Page 29 of Tell Me Lies

“I just … I don’t know. I have a lot of writing to get done. At your place, I won’t be able to. It’s not like I have an actual writing area.” She frowns. “Then again, I guess I don’t really have one here either. You know, now that they took most of my shit from it.”

“Show me,” I say quickly. “Show me your office.”

She lets out a sad laugh before she turns and heads toward a small room just off the kitchen. There are papers and glass all over the floor from the lowlifes who broke in, but even through the wreckage, I can see that she had decorated this room just for her.

“I mean, it’s not exactly perfect. It wasn’t before they came here and ruined it. But I spent a lot of money to get this apartment. Living right in downtown Portland? It’s not cheap.” She shrugs. “I always thought the office was something I’d gradually pick away at until, eventually, it was perfect.” She sighs. “I wasn’t too far from that. Looks like I’ll be starting over.”

Reaching out, I do something completely unexpected. Not just for me, but it’s clear she’s caught off guard too. Because when I cup her cheek softly and force her to look at me, I swear I feel like a thousand electric sensations hit me at once.

“If you won’t stay with us, we’ll have to come stay with you.” I look around. “And let’s face it; Clyde likes my yard better than yours.”

“I don’t have a—” She stops before the last word comes out and rolls her eyes. “I suppose you have a point.” Her eyes crinkle at the sides as her eyebrows pull together. “Besides, I’d never let Amy stay here after what happened while we were away. I would never risk her being here if there were a chance it could happen again.”

“But you’d risk yourself?” I utter, looking down at her, my hand still cupping her cheek. It’s probably making her feel awkward, and it’s likely inappropriate behavior, but I don’t care for some reason.

I mean, it’s not like I’m kissing her or something. I’m just … comforting her.

“Get your things packed, Boston. You’re coming to stay with me.”

Her eyes widen, and her brows rise. “Um, why don’t you try that again, Mr. Sterns? Perhaps less …I’m a douchebag who gets everything I want all the time.”

Dropping my hand, I tilt my head forward the slightest bit. “Please, Maci, would you be so kind as to come stay with Amelia and me? That way, I can go to sleep without wondering if you’re being locked away in a closet or held at gunpoint.”

With the last part of my words, she rolls her eyes. “You have, like, zero grace with your execution.”

She looks around, pulling in a deep breath. She examines the room slowly, looking more defeated as her eyes roam each square foot.

“Fine,” she finally huffs out. “I’ll do it. I’ll stay with you.” She points her finger at me. “But just until they find the assholes who did this.” She throws her head back. “I’m mostly pissed off about the computer. That was a brand-new baby-blue Mac desktop.”

“Are they expensive?” I ask because I’m the least techy person on the planet. My publicist takes care of anything I might need on the computer.

“They aren’t cheap,” she utters. “And trust me when I tell you that I’m very, very frugal. So, I didn’t even purchase that until I hit a milestone in publishing. I typed most of my books on my laptop, but it was starting to kill my neck, so I knew I needed something more … ergonomically geared. Now, I only use my laptop when I’m at your place and Amy is napping.”

“And when we take a trip and you catch me in the shower, stroking my—”

She puts a hand over my lips and glares up at me. She’s so close that I can smell that sweet coconut scent and get a good look at those plump lips. My cock stirs slightly out of absolutely nowhere.

“Don’t even say it, Sterns,” she warns me. “I did not write about you doing … that. I had other parts of the story to work on. Don’t flatter yourself.” She pulls her hand back. “But, yes, my point is, I don’t love typing on my laptop. So, of all the things I wish the culprits had left, my computer is one of them.”

I know right then that on my way home from practice tomorrow, I’m going to stop and get her an entirely new office setup. I have a spare room with a huge window, looking out at the bay. It will be perfect for her. Besides, in New Hampshire, she told me she wasn’t leaving after six weeks, so she’ll need an office. And I’m hoping that staying with us now will make her realize that she should have been staying with us all along.

For selfish reasons … I want this girl around more.

She unexpectedly pushes a hand into her hair, her eyes growing wide. “Oh my God. I forgot to check my—” She rushes off, heading for another room.

My legs follow behind her, and when I walk into her bedroom, she’s staring down at a small box, her shoulders sagging as tears fill her eyes.

“My dad’s watch,” she barely whispers. “They took it. It’s … gone.”

Taking a few strides toward her, I pull her into my chest and hold her tightly. She cries against me. Up until this moment, she was so strong about the entire thing. Too strong really. But that watch, it must have meant a whole lot to her because, right now, she’s falling apart.

“I’m sorry, Maci,” I mutter. “I’ll find whoever did this. I fucking promise you that.”

She clings to me tighter, wrapping her arms around my waist. “God, I hate people.” She sniffles. “They suck.”

We stand like this for a few minutes, and when she slowly releases me, looking up through her tear-soaked lashes, I can’t deny that a part of me—a big part—wants to kiss her. My eyes move to her lips, but within seconds, she catches me and averts her eyes to the floor.

Stepping back, she swallows. “I’d better gather my things and go get Clyde.”

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