Page 20 of Taking Root

Danny’s stomach flopped. Not quite.

“Yeah, everyone I’ve met knows me as Danny Reynolds, nothing more.” The lie dried on her tongue. God, she hated lying to Eve, but they might have a real chance at locking away Kyle Peterson. She wouldn’t risk their shot by confessing her crush and best friend from high school happened to crash back into her life. And that he kissed like the devil.

Eve eyed her a second too long, and her heart leapt in her throat. Had she found out? It’d be just like her handler to have snapped a picture of them around town together and drawn the conclusion. Not like Danny had been careful from the moment she returned to Charleston.

“Good,” Eve said, placing the empty mug onto the TV stand before she bent down to roll the yoga mat. As quick as this feigned friend time began, it was over, and the urge rose to start some inane conversation to get her to stay. The desperate need for a friend had followed her for years, ever since she’d left hers behind in Hanahan. Even the way she’d text Camilla and grab coffee on a whim would become sore memories when the handlers ordered her to the next location and she had to ditch Charleston.

Danny wasn’t allowed to keep connections.

Before she could ask if Eve ate at any good restaurants or had a vacation planned sometime soon, her handler already headed toward the door.

“Stay safe,” Eve warned. “Keep us updated.”

At that, Eve exited. Danny’s door shut with a click, leaving her apartment lonelier than it had been moments before.

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