Page 61 of In Spades

“How much can you talk about what you do?” she asked.

“More now that I’m self-employed. I’m basically a subcontractor for defense contractors. It pays better when they’re courting you. When I’m not working on projects for other companies, I dabble in a little of everything. Cyber security, writing software… A while back, I patented this computer chip that goes inside of drones.” I shrugged. “I get bored and tinker around with things. Sometimes it pays off.”

Kristin eyed me curiously. “You’re very humble.”

I chuckled. “Nah, I just don’t enjoy talking about myself.”

I pulled off the highway onto a street that skirted around the New Bern waterfront. We cruised alongside the Neuse River for a bit, then turned left down Trent Woods Drive. A neighbor of mine—Nick—offered a polite wave from his driveway as we passed by.

“Holy shit!” Kristin gasped as I pulled into my drive. “You live here?”

I killed the engine. “I got a good deal on the place.” I didn’t splurge on much. Truthfully, I didn’t really like spending money. When I bought my house, I was drawn to the property first. I liked the idea of living on the waterfront. The house was nice, but the view couldn’t be beat.

Kristin’s eyes bulged as she peered up at my two-story white brick home. “Are you sure you live alone? Because this place is massive.”

“I hope I live alone,” I joked. “Let me know if you bump into anyone else. Also, scream and run away immediately.”

Kristin’s shock wasn’t completely unfounded. Six thousand square feet was a bit much considering I rarely went beyond my office, bedroom, and kitchen. It was different when Elena lived here.

She had people over all the time. Loved entertaining on the lawn. It wasn’t my scene, and she hated that I had no interest in throwing lavish parties to wine and dine people who were preoccupied with looking down their own noses.

The clock said that it was almost seven in the evening, so I offered Kristin the grand tour before I got started on dinner.

14

KRISTIN

Holy Martha Stewart.

Will led me up the brick steps to his front porch. He unlocked the door, and I half-expected a butler or a maid to pop out. His house was on a different level. It almost looked like a miniature version of the Taylor Creek Inn.

Miniature in this case meaning fucking humongous.

Inside was equally impressive.

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the Neuse River. Hardwood floors snaked through the house. Throw pillows dotted couches that circled a massive fireplace.

It looked like the perfect spot to curl up and read a book on a rainy day.

“This place is beautiful,” I said, wonderstruck.

Unfortunately, that sense of awe quickly faded. I didn’t belong here. The last five years had just been one nightmare after another. There was no way this ended any other way than humiliation.

I was not destined for a life like this.

For a man like this.

My overnight bag caught my eye as it hung from Will’s hand. I didn’t even want to know what the girls had packed in there. Probably nothing but a toothbrush and a thong. I didn’t even want to think about having s-e-x. It had been so long.

Had sex changed in the last half-decade?

And this was our first date! Would he be expecting sex? The overnight bag kind of screamed, “getting busy.”

What if I didn’t put out? Would he be mad? Would he tell me to take an Uber home before slamming the door in my face?

“I can hear you overthinking, Kris,” Will said as he led me up the stairs. He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.

We made it up to the second-floor landing that looked out over the living room below. Will led me down the hall that was covered in slick hardwood.

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