Page 10 of Restrained

“He’s not a stalker. He’s a rich prick who wants his way.”

“He couldn’t keep his eyes off you.”

I know she thinks I'm insane even though I can’t see her face clearly while I drive and merge onto the freeway. “Lola, I love you and the big sister you are, but not everyone is out to hurt us. He’s a client.”

My fingers grip the wheel, unable to shake the dread. Maybe my phone call with Asher last night has me on edge, but I’m not wrong about Hayden. He’s hiding something, and I'm going to find out what it is.

“He’s a shady fucker.”

She laughs and slips her black sunglasses over her eyes, leaning back against the headrest. “This is a huge opportunity for us. Who cares if he has ulterior motives as long as we get paid? No one is coming between me and Linc.”

“What if he’s dangerous?”

“He’s not.”

“How the hell can you possibly know that?” Penelope isn’t sheltered. She had a tough life before she moved in with us. Okay, and also after she did.

I see her shoulders lift out of the corner of my eye. “I don’t know. Somehow, I just have a feeling. He isn’t dangerous.”

“I’m supposed to trust your feeling?”

I’m being bitchy, but it doesn’t faze Penelope. It never does. She just accepts me the way I am. “Yes. You are. We’re partners.”

My throat is dry and my body zings with anxiety, but she’s right. We’re a team. And if she’s all in, then I need to be also.

“Okay.”

I drop her off and head to my house, walking inside. I’m pleasantly surprised when Baz comes running and happily hugs me around my waist.

I smile and hug him back, his head nearly coming to my chest. “You’re getting so big!”

He giggles. “Yeah.”

I laugh and then see Vivienne sitting on the couch with Sawyer. She’s sitting straight up and looks nervous, as if she’s not allowed to have Sawyer over.

I walk further into the house into the living room. “Sawyer. It’s been awhile.”

He nods, waving with a grin on his handsome face. “Good to see you, Lola.”

Vivienne is clearly tense as she sits straight up with her hands in her lap. “I wasn’t sure if you would be home and Sawyer asked us out to dinner.”

I think Vivienne and Asher would be an absolute disaster, but Sawyer and Viv? That’s almost the exact same thing. Still, I’m not going to flat-out tell her what to do. “You guys have fun.” I look over at Baz as he starts to play with his toy plane, flying it through the living room, and then back at Viv. “I could watch Baz for a couple of hours if you want to have dinner alone.”

Although I've never been trusted with a tiny human before, he’s four. Surely I can handle it.

Sawyer looks over at Vivienne, waiting for her reply before he says anything which is so not a Sawyer move. Who knows? Maybe he really does care about her. Maybe he’s grown up.

Vivienne tucks her hair behind her ear nervously. “I appreciate the offer, but...” I thought I was wound tight, but I swear Vivienne gives me a run for my money in that department. “It’s just been a crazy week. He’s been...” She looks over at her son and then back at me keeping her voice low. “He’s been acting out a little. I think he misses someone.”

I watch Sawyer visibly tense at her hinting about Asher. I wonder if Sawyer misses Ash. He has to. Those two were close before everything went down.

“No problem. Just know the offer is there.”

She smiles sweetly, and Sawyer doesn’t seem at all disappointed about having Sebastian joining them. “So pizzait is, then.” He grins and Viv laughs, laying her head on his shoulder.

“I suppose so.”

He tips his chin in my direction. “You up for pizza?”

---