Page 37 of The Prodigal

It’s as if I shocked him speechless. His mouth opens and then closes before he pulls himself together, revealing the cold, detached man he portrays daily. “What makes you believe my behavior with you is the real me and not me just being polite?”

The fact that he considers himself to be even in the realm of politeness is laughable, but I don’t say that. I go with something much more profound. “I just do.”

I don’t, really, but something inside me feels the authenticity between us. Remington doesn’t hide his reactions behind cryptic phrases or angry glares when he’s arguing with me. He simply stays in the moment, without analyzing his next move. At least, I think that’s what he does.

Remington, not so much, since he laughs. “I don’t know whether to feel sorry for you or to recommend a good therapist.”

So that wasn’t totally authentic, but I get it. I hit a nerve, and he’s trying to push me away.

“It’s okay if you’re charmed by me, 101. I won’t tell anyone.”

He scoffs and sends me a scathing look. “Don’t flatter yourself, Eve. I’m charmed by no one—especially not by a woman who can’t follow directions.”

Eyeing my position in his chair, he tips his chin. “I won’t ask you again. Get out of my chair.”

“Why is this chair so important to you?”

“It isn’t. I just don’t enjoy sitting inside and smelling stale cat piss wafting up from the carpet.” He cuts me a sharp look. “You should have the carpets replaced. It can’t be good for business.”

Midnight Gardens might be bad, but it doesn’t smell like cat piss. At least, not in his room.

“You are so dramatic.”

“And you should be fired.”

Ah, yes. “About that.”

“About what? Did you get fired because of the Gerald situation?” His voice takes on a threatening tone, and everything in me wants to call him out on it. No matter what he says, he cares for me in some way. Otherwise, his body wouldn’t be pulled taut, like my next words could send him on a killing spree.

I stand and pick up the overnight bag he failed to notice on the ground. “I wasn’t fired. I took a leave of absence.”

The way he seems all boyishly confused melts my heart into a puddle of goo. “Why are you taking a leave?”

With the biggest smile I can manage, I throw my arms around his stiff shoulders and squeeze. “Because I found your congressman!”

I manage to get a full two seconds of a one-sided hug before he pushes me away, holding me at arm’s length. “How does finding him have anything to do with you taking leave?”

Why does he look terrified of my answer?

“Because, in order to expose Albrecht, we need proof.” I shrug like he should have known this. “And there’s no better place to start looking than his house and office.”

His eyes narrow. “In Nevada? You’re saying you want to go to Nevada?”

I shake my head, holding back my excitement. “No, I’m sayingwe’regoing to Nevada.”

Eden

“No. Absolutely not.”

I was prepared for pushback. I’m talking to Remington, after all. He’s not the most flexible person.

“Listen, I know you’d rather gag yourself with a dirty sock than spend a week with me on the road but think about it. How do you plan on getting the proof you need for your revenge if you’re here and Congressman Albrecht is in Nevada?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” he snaps. “I thought my research assistant would handle that byresearching.”

Always the smartass.

“Well, your research assistant can only uncover so much online. I doubt Albrecht would post his evil doings on his social media story. We’re going to have to do this the old-fashioned way.”

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