Reece glanced over at Grayson in confusion. “So I wouldn’t be influencing them anymore—why else? I had to keep everyone safe from me.”
Grayson nodded slowly. “And the Hellcat?”
“Chased me. My battery was disconnected when I got to my car; I think I wasn’t supposed to leave. I lost him somewhere back in Kent.”
“You lost a Hellcat. In yourSmart car.Bet this guy is pretty pissed right now.” Grayson tilted his head. “How long had he been following you?”
“I don’t know,” Reece admitted. “I first saw him Friday, then again Saturday night.”
“Before Detective St. James left? Your sister went to Port Angeles knowing you were being watched?”
“No.” Reece wrapped his arms around himself. “I didn’t tell her.”
There was a pause. “Did you tell anyone?”
Reece made a face. “No.”
There was another, longer moment of quiet. The cop car had cut its lights and was driving up the shoulder, away from them and toward the exit. Grayson glanced out the windshield, then back at Reece. “You up for dinner? Give me a place that’s open late and vegan-friendly. I’m buying.”
Reece blinked at the subject change. “The Dead Man just caught an empath lying to his face again and now he wants to take said empath out to dinner? How does that not makeyouthe Bad Decisions Bear?”
“We’re not done with this conversation,” Grayson said, which was ominous. He put the truck back in gear. “But I came straight from Burlington and all I’ve eaten is a pack of mini pretzels.”
“So I was right about Vermont,” Reece said, as Grayson picked up speed and merged back onto I-5. “Andyouwere lying about having endless patience.”
“At least I make good decisions.”
“Oh please. You just merged without a turn signal—you maketerribledecisions.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CEO Emerson Blackthorne learned long ago that business and feelings can never mix. But when his company becomes the subject of an environmental controversy, there’s only one way to save his reputation: a fake engagement to empath Riley Davids, outspoken pacifist and manager of a struggling conservation start-up.
Riley is willing to be a pretend fiancé in exchange for all the trees Emerson has promised to plant to offset his company’s carbon footprint. But will all bets be off when this fake engagement sparks real emotions?
—EXCERPT FROM THE BACK COVER OF THE ROMANCE NOVELENGAGED TO THE EMPATH, currently the subject of an AMI controversy
They ended upheading to a twenty-four-hour diner that flagged the menu items for all kinds of different diets. Or so Reece promised—Grayson had not been allowed to look at the phone and confirm it for himself while driving.
Reece called Detective St. James on the way. “I’m fine,” he said earnestly into the phone, for a third time. “I’m with Agent Grayson and—no, I’m not in handcuffs.”
“But I do have them on me,” Grayson said, which earned him a withering look. “What? I’m not fool enough to lie to your sister.”
Reece rolled his eyes and went back to the phone. “No, I just—yes, okay, the brakes were out, but—yes, but I’m completely safe, so take Liam home and—wait, Jamey, are youdriving? Briony St. James, we are hanging up right now. Get your eyes back on the road.”
Reece ended the call. He hadn’t said a word to St. James about the Hellcat or being followed.
Interesting.
St. James’ mysterious caller had been interesting too. Grayson had been walking out of the airport when she’d called. She hadn’t said much, just that someone had tipped her off about Stensby and the brakes and Grayson needed to make sure Reece was foundright that second.
He’d taken her at her word and found Reece himself.
He pulled into an empty spot in the parking lot. Reece opened his own door and jumped down before Grayson could get around the truck to open it for him.
“Are you planning to cut this dinner for another felony?” Grayson said as they fell into step together, heading for the diner.
“Only if you ask real nice,” Reece said wryly.
