Page 55 of Black Reign

Novel concept.

My phone vibrates inside my bag.

Not the normal one.

The other one.

My pulse responds before I can stop it.

Ghost.

I know it without looking.

That irritates me too.

Marc says something.

I miss it entirely.

“Pardon?”

“I asked whether you wanted another coffee.”

“No. Thank you.”

His gaze drops toward my bag when the device vibrates again.

“Work?”

“Something like this.”

“Boyfriend?”

The question catches me.

“No.”

Too fast.

Marc grins.

“Good.”

I should return the smile.

Instead, my mind supplies black screens and Italian words.

Ghost isn't my boyfriend.

He isn't anything that has a convenient name.

Friend sounds inadequate.

Lover would require considerably more physical contact than we have managed.

Stranger should be accurate.

It isn't.