Page 38 of All Yours

“Lots, if you wanted to order one.”

I took in the back door now barricaded closed. “Let’s see what we can get today.”

Jonah followed my gaze. “Good idea,” he said. “I’ll put in a new frame and get it all back together.”

“I have a new toothbrush in the package under the sink if you want to get cleaned up.”

He turned and disappeared back into the bedroom.

“I’m so sorry,” Eden whispered. “I didn’t know you had a guy in there. When did things start with Jonah?”

I shook my head. “Nothing’s started,” I whispered back. Hearing the door to the master bathroom close and the shower start.

“That didn’t look like nothing,” she said, grinning.

“We were about to do something we couldn’t come back from. It might be a bad idea to cross that line.”

“Oh, come on, you two are perfect together.”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I replied, shaking it off. “Why are you moving out?”

“I told you. I don’t know if last night was about you or me, but it seems like someone trying to figure out if you’re Julia.”

“He stole my computer… so maybe.”

“Was that it?” she asked.

“Yeah. Grabbed it off the desk while running out. The book I couldn’t finish is now gone.”

“All your work is gone?”

“Yeah, but there’s only one manuscript my publisher doesn’t have a copy of.”

“The one you didn’t even like,” she snorted.

“Guess I’m starting over.”

“What if the press finds out that Julia and Sloane are the same person?”

“Then they’ll be able to piece together that Joanne Abernathy is my pen name.”

“Your life is confusing,” Eden said.

And it would destroy all the anonymity I’ve created for myself.

Chapter Fourteen

Jonah

Sloane was quiet on the ride into town. I couldn’t gauge how she felt about what almost happened between us at the cabin. If Eden hadn’t interrupted us, I would’ve kissed her. She’d wanted me to, right? I wasn’t that rusty with women. Was I? She’d turned toward me and snuggled up. Was the look in her eye wishful thinking on my part? I should ask her. But what if that embarrasses her? What if she regrets doing that now? I would make things weird between us. Especially since I’m about to pretend to be her boyfriend in public, if anyone finds out who she is.

“Are you sure you’re okay hanging out at Lou’s until we can go look at doors?” I asked.

“It doesn’t make any sense for you to drive back and forth to get me,” she said, then groaned as I pulled into Lou’s parking lot.

“What’s wrong?”

“Tonight’s the Halloween party. I’d forgotten all about it.”

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