Page 4 of The Scandal You Started
“Okay,” Rayna muttered reluctantly. “I’m on my way. Bye.”
She cut the call and clutched her phone in her lap before facing Jake with an apologetic wince.
His grin had softened into an understanding smile. “You have to go back?”
“Yeah, I do. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s all right.” He leaned into her playfully. “But you’ll have to make it up to me tomorrow.”
She shook her head. “I won’t be here tomorrow. I’m going back home. Tonight.”
His features fell. “But I thought you were here for another week?”
“I was supposed to be. But there’s some problems with the documents we’re supposed to be studying, so George and I have been asked to return early to help sort them out.”
“Ah.” Jake’s sculpted shoulders slipped lower. “Does that mean I probably won’t see you again anytime soon after tonight?”
She shrugged lightly. “We both live in Olkmond, so maybe one day. But any time soon? Depends how quickly the problem is solved.”
“Damn. That…fucking sucks.” He sighed and dropped his head to run a hand over his silky locks. “You weren’t kidding about always being on call like a doctor.”
Huffing out a laughing sound, she shook her head. “No, I wasn’t.”
Working for the POTeM project was more of a complete lifestyle than it was a nine-to-five job. Maybe even more so than a doctor because of the added secrecy and twenty-four-seven duty of care that was part of the job description.
It was intense a lot of the time, but Rayna wouldn’t change it for the world. She loved her work. She loved the lifestyle. It was all she’d ever known.
Gripping the back of his neck, Jake lifted his head with a slight smirk. “I’m going to hold you to that, you know? Meeting up one day.”
“Good. Because I’m holding you to it too,” she purred, sinking closer to him.
His eyes took on an earnest glow. “I had a lot of fun with you these past few days, Rayna.”
“So did I, Jake.”
He dragged his teeth over his bottom lip. “Can I walk you back to your place?”
She returned his contagious grin. “Yeah, you can.”
“George,” Rayna called out as she pushed the front door to the house shut behind her.
“Upstairs, one second,” he replied from somewhere at the top of the stairs on the left.
Athunkfollowed his words as she walked through the middle of the open-plan space straight to the L-shaped sofa. She dropped her small handbag on it and turned to find George lugging a suitcase down the last step. He smacked its wheels on the tiled floor.
“You’re already packed?” Rayna said, heading towards the kitchen on the right.
“Yeah.” His sock-clad footsteps followed after her. “I started folding some of your clothes too. They’re on your bed.”
“Thanks.” She picked up a tall glass from a floating shelf and filled it up at the sink. Then she turned to face George, leaning back against the countertop. “What actually happened, though? Did V say?”
He shrugged. “Dunno. He didn’t explain much. Just said the lord was giving them trouble and that Zack’s ill, so they need us back because we’re the only ones free.”
“Wait, River actually managed to convince the lord?”
“Apparently. But now the lord isn’t too happy with the idea of being here.”
Rayna considered how the man must have been acting for Victor to summon them back as she sipped her water. But over the rim of her glass, she caught her adopted brother eyeing her with curious mischief.
