Page 117 of Prodigal Son

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“I’m going to hell,” Fox murmured, and passed over the cigarette.

Eden lay on her side, propped up on her elbow, and took the cigarette delicately. She took a hesitant drag, and then coughed a little afterward.

“Been a while?” he asked.

She cleared her throat. “Yeah.” She passed it back. “In more ways than one.” The latter she said with obvious embarrassment coloring her voice.

Fox was surprised she’d even admitted such a thing. He slid a glance her way, careful to keep his expression neutral. No easy feat when she lay there naked, and flushed, hair tousled, lips dark, bruised from kissing.

“Probably not going to hell, though,” she said. “I’m pretty sure everyone shags now and then.”

When he cut a glance toward her, she smiled, tired, tinged with the stress of the day – of the week – but true.

“I meant people don’t shag while they’re baby sisters are being held hostage somewhere.”

She winced. “Can’t help you on that one, I’m afraid.”

Fox felt a low laugh build in his chest, and it eased a fraction of the tension there.

“But,” Eden continued, “if she’s anything like the rest of you fools, she’s probably managed not only to keep her head above water, but to concoct a ridiculous escape plan by now.”

When he glared at her, she sighed. “I’m only trying to make you feel better, love.”

“I know,” he said. And then the last word hit.Love. He felt a smile tug at the corner of his mouth. “Been a long time since you called me that.”

She reached for the cigarette again and he passed it over. Watched her take another short drag and tip her head back to blow the smoke up at ceiling.

“You’re stalling,” he teased.

But there was nothing teasing about the light in her eyes when she faced him again. She swallowed, and her throat worked. Her voice came out small. “Was it ever real, Charlie? Any of it? Was it ever real for you? Or just another part to play to get a job done?”

He took the cigarette from her, and twisted around to stub it out in the tray on the bedside table. When he rolled back, she wore a frown.

“Now who’s stalling?”

He let out a breath, and a few last ribbons of smoke. “The day I met you, when you came up to me in that pub, I got a call from Dad. ‘Keep your eyes open, today,’ he said. And then hung up. I knew he was talking about you the second you said hello. I mean, I have a certain charm–”

She snorted.

“–but ladies such as yourself don’t just approach me in pubs like that. Not with any intent.”

“You knew what I was doing,” she said flatly, and he couldn’t tell if she was offended or disappointed. Probably both.

“But you were honest about your job. I respected that. You didn’t play any games that night. And by the time we left, I could tell you really did want me, and it wasn’t for show.”

“You unbelievable ass.”

“That’s not an accusation,” he said, pressing on, calm now. It had itched at first, the words restless under his skin. But giving voice to them proved them for what they actually were: a confession, even if it had only been made in his head. He didn’t examine his own emotions often, but this time, he found they’d eased him. “You did. And it was good that night. It wasgreat. And we kept doing it, and I know it started out as an investigation for you, but then it turned into something more. Or, I thought it did.”

“It was never an investigation,” she said, growing agitated. She sat up and pulled the sheet up over her breasts, held it there with trembling fingers. “By the time you started slanting me looks, I already knew you weren’t our guy. I’m not a Bond villainess, Charlie; I don’t sleep with the enemy just to get closer.”

“I never said you did. But you still might not have–”

“It was real,” she snapped, eyes blazing. “Of course it was real. I–” Her breath caught, and she turned her head away, hair shivering down from behind her ear to shield her face.

This, a voice in the back of his head chimed in. He thought it was his conscience, but it sounded a lot like Abe.This is why no one gives a shit about you. You push too hard, and you piss people off, and you break their hearts.

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