Page 19 of Heart of the Sun

“I’ll be waiting,” she called, giving me a small wave and a smile.

Emily and Charlie both turned as I approached. Emily’s gaze slid from me to the place over my shoulder where Caycee was standing. “If you’re done here for the day, I’m assuming I’m free to go?”

Emily put her hands on her hips, her lips thinning as she again glanced behind me. “Yes. You’re free to go. But, Tuck, there’s no cavorting with other members of my team. It gets far too messy.”

“Cavorting? I didn’t see anything about cavorting in the contract.”

Her expression faltered momentarily. “Well… I’ll add it in.”

“Too late. I already signed.”

Somehow, once again, without me knowing, we’d moved closer as we spoke so that we were almost standing toe to toe. “So, you’re saying you are going to…cavort?”

I almost laughed, but held it in. I was irritated, but I was also slightly amused by the natural way she and I seemed to fall back into childhood bickering. Truthfully, I wasn’t planning on “cavorting” with Caycee. I didn’t need any complications. But I wasn’t opposed to finding a willing woman at a local bar to relieve some pressure. “No. But if you’re going to make amendments to my contract, I’ll have to sign a new one. My job duties should be spelled out in black and white. I wouldn’t want to misstep because you and I weren’t clear about what was expected of me.”

“That seems fair,” Charlie cut in, taking a few steps toward Emily.

She looked up at him, appearing almost startled by his presence. “Sure. I’ll have a new contract drawn up,” she said.

“Great.”

“Great.”

I felt a hand on my arm, and Caycee came up next to me. “Ready?” she asked.

“Sure. See you tomorrow,” I said to Emily, offering Charlie a chin tip. Just before we both turned away, something crossed Emily’s face that looked vaguely like hurt. I felt a punch in my gut and for just a moment, she looked exactly like the girl I’d once known despite all the ways that she had changed. I paused, feeling as if I should say something to…what? Soothe her? Make it so we were parting on terms that weren’t as strained? There were all these weird lines I kept spontaneously crossing. But it didn’t matter anyway. The moment had passed, and she was already moving away.

chaptereleven

Emily

My pillow was too hot. I sat up, turning it over, punching the middle blindly and falling back onto it with a frustrated grunt. Maybe I’d turned the heat up too high before going to bed, because my apartment was sweltering. I tore off my black velvet sleep mask and tossed it onto my bedside table. Instead of getting up right away to check the thermostat, I crossed my arms, staring up at the ceiling and watching the shifting lights from the street below.

I didn’t see anything about cavorting in the contract.The memory of Tuck’s words wound through my mind, the disdainful look he’d worn on his face as he’d challenged me, causing a zing of anger. Less than a week on the job and he was already pissing me off. I’d been right about this arrangement being a bad idea.

But I guess I was stuck now.

I tossed my comforter aside, feeling around for my slippers on the carpet next to my bed, and then padding out to the living room.I turned down the thermostat a few degrees and then sat down on my sofa and picked up the remote. A news program came on, and I turned the volume low, not necessarily wanting to get invested in a show but craving the noise, the voices. I felt…lonely.

Why do I feel lonely?

That was ridiculous, of course. I was surrounded by people all day long. I rarely, if ever, got any time to myself. Sitting alone like this should be a luxury. Sure, I wished Charlie hadn’t had to jet off to a publicity event for his next movie, but he’d be back in a couple of days. And I’d talk to him on the phone multiple times before that.

A small sound pinged out on my balcony, and I turned in that direction, nerves jittering under my skin.

What was that?

I waited, and a few seconds later, it happened again. A shadow moved outside, and I let out a small squeal, sliding down low on the sofa and then crouch-walking to my bedroom.

It’s just a piece of ivy blowing in the breeze.

But what if it isn’t?

I locked my bedroom door and hurried to where I’d left my phone on my bedside table. It was probably nothing. I was sure it was nothing.

But I did have a bodyguard.

I paid him to provide me peace of mind in the event a psychopath had somehow scaled my building and was trying to break into my apartment via the patio.

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