Page 122 of Hard Luck (Blackstone House)

“That’s not true.”

The briefest smile flickered, and then it was gone. “This has been a weird month.”

“Understatement of the damn century.”

“At least now you know why I don’t date. It’s not a ‘you’ problem; it’s most definitely a ‘me’ problem. Honestly, you’re a great guy.”

“You don’t date because of your ex? Or because of your job?”

“Both.”

“Couldn’t you just date people you don’t work with?”

She tilted her head to one side and stared at him.

“Okay. Right.”

“And most of my colleagues are female anyway.”

All the half-truths were beginning to unravel. “Your writing group? How about Marcel? Is he like James Bond or something?”

Bella burst out laughing. “Hell, no. We took him to the range once, and the recoil totally freaked him out. He showed up with silver-spangled ear defenders.” She rolled her eyes. “He’s our assistant. He cooks and manages the house.”

“The house? You live with your colleagues?”

“It works for us.”

“In Las Vegas?”

The levity vanished in a heartbeat. “It’s better if I don’t tell you the details.”

Still, Cole pushed. After all the lies, he deserved the truth. “What about your apartment?”

“It wasn’t my apartment.”

“What did you do, book it on Airbnb while we were in the grocery store?” Cole thought back to that day. “No, there were personal belongings inside.”

Bella turned almost sulky. “I borrowed it. A friend met me in the store with the key, and more people ran over there with props.”

“A well-oiled machine,” Cole murmured.

Bella’s smile was soft, maybe even genuine. “Yes, we are.”

But the smile soon slipped away, and Cole had a feeling that although she was smart and competent, joy was a rarity in her life.

“So, you go inside and kill the guy. Then what happens afterward?”

“Afterward, I’ll wrap up here and head to Windjammer Bank to sort out theCrosswindsituation.” She glanced at her watch. “The timing is awkward, and the Mako’s loud. The approach is going to be a challenge.”

It took a moment for her words to sink in, and then anger bubbled through Cole’s veins. She’d lied, she’d shot a man in front of him, and now she wanted to abandon him on Skeleton Cay?

“Are you kidding me? You’re just going to leave me here?”

“Not permanently. I’ll send someone to pick you up as soon as I get back to the mainland.”

“What? So they can arrest me for the murders of five men?”

“I will absolutely get things smoothed over in regard to that.”

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