Page 45 of A Love Like Pumpkin Spice
“What do we do?” I ask, slowly starting to panic. “Those … miscreants! God, Anna, tell me how I can fucking bury them.” Seriously, they didn’t get my money through marriage, and now they switched to identity theft? I can’t believe this. I quickly walk into an alley to find a quieter spot.
“The good news is, they’ve blown through so much money it’s definitely a felony. That and the identity theft.” She takes a deep breath. “I mean, notgoodnews but a silver lining, at least.” She types something before she continues.
“Okay, here’s what we’re going to do.” I lean my back against the wall. “I’ll freeze everything I can that I know to be fraudulent, including your credit. I saw Marco in the hallway a few minutes ago. I’ll hand all of it to him once I’ve gathered evidence, and he can build his case that hopefully comes with two sweet restraining orders. We’ll see what kind of proof we can find. Meanwhile, you need to go to the police and file a report—I’ll send you everything you need to know.” She takes a deep breath. “We’ll take those fuckers down. Don’t worry.”
“Okay,” I whisper, a sting forming in my eyes. I bite my lip to hold back my tears. They don’t deserve them. Not even angry tears. “Let’s destroy them.”
Chapter 16
Henry
I watch my girlfriend through the window like a lovesick puppy.
My girlfriend.God, I still can’t believe it.
I was hoping, but after all, we don’t even know each other that well yet. I know her smile brightens a room, and I could listen to her ramble all day long, but there is so much I have no clue about. What are her hobbies, aside from collecting stray cats and arguing with ghost cats?
Counting the times I was at her home, we’ve had twoalmostdates.I sure was hoping I wasn’t imagining the attraction between us, but this still seems too good to be true.
I mean, she’s funny and gorgeous and has a big heart for animals. Her smile radiates brighter than the sun, and everyone wants to catch a ray and keep it to themselves. She’s almost too perfect. Is there’s a catch I’ve yet to be clued in on?
I’ve felt drawn to her since she stormed in here with Chaos cradled to her chest and pleaded with me to save her. I thought she’d hate me when there was nothing I could do. But then I met her again at Caleb’s, rambling about her ghost cat. And when I got that call from her when she found Pumpkin, I knew fate would have more in store for us.
If that isn’t a love story for the ages, I don’t know what is.
She stops in front of the window, pulling her phone out of her bag, and I’m surprised when she answers it. Even more surprised when she suddenly tenses, and her face sets in anger as she storms off.
Huh. I’d love to know what that’s about. But I’ll have to wait a few hours until we meet at Caleb’s.
Yet a weird unease builds in my gut suddenly, and it’s neither my breakfast nor my lunch acting up.
But there’s nothing I can do right now. So, I plaster a pleasant smile on my face and greet the Greens, who have their bunny in a transport box, ready for me to do a check-up.
“Hey, man.” I look up, confused when a stranger enters my clinic, right as I’m grabbing my bag from the counter.
I have an hour-long drive ahead of me, and I just handed Mr. and Mrs. Thomson the ashes of Rose. I’m ready to get this day over with and meet up with Nic.
All I can think about is seeing her later and finally getting to know more about her without the elephant of “Does she feel it too?” in the room with us. I can’t wait!
The guy who walked in appears nervous, but I can’t see a reason why. He’s all flaring nostrils and nervously moving hands. There’s no animal carrier tucked under his designer suit clothed arm or pet walking with him. But there’s something about him I immediately dislike. Maybe it’s his nose that’s up in the clouds or the “you’re beneath me” way he carries himself.
He gives me the vibe of the kind of guy whose smirk arrives five seconds before he does. Whose ego probably needs its own parking space. Every brown hair is in place, probably insured. And his designer suit jacket fits as if it was stitched onto him by a tailor who hates joy, before he gained a few pounds.
Hisexpression tells me he probably hasn’t heard the wordnosince prep school. His eyes sweep the room as though he’s trying to decide whether whatever he wants is worth the trouble. His jaw’s sharp, his watch shinier than his personality, and his whole face radiates the smug, polished energy of someone who thinks “Why can’t you take a joke?” is charisma.
“Can I help you?” I ask, ever the helpful guy.
The guy’s eyes dart around the room, and he puffs himself up, lifting his chest and crossing his arms before he speaks.
“Maybe you can. I’m searching for someone.”
“I think the police station would be the better place to ask,” I point out, noting that I initially wanted to be out the door five minutes ago. “It’s three houses down and then—”
“No,” he interrupts me rudely, punching his fist on my reception table. Jensen is suddenly alert, his low growl making the stranger take a few steps back. I wrap his leash around my hand, in case he decides he wants to bite this guy’s smug face off. I wouldn’t blame him.
“Nicola Duncan. Where is she?”
And suddenly, I know exactly who he is.
