Page 213 of The Billion Heirs Boxed Set
A toilet flushes, and a pretty young woman with striking green eyes appears at the sink next to mine. She pumps some hand soap into her palms, turns on the faucet, and then glances over at me.
Her eyes widen. “Are you okay?”
“Fine. Thank you.” I loosen my grip from the sink and take a longer look at her. She looks vaguely familiar to me.
“You sure?” she pushes. “You look a little…dazed… And sad.”
Nothing gets by this woman. Her eyes are kind, though, and right now I can sure use some kindness. My partner’s a nice guy, but it’s not like I can dump my history on him. Especially when it’s linked with the case. “My past recently collided with my present.” I sniffle a bit. “I’ll be fine. I just need a minute.”
The woman grabs a couple paper towels from the dispenser, dries her hands, and tosses them into the waste receptacle between the sinks. “All right. It was nice to meet you anyway. My name’s Carly.” She holds out her hand. Then her eyes go wide in recognition. “Oh my God. Avery Marsh?”
I nod, then frown. “The one and only. Have we met?”
“I was two years behind you in high school,” she explains. “You were supposed to be the prom queen, but then you and your mom disappeared.”
Then I realize why she looks familiar. Sure, Bayfield’s a small town, and I probably knew Carly back in high school, but I’ve largely erased those years from my mind. No. I recognize her because she was one of the women rescued from that billionaire’s island that got shut down over a year ago. It was all over the news, and even though the women’s names weren’t made public, the FBI had access. I remember seeing that she was from Bayfield. I never let myself think about Bayfield, so I said a quick prayer for her wellbeing and never gave her another thought.
Until I got this case. Her name came up in the notes. She’s involved with one of Chance’s brothers—Austin. God, small-town life at its finest.
“Carly Vance,” I say. “Your father’s the mayor.”
“Yeah, he is.” She clears her throat. “I… Chance told us you were in town. When he ran out, I didn’t get a good look at you. I had no idea the two of you were—”
“We weren’t,” I say succinctly.
“Oh. I’m sorry. I guess Chance is back at our table now.”
I blink at her and roll my shoulders back. “I really don’t know—or care—where Chance Bridger is.”
My sharp tone makes her flinch.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
I silence her with a hand gesture. “You don’t need to apologize and I… It’s rough being back. Austin Bridger may be a wonderful man. I have no idea. Chance Bridger, on the other hand?” I shake my head, again grabbing the edge of the sink. “Not so wonderful.”
She doesn’t reply.
She simply stares at me, her green eyes wide. Her lips twitch as if she wants to say something, but nothing comes.
“Nice to see you, Carly. Now if you’ll excuse me.” I grab the folder, whisk out of the bathroom, and head back to Jarvis.
I glance at the table where Chance was seated on the end. He’s not there, but two handsome men—one dark, one blond—presumably his half-brothers, sit across from each other. A gorgeous and curvy dark-haired woman sits with them as well. Of course. She must be Sadie Hopkins, the brother of the victim in the murder I’m investigating.
My God, I’ve walked right into a family dynamic I never wanted.
All their eyes are trained on me as I make my way back to the table where Jarvis is perusing a menu. Yeah, they know there’s something between Chance and me. No, not present tense. Past. They can tell we have a history because there is no present with us. None. Especially not after that parking lot conversation.
“What the hell was that all about?” he asks.
“We need to go.” I loom over the table. I don’t want to sit because we’re not staying.
“I just got my drink.” He picks up a lowball glass of what looks like bourbon or scotch. “And I ordered an appetizer.”
I offer him a shrug. “Good enough. Then I’m leaving.”
“Marsh…”
I ignore him and keep walking until I’ve reached the entrance once again. I have no idea where Chance is, but I can’t risk running back into him in the parking lot once again. My rental car is there, but I can’t take it anyway or Jarvis won’t have a way to get back to the hotel. Since he drove, he has the keys.
