Page 281 of Dark Love

“What, that’s it? You’re not going to kiss me?”

That smile turns into a smirk. “Nope, you’d be late if I did.”

Evil, teasing man. A little late wouldn’t be too bad.

“Promise me you won’t get into any trouble while I’m busy today.”

There’s that word again. “I’m not trouble.”

A forehead kiss is the only response I get. Irritating man!

***

Vex wasn’t kidding when he said he had stuff to do today. He never leaves before I do. It stinks having to walk out that door without kissing him goodbye. I grab my purse just as the bell rings.

Who’s visiting at this time of the morning?

Hope! What’s she doing here? “Don’t you have school?” It is a weekday.

“Dad is taking me with him to Australia today.”

Max smiles from where he stands behind Hope.

“That sounds like so much fun. When do you leave?” Maybe we should take a vacation soon and get away from the cold weather.

“In about an hour. But I can’t leave until you tell my father I’m right.”

Oh. Oh. That’s not good. I turn to Max.

He shrugs.

Hope marches straight into my kitchen.

“Are you hungry? I could make you something to eat.”

“No, Nonna made her special pancakes. You need to try them. They’re amazing.” Hope stops in front of the drawer where my unreleased book is. Shetakes it out and holds it up like a trophy. “See Dad, Prue knows what she’s talking about when it comes to being an author. She’s D. P. Flowers.”

“I know.”

Wait, what?

“How do you know that?”

“I know everything about everyone that lives in the neighborhood. You know I’ll do whatever I have to in order to keep you safe.”

Max knows everything? He can’t know everything. It was too long ago for there to be anything for him to find.

“Then you have to trust Prue when she tells you that I’m right.”

This conversation makes my head hurt. “What are you talking about?”

Hope wraps her arms around my book. “I want to be an author.”

“That’s wonderful.” But definitely not cause for an early morning visit.

“Writing is a lonely job. I don’t like being alone.”

It’s kind of the nature of the job. “No one can write your words for you.” Ghostwriters technically can, but why become an author to just pay someone else to do your job?

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