Page 40 of Taming Achilles

My eyes went wide. Was he a spy? Was he a CIA agent? One of Brett’s people? Did he work for someone else?

“Are you a mind reader?” I baited. His answer would be very important, and I stilled, listening and watching his every movement.

“I was a beard for many girls back in my straighter days,” he let out a high chuckle and pursed his lips to the side. “In case you were wondering how I’m winkling this all out of you, missy.” He put down the straightener, put his hand on his hip and looked at me. “When you can’t be with the person you love, you figure out real quick how to see the signs.”

“It’s complicated,” I said, sadly.

“It’ll be complicated when he sees you in that wedding dress.” He was acting like this was some kind of tantalising gossip. “He’s going to make that a reality.”

Chapter 19

Geordie

With tea and chocolate croissant in hand, I stood outside her dressing room, hearing dulled laughter through the thick door. She and Ray were gabbing like some chicks at a hen-do.

I stopped with my hand on the doorknob. Frozen.

I put my forehead against the wood, daring to listen. I couldn’t make out the words. But I could hear her joy. How long had it been since I had heard her laugh out loud? I couldn’t remember.

The sound of it tore my heart apart. I was aching for her. For those smiles and laughs. How could I erase the last five years? The last few days? Or just the last few nights.

My phone vibrated. It was a Los Angeles number, so I answered it.

“Campbell,” I announced, in lieu of a greeting.

“Mr. Campbell, this is Detective Delgado.”

“Call me George,” I said, plastering a smile on my face. It was an old trick. You smile on the phone and they can hear it on the other side. I didn’t particularly feel like smiling, but I did like the Detective.

“Then you should call me Athanya.” There was a hint of flirtation there, as the background noise of shuffling papers ceased.

“What can I do for you this Saturday afternoon, Athanya?” I flirted back. “You’re at work on a weekend?”

“It’s almost evening, George.” She retorted. “And I’m always working.”

I looked at my blue Rolex, and realised she was right. The sun would set soon. It was rapidly becoming my favourite time of day. That moment the sun dipped below the horizon and Pippa became mine.

I liked that Athanya was still at work. There was something lovely about a hard working woman. People with a work ethic were difficult to come by in today’s world. Competent, intelligent, ambitious women were always my turn on. It’s why I had been able to scrounge up enough attraction to Simona to have a relationship. She was a lawyer, and had convictions.

Which is why it made no sense that I fell for a woman who was a walking clothes hanger for a living. Her only conviction was that she hated guns, and was nice to small animals. She was more suited to a Miss Universe pageant than anything real. Lights, camera, runway. How she had changed from the girl of my dreams to this … influencer that she was.

So why was I stuck on her? Why was I tearing my heart out for a bonnie face?

“We’re all done with Miss Fox’s penthouse and she can return at any point.” There was clattering on Athanya’s end of the line, like she was opening and closing drawers. “But I did find some things in the fan mail. It could be nothing, but I think it’s concerning enough to share with you.”

“Share away, Detective.”

“Athanya,” she corrected. I knew she was smiling on the other end. “We found four letters, all sent anonymously. Not even a mailing stamp, so it was deposited right into her fan mail, direct. They all say the same thing.”

I clenched my fist. “What did they say?”

“Don’t let him come between us,” she said, the words slow and measured. “The last letter had a picture of you.”

“Of me?” I was puzzled.

“Yes,” Athanya hummed. “It looked like a traffic camera from the night of the break in. There was a sniper target around your head.”

My brow furrowed and I paced up and down the hall with the bag and coffee in one hand.

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