Page 74 of Diamonds & Deception

“Then Eddie would have eventually gotten angry with Owen for something, and he would have killed—” She swallows. “Her death is not your fault,” she whispers.

“I’m going to do everything in my power to keep you safe.” I want to reach out and touch her. To hold her again. To bring my lips to hers. Instead, I keep my distance.

“As long as we’re not seen together, I should be safe.”

“I can’t risk that, Nora.”

“So how long am I going to be trapped here? Are the police arresting Eddie? Will his father come after me? I can’t live in fear for the rest of my life.”

“We have people looking into it. Please give it a little more time. Stay under the radar.”

“I need fresh air. I can’t be cooped here, alone, all day long.”

She’s right. I have been treating her like a prisoner in a gilded cage.

“Okay. Maybe he doesn’t know what you look like.” I go to the hall closet and take out the Red Sox hat I bought when we went to the game. “Wear this to help disguise your face. I have sunglasses in the kitchen drawer. I’ll walk behind you at a distance.”

“Like, stalking?” The corner of her mouth lifts.

“Like protecting. Keeping you safe.”

“You should try to go incognito as much as possible as well. If he’s watching you watch me, well, that doesn’t help our plan.”

I find a Nike ball cap and adjust it on my head.

Nora chuckles. “You look ridiculous.”

I frown at her. “You don’t like me in hats? That’s not what you said when we went to the Sox game.”

She nibbles on her bottom lip before responding. “I just think the hat goes better with jeans or shorts. Not a business suit and tie.”

I glance down at my outfit and laugh. God, that feels good. I haven’t laughed since... since the last time Nora made me laugh almost a week ago. “I’ll go change.” I turn serious. “Please wait for me before leaving.”

“I will.”

There’s a change in the air between us. Still hesitation. Still insecurity. But it’s not anger. It’s not distrust. I hope we can move forward and at least be friends.

Fuck that. I don’t want to be friends. I want her back in my bed.

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