Page 1 of Mensa's Match

Chapter 1

Fate

Whitney

“I can find somebodyelse, Whitney. I don’t want to be the reason you give up on your dream,” Aunt Nadia said.

My eyes met hers and I offered a wan smile. “That’s sweet of you, Aunt Nadia, but life happens.”

My aunt narrowed her green eyes and scoffed. If she didn’t visit her hairstylist routinely, I suspected her grays would be more white these days, but nobody knew for sure because her hair was always a vibrant auburn. For a woman who wanted to retire, she still had plenty of spunk and style. A big part of me hoped I could live up to her example when I was her age.

She put a fist on her jeans-clad hip. “That boy, Ben, did you wrong.”

I dipped my chin. “He did, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s time. I’ve been burned out for a while, and I’ve realized I want other things from life.”

“That isn’t what you said—”

This wasn’t the first time we broached this subject, and no matter how angry it might make her, I interrupted.

“That was a while ago. Between this wake-up call and your need to retire… it’s a sign.”

Aunt Nadia frowned, then she spied my purse on the counter. “You goin’ somewhere?”

I grinned. “I thought I’d grab a slice of pizza. You want to come with me? Or I can bring you something?”

She dropped her hand and blew out a breath. “No, ma’am. You go ahead. I have to sign for those jerseys if they ever get delivered.”

With a quick nod, I ducked out of her embroidery and screen-printing shop, Hard Pressed.

In the nick of time, I snagged the last two-person table at Bayou Moon Pizzeria.

My conversation with Aunt Nadia wouldn’t stop repeating in my mind. It took restraint not to tell her justhowwrong Ben had done me. My cell rang, and I answered without paying close attention to the display.

“Whitney, it’s Ben.”

I clenched my teeth and exhaled quietly through my nose. “What do you need?”

“I just saw your texts. Are you sure, Whitney?” Ben asked.

Ben and I had been agents on an FBI public-corruption squad. During our last case, he’d been forced to fire his weapon, which required a separate investigation to prove deadly force hadbeen necessary. He’d shared with the review panel a number of things, such as our involvement together and his suspicion that I’d become too engrossed in the case.

He should have received three texts; the first, telling him I needed to speak to him, went unanswered for over two days. Even though I was loathe to do it, I sent a second text saying our relationship was done. The last one, sent ten minutes later, informed him I had resigned from the Bureau and that I’d boxed up the few things he’d left at my place, and I provided the tracking number for the shipment.

I resisted the urge to pull my cell phone from my ear and chuck it across the room. No amount of deep breathing could calm me down, but I tried again anyway. It gave me time to control my tone of voice. “Yes, Ben. I’m sure. There was more than just one text and all of them were rather clear.”

“It’s just a misunderstanding, baby.”

My jaw shifted and I considered getting up from my seat inside Bayou Moon Pizza. The lunch rush was in full swing, though, and seeing as how my order hadn’t been called, if I stepped outside I’d never get my table back.

I firmed up my tone, but kept it from being bitchy.

Who was I kidding?When Ben didn’t hear what he wanted to hear, he always called my firm tone bitchy.

“Agent Heston, we’re done. You voiced your opinion that my judgment as an agent was questionable, added to that the fact we had been involved, and rather than both of us getting benched, only I did. I’m being as civil as I can, but hear this. I’mverysure that we are finished.”

Ben went on a tear that I only half-listened to, since I’d heard it before. He claimed it was all to keep us safe, and reminded me that my mental health evaluation played a bigger role. That was true to an extent, but he was a master at painting himself in a good light.

The door opened, the bells tinkled, and I found myself thoroughly distracted. Three Riot MC members sauntered inside wearing their colors.

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