Page 49 of False Evidence

Sent:To ask your boss, I’d need to know your name.

Received:That’s your call, Muffin. I’ll tell you. Even give you my boss’s number. Or better yet, his work email, so you’ll know it’s legit.

Sent:I’ll think about it.

Received:In the meantime, use it. It’s paid for through the end of the year.

She had ten days to decide if her conscience could handle it. She wouldn’t set up email on it or do anything that would make it hard to give up.

Received:I want to see you. Can I buy you dinner tomorrow?

Sent:Depends. Are you going to put out?

Received:If I do, are you going to bolt right after?

Sent:That’s really a performance question.

Received:That won’t be a problem.

She smiled, remembering the feel of him against her last night. She suspected he was right.

Received:Dinner at seven, then?

She stared at the device and the little cursor that flashed, waiting for her to reply. She’d thought about him all day.

Sent:You had your chance with me last night.

Received:I didn’t want to become something you regret.

It had been twenty-four hours since the assault that didn’t happen, and she’d spent most of her waking ones today wondering if she’d have regrets if she’d had sex with her rescuer last night.

She didn’t think so, but she also knew she definitely wouldn’t want to see him again, regrets or not. Hewouldbe so entwined with the bad part of the night that thoughts of him would be tainted.

But now, she remembered the way he’d kissed her and then held her as she fell asleep. He’d cared for her mental state more than she had.

Because he didn’t want to be something—someone—she put behind her.

Plus, he was incredibly hot. His mouth had set her on fire. And she’d spent far too much time today itching to openYahoo!and see if she could figure out who he was.

But that would violate her own rules. Not that he’d care.But she would.

Sent:Do you like to dance?

Received:Depends on what kind. My ballroom is rusty.

Sent:Maybe I should change your name to Rusty Ballroom. Sounds dirty.

Received:But not in a good way. I promise you my balls are fine. How is your ballroom?

Sent:Nonexistent.

Received:I meant dancing.

Sent:So did I.

Received:You like dancing?

Sent:I don’t know. It’s been so long since I’ve gone out and just had fun. I was looking forward to dancing last night.

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