Page 84 of Tapped

“Thanks, Mom. And thank you for keeping Chase so busy. That’s not an easy job.”

“Well, it’s because he’s so smart. Thank goodness he took after you and not his father. I know it might be too soon for this after all you’ve been through this week, but as soon as the police catch this…” she pauses and whispers, “murderer.” She clears her throat. “Then this will all be for the best. Jeff has shown his true colors. You and Chase will be done with him for good.”

I cross my arms and lean back on the counter and feel fucking good about myself. Mrs. Litchfield gets it. I’m no homewrecker.

“Can we at least wait for them to catch the killer before we go into the wholethis is for the bestoreverything happens for a reasonstage?”

“Too soon?”

“Yes, Mom. I’d like for my son and I to come and go without a bodyguard before we send up prayers of gratitude for Jeff putting his family through hell.”

“Okay, sweetheart. I’ll be grateful quietly until we can all celebrate openly.”

Evie looks like she wants to throw her cell across the room, but instead she cuts her mom off for good. “I need to dry my hair. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too.”

She flips off her phone and tosses it to the sofa next to her. “Something to know about my family—my sister is the inappropriate version of my mother. They mean well, but holy shit, they’re a lot.”

I push off the island where I stayed out of the way so her family didn’t know I was here. Not that the security guard outside couldn’t rat me out to her dad since that’s who he officially works for. But I don’t give a shit. She’s an adult and can do whatever the hell she wants.

I pick up her phone and sit next to her. “Your family loves you.”

She shifts to face me and leans her head on the back of the sofa. “They do. I can’t hold that against them.”

“And they hate the asshole.”

She sighs. “I knew I wanted a divorce, but the hate I have for him is a new development. My family has always hated him, but I don’t hate easily. They’re not hiding it like they used to. At least they’re not throwing it in my face yet.”

I take her hand in mine and thread our fingers. “Is that something they’d do?”

She shakes her head. “Not really, but any mention of him feels like it. I made a horrible choice when I married him. When I look back on it, I’m able to see things so clearly. I wonder how I was blinded to who he was. He never loved me. He loved the idea of marrying into my family. I feel like a failure.”

“You can’t change the past so there’s no point in worrying about it.” I drag one of her legs over my lap and change the subject. “What are your plans today?”

She throws her hand out and motions around her quiet, big-ass house. “I’ve got a full day, as you can see.”

I run my hand up the back of her thigh. “Seriously, you’re a doctor and a mom. You have a free day. What are you going to do with it?”

“Micah, last night was amazing.” She pulls her hand from mine and tries to do the same with her leg, but I hold tight and frown. She finally gives in but she doesn’t stop talking. “But you don’t have to babysit me. You have a life—or, I assume you do. Everyone has a life. Well, everyone but me at the moment. It’s your Sunday. The guards changed a little bit ago. I’m sure he’s rested and ready to take on the world on my behalf. You don’t have to hang out with me all day.”

What the fuck.

Does she think she’s getting off that easily?

I stare at her for a bit too long. She’s about to open her mouth to spit some more bullshit about me having a life, which I’m not about to admit couldn’t be more wrong.

I blurt it at the same time I know this is going to come back and bite me in the ass. “We should get out of the house today.”

Her brows shoot up. “Are you trying to get me killed?”

“You’ll be with me. And where I’m going to take you, you’ll probably be safer than in your fortress.”

“It’s not a fortress. Not usually, anyway,” she snaps. “I don’t know. It doesn’t sound like a good idea.”

“Are you going to work tomorrow?”

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