was something about her that poked at his protective instincts.

Protective instincts he’d only ever had for his mother until Verity showed up at his door needing his help a few weeks ago.

Fuck his life.

“Get the key,” he told Verity.

She flicked him a dismissive glance. “Not until after I hear back from Miles.”

Reed looked down. Caught her nephew watching him.

“Why don’t you go get Titus some water?”

The kid turned to go inside, but Verity stopped him by taking a hold of his arm. “Uh, first of all, don’t tell my nephew what to do. Second, he has a name. Which you very well know. And third, if you’d like Ian to do something for you, you need to ask. Politely. Just because he’s seven doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be treated with respect.”

He inclined his head toward the blonde who was talking on her phone as she paced next to her car. “Like you treated her with respect?”That seemed to stump her. Or just pissed her off enough that she was unable to speak for a moment.

Not going to lie. The silence was nice.

“Ian, would you go and get Titus some water?” he asked, deliberately leaving off the one word Verity wanted him to say.

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