Page 85 of Manhattan Secret
If not for the situation I would have beenwildlyattracted watching him do his thing.
Two cars pull up outside, almost at the same time. “Baby, let the boys in,” he mutters, without looking up.
I let them in, and both stalk past me with grins.
Neither seem shocked they’re in my house.
“Why isn’t Zander here?” Asks Ethan. He’s the taller of the two newcomers. His hair is shaved close to his skull, like one of those 1970’s skinheads who wears doc Martens. In fact, I look down at his feet and yeah, scuffed boots.
“Because he might be involved.”
“You wanna fill us in on why I had to miss out on a piece of Olivia Fields?” He turns to me and winks. “Or is this one of those tag me in situations?”
“Shut up, dickhead. Someone sent Laney threatening emails.”
Both boys sober.
“Who?”
“Riley.”
What the! No way.
“How do you know?” I question. Lachlan’s eyes rise and meet mine, for a second there’s a hint of his earlier affection before his jaw tightens again.
I guess he’s still pissed at me.
“She might think a new email and using a café Wi-Fi is untraceable, she forgets who can find her.”
“Oh, snap. Dumb bitch has balls after you warned her.” Kian cackles, throwing himself down on the love seat. “You got a nice house, teach. Do you have any eats?”
He warned her? This is the first I’m hearing about it.
This is all too much. I don’t do covert shit and not with high-school kids.
Okay, two college and Kian is still in high-school. But still. It’s too much drama.
I pace to the kitchen and fire up the coffee pot, thinking of my own ways I can defuse the military firing squad in the other room.
Just as I finish making a platter of sandwiches doorstep thick, all three emerge in the doorway. It’s Lachie who comes to me and cups the back of my head, leaning down to talk quietly. “I’m going out for a while.”
“Lachlan, no. There’s other ways. Don’t start a ripple effect that will only get worse. You’re too smart for this, you have college in a few weeks for gods’ sake. What if the police get involved? You’ll lose your scholarship.”
It’s Ethan who chuckles, “Nothing touches the Bishop,” as he fits two sandwiches in both hands, I pull my eyes back to Lachlan.
Worry staining my every breath.
“I protect mine, Laney. Someone I thought was a friend has come at you in a sly fucking way. I won’t ignore it. Nothing will come back on you or your job. I promise you. Kiss me.”
“Don’t mind us,” Kian pipes.
I don’t spare them a thought as I hold Lachlan’s face, high on my tiptoes I press my lips to him. Hard. Lovingly. “Don’t do something stupid you wouldn’t want to explain to your parents, Lachie. I mean it.”
“Listen to teach,” Ethan goads.
“Shut up. These two knucklefucks are staying here with you. Feel free to use any appliance to hit them with if they dare get out of line.”
“I’m fine…”
