Lachlan starts taking out books and stacking them on the desk. “Best advice I can give you—read romance books.” He pulls out love story after love story like the ones Hope used to read then finishes with a biology textbook and a canned drink. I turn it around to read the label.
“Virgin Mojito? Really?”
Lachlan smirks at me. “Happy reading, brother.”
“Thanks so much,” I call after him as he leaves, sarcasm heavy in my voice. I wait until the door’s closed before caving and picking up the first book.
I’m not much of a reader but the first page is pretty good, and it doesn’t take long for the spice to start. I absentmindedly check up on Hazel between pages, my thumb freezing on the screen when I see her location.
I put the book down and zoom in on the map. “What are you up to, Little Lilac?” I murmur under my breath because I recognize that address and it is most definitely not Wright’s house.
16
JUST LOIS LANE IT
Hazel
I didn’t thinkan office could be intimidating but Senator Claren’s district headquarters is quickly proving me wrong.
The whole first floor is open plan with staffers buzzing around the desks. A group of women in suits are in the middle of a meeting on the low couches to the right and up above, the senator’s office looks out over his empire through a large glass wall.
I tug at the sleeves of my top. I should just go. I don’t even know what I’m doing here except that I’m pretty sure Flynn is planning on killing the man up in that office.
The senator walks around his desk, his gaze tracking across the lower floor. His eyes stick on me and I hold my breath. I think for a moment he’s going to call security on me because I definitely have no reason to be here, but he just smiles a little, the corners of his eyes crinkling. Then he presses a remote and the glass wall turns black.
Unease crawls down my spine. He didn’t do anything really but something about the whole interaction unsettles me. I can’t see the senator anymore, but I have a feeling he can still see me.
“Coffee?”
I jump at the man who’s appeared at my side. He gives me a self-effacing smile, his thin framed glasses slipping down his nose a little. “Technically it’s just for staff, but I can sneak you a cup.” Hands tucked into the pockets of his slacks, he nods towards the fancy coffee bar behind the couches.
I still haven’t figured out exactly what my plan is, but I decide it can’t hurt to have a reason to hang around. “Sure, coffee would be great.”
“I’m Danny, by the way.”
“Hazel,” I reply, then wince internally because not giving your real name is like sleuthing 101.
My gaze drifts back up to the blacked-out office as we walk across the room and Danny catches me looking. His loose Afro curls bob as he glances up at the office before giving me a lopsided smile. “Kind of creepy right? Like Lex Luthor’s lair.”
My shoulders loosen a bit and I smile back. “Just a little.”
Danny grabs a fancy white mug off the top of the coffee machine and presses for a latte.
“Does he black the window out a lot?” I ask, because I think sneaking in probing questions is also on the sleuthing 101 list.
Danny shrugs. “Only when he has a meeting.” He shoots me a conspiratory look. “Which feels like constantly but that might just be because I’m the one scheduling them.”
“So, you’re his PA?”
“Personal Aide. Speaking of which, who exactly are you, miss?” He hands me the coffee and I take a sip to buy myself some time before deciding to just go ahead and Lois Lane it.
“Will you kick me out if I say I’m a reporter?”
Danny laughs and leans back against the counter. “That depends, are you looking for a good story or a smear piece?”
“Uh, good?”
Danny tsks and leans in close. “Wrong answer.”
