Page 29 of Movers and Shakers

“Let’s lay low. Stay in this hotel room until we know whether or not your cover is gone. Just for a few days.”

I let out a long sigh but nodded. “Okay, fair enough.”

“I’ll keep an eye on the news, but we’ll both be in hot water if this gets out. You know Mia is ruthless, right?”

“Yeah . . . Sorry.”

“Why do I have a feeling you’re about to make me go gray, Wilde?”

“It’s Hill when I’m like this. And I have no idea. I’mverywell-behaved.”

She didn’t look like she believed me.

Barry

Lila: One attachment.

Lila: Stuck in my hotel room and can’t hang out, but I have this. Thoughts?

“Who are you texting?”

I nearly dropped my phone. Liam leaned against the bar next to me. I had been preparing to open the secondary serving area since tonight was another full night. “Jesus fuck, Liam. Warn a guy.”

“Sorry, I can’t help that you were staring at your phone like it had all the secrets of the universe on it,” he said. “Is it awoman?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“Come on. I just want to know if you have a lovely lady in your life.”

“Like what you have with Audrey?”

His cheeks reddened. “You know what I call that? Deflection.”

“You’redeflecting.”

“Maybe, but I’ll readily admit I have a crush on Audrey, even if I’ll never ask her out because she’s scary. You’ll admit nothing.” As he spoke, I pressed my lips together. He wasn’t going to let up. “Is it that woman you rescued a few weeks ago?”

“The woman I rescued?” Then, the memory came back to me. Red hair. Freckles. A man far too close.

“Audrey said you put someone on the no-enter list for her.” He raised an eyebrow. “And that you talked to her after.”

He did this with every woman I talked to as if he were hoping I’d wake up one day and suddenly have a girlfriend.

“Someone was bugging her and she was very grateful.”But she’s not the one.

“And you got her number?”

“I . . . It doesn’t matter, okay?”

Liam hummed, but I knew he didn’t believe I was telling the truth. I could have denied it further, but it was easier letting him think it was a woman I’d never see again rather than what was really going on.

“What are we talking about?” Audrey asked, walking into the room.

“Barry has a girlfriend.”

“I do not!”

“Ah, perfect. You’re fighting like kids.” But a smile crossed her face and she looked at me. “Who is she?”

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