Page 186 of Offside Devil

I frown. “Are you okay?”

There’s shuffling and fumbling. Then Daniel barks, “I gotta go!”

The line goes dead and I toss my phone in the passenger seat. It’s for the best.

Because I have no idea what any of this means.

Mira was telling the truth about Aiden, but there are still too many secrets to let her back in our lives. Which means there’s no point calling her to apologize.

Nothing has changed.

As I move to start my car so I can get home and relieve Owen from “bairn duty,” something catches my eye.

I don’t even have time to turn my head before there’s loud, heavy banging on my window.

“Mr. Whitaker,” a deep voice rumbles. “We need to talk.”

74

MIRA

Daniel drops his phone as soon as he opens the door. It bounces off of his prosthetic foot and I’m not sure he even notices because he’s gaping at me. “Mira.”

I raise a hand in a silent, apologetic wave.

I figured Taylor would’ve texted Daniel to warn him I was heading over, but I’m guessing she didn’t, since Daniel is shirtless and wearing nothing but black boxer briefs.

He hurries to grab his phone. “I gotta go!”

Before waiting for whoever he was talking to to respond, Daniel waves me in and hustles down the hallway. “Come on in! I’ll be right back.”

I make it a point not to look at his nearly-naked form retreating down the hallway and kick my sandals off at the door. Daniel’s apartment is wall-to-wall white carpet, and I don’t want to be held responsible for a stain.

Twenty seconds later, he comes back out wearing sweats and pulling a shirt on over his head. His hair is mussed when he plants his hands on his hips and smiles awkwardly. “Hello.”

“Sorry to interrupt whatever was—” I gesture to him and his phone. Honestly, I don’t even want to know.

“Oh. That?” He laughs nervously. “Nothing. Not important at all. Telemarketer, actually. Probably a scam.” He flattens a hand over his hair. “What’s up? What do you need?”

“I’m sorry, is this a bad time? I should’ve called. I thought Taylor would tell you I was coming.”

“She did. Sort of.” Either I’m seeing things or Daniel Patterson is actually blushing. “She told me to ‘expect a surprise visitor.’ I kind of, sort of, maybe thought she meant… herself.”

Oh. Oh!

I clap my hands over my eyes even though he’s already put on pants. “You thought she was coming here for sex!”

I peek between my fingers. “This feels weird now. I should probably go, but…”

“But you’re desperate to hear how Zane and Aiden are doing and are too much of a scaredy-cat to call and find out yourself?”

I fix him with a glare. “You and Taylor are really getting your rocks off on this information embargo. It’s sick.”

He just grins. “It’s why we make such a good couple.”

The word hits me like a cannon to the chest. He says it so casually. He and Taylor are a couple.

No drama, no emotional baggage, no secrets.

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