Page 48 of Tessa's Trust

I described Eddie in great detail, not leaving anything out or putting a rosy blush on the guy, but pointing out that he was gainfully employed. “He could use some fashion help, and maybe some manscaping.” I was assuming the last.

“Huh. You know, it’s been a long time since I dated a guy with a regular job,” Roxy said.

“Let me give you his number.” I didn’t have my phone. Did I leave it at the restaurant? I was well known for losing my phone, but at the moment, I hadn’t thought about it. “Okay, I don’t have my phone. I will get you his number. Where are you staying?”

“I live over on the north side in the 10th Street Apartments,” Roxy offered.

That was not an area of town I loved. “Okay.” We were silent for a few moments, and the chill in the room slithered to my cold skin beneath the thick sweats. “If you had over a hundred thousand dollars in cash, where would you go?”

She scrutinized me, her blue eyes shrewd. “It depends.”

I rested my head against the brick wall. “On what?”

“What I had going on in my life. If all was good, I’d take it to a bank, buy a house, and then start a business.” She leaned forward, her bare elbows on her jeans. “If I was afraid of somebody or didn’t get the money legally, I’d run with it.”

“Where?”

She pursed her lips. “Mexico or Canada? Or maybe a big city where I could just get lost?”

Sadie wasn’t in a big city, I was sure. I also didn’t see her crossing the border into Mexico with that much money, but parts of Canada were similar to our hometown. “Then what?”

“Heck if I know. Depends on how long I wanted to stay hidden or who was after me.”

That was a fairly decent analysis. “What if all was good, you weren’t scared, but you still disappeared?”

Her smile made her appear younger, possibly even sweeter. “Then I’d go to Vegas. How about you?”

My smile felt rueful. “I’d open a business and work my butt off, more than likely pushing away any chance of a great romance.” I sighed. “One that wouldn’t work with my life choices, unfortunately.”

The far door opened and Bud moved toward us, walking gracefully even with his muscled bulk. Man, I hoped I was being released, although I almost felt bad leaving Roxy. We’d kind of bonded. I wondered if that was normal for this type of thing.

“All right, you’re both being set free.” Bud opened the door.

I jerked. “We are?”

“Yeah. We spoke to the other people involved, and no one’s pressing charges. Tessa, in your case, it sounds like it was self-defense anyway, so I don’t think anybody wants to take it further. Nick didn’t make the decision—somebody in his office did. He had to be shielded from this.”

Roxy pulled her legs toward her. “You’re seriously hot. Are you single?”

“No, Ms. Smith.” Bud cleared his throat. “We’ve had several witnesses describe what happened with you, and even though you definitely won the fight, it sounds like you were also defending yourself. Alice decided not to prosecute or have you arrested at this time.”

“Hot damn.” Roxy stood, reached for my hand, and yanked me to my feet. “Looks like we both had a good night. Maybe you’re my good luck friend.”

“I don’t know, my luck hasn’t been all that great lately.” In fact, it had been downright dismal.

We left the jail cell and headed up the stairs to the police department’s main level. Eddie waited on a bench with my phone in his hand. He was still wet, but somehow the outfit looked better on him wet than it had dry.

“Hey.” He handed over the phone. “I found this in a pool of water. I’m not sure it’ll still work.”

“Thanks,” I said.

Roxy tilted her head and studied him. He looked right back at her. They both had that rough-but-possibly-cool thing going. I introduced him quickly. “Eddie, Roxy needs a ride home. Do you mind?”

He faltered. “Not at all, but what about you?”

Oh, I definitely wasn’t going home with Eddie. Before I could answer, Nick emerged from an office to the right. “I’ve got her, Eddie. She’s coming home with me.”

Roxy turned and eyed him up and down. “If I had to guess, this would be the hottie who doesn’t work with your life choices?”

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