Page 52 of The Pretender

“According to Wren, everything you do on this island is my business.”

Harris could almost hear Wren issue that order. “He is totally a pain in the ass.”

“If he didn’t bail us out and keep us from jail every year or two his controlling assoholic tendencies might matter, but they don’t.”

“That fixer thing is helpful. One of his better traits.” Harris couldn’t have imagined what the last fourteen months would have looked like without Wren’s help.

“I also love how quickly he grabs the check at dinner.” Damon reached for a book on one set of now-battered and tilting shelves only to have the paper all but disintegrate in his hand. “Rich people, gotta love them.”

“I’ve tried to break him of that habit.”

“Yeah, don’t. I’m cheap but I like to eat.” Damon turned around to face Harris again and clapped. “Okay, good talk. Are you done stalling?”

Harris had a feeling that wouldn’t work, but it was worth a try. “I guess you had a point and I missed it.”

“Your relationship with Gabby is a problem. It clouds your judgment.”

“It’s not like that. We’re...”Shit. Harris didn’t even know what to say next. It wasn’t as if he could deny they were together. Maybe nottogethertogether, but the sex did count. So did the way they shared secrets, but he had no idea how to label that.

Damon put a hand to his ear. “Yes? I’m waiting to hear what brilliant thing you’ll say next.”

Well, then they both were because Harris wasn’t sure how to describe his relationship with Gabby.Conflictedandconfusingwere just two of the words that came to him. She knocked him off balance, made his dick hard and his brain malfunction. The combination had him treading water.

All that was true but he went with the safe answer. “We understand each other.”

“That’s hot.”

Yeah, that fit, too. “Weirdly, it is.”

“I’m not asking for a play-by-play here. I just want you to admit that you care about her.”

That was not a word Harris was ready to throw around. “She is a human being.”

Damon brushed his hands on his pants before moving on to the next bookshelf and studying what little recognizable items were left on it. “More stalling. That’s adorable.”

“I’m not—”

“Stay on topic.”

“Which is?” Harris tried to set the mug down but he couldn’t find a solid surface to do that.

“You are here because you have unfinished business that’s kicking your ass. Guilt is making you stupid.” Damon gave up the search and walked over to Harris then. “Your dick isn’t helping matters.”

All true, which he hated. “Did you just never learn the concept of tact?”

“You want to know who killed Tabitha.” Damon lowered his voice but not by much. “That’s why I’m not on a beach and you’re not stealing a painting off some fascist’s wall overseas.”

“I liberate artwork.”

Damon rolled his eyes. “You are so fucking annoying.”

“Which is why we’re friends.”

“That’s interesting. Not a surprise but it’s nice to finally hear you admit it,” Gabby said from the doorway.

The unexpected sound of her voice had both men jumping. Coffee sloshed over the side of Harris’s mug as he whipped around to face her. The liquid burned his hand and had him swearing under his breath.

Damon recovered first. “Well, hello.”

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