Page 21 of No Lies No Promises

Limping back to us, he kisses his grandmother’s violet head. “Don’t worry. The bastard’s all bark.”

Biting her lower lip, she pales. “No, dear. He bites.”

“What do you mean?” Pulse racing, I hold her hand as her eyes brim with tears.

“Last time we spoke, he claimed power of attorney. I thought he was bluffing.” She swallows hard. “Clearly, he was not.”

Chapter 11

Sean

Even after making love again, sleep does not come easy. There’re too many balls in the air, and not the nondenominational kind. Lillian’s father. My father. A suicidal woman. Parkhaven. Fucking Jeff Pearson. Grams’s latest business adventure.

How long before I drop something important?

When I wake, Lillian’s at the kitchen table, working on the computer.

“Morning, honey.” My lips brush across her cheek. “Find anything new?”

“Not yet. Parkhaven has so many layers of LLCs, untangling them is a bitch.” She stops typing and gulps coffee.

As she turns her face toward me, my chest constricts. How have I not noticed those dark circles under her beautiful hazel eyes?

“Didn’t you sleep?” I tuck a finger beneath her chin. Her gaze searches my face, no doubt finding the same exhaustion reflected there.

“Enough.” She shrugs. “You?”

“Same.” Another lie.

Stepping away, I pop a K-Cup into the Keurig. Leaning closer, I whisper in her ear. “Listen, how about I take you out to dinner tonight? That new place. Street Smart.”

“Ooh.” A grin spreads across her face. “Can we charge the client?”

“Sure. It’s legit. We’re strengthening our cover.”

“Whatever you say.” Snickering, she returns to her work.

Soon, we’re both lost in our screens.

Around eight, she hops into my idling SUV, looking like a supermodel in heels and a skimpy black dress.

She glances up and down the street. “Tomorrow’s alternate-side parking. We’ll lose our place. Maybe we should take an Uber.”

“No problem. I’ll park it in front of my old apartment.” As I pull away from the curb, a blue Honda Civic puts on its blinker, ready to claim our spot.

She frowns. “I thought you were going to sublet it.”

“Haven’t gotten around to it. Not exactly a high priority.”

“Right.” Something in her voice tightens. I’m not sure why, but I don’t want to get into it. Not tonight. I’ll wait until a bourbon takes the edge off the last couple of shitty days.

I must’ve dodged that landmine because her hand slips to my thigh and squeezes. “You really think your father would commit his own mother?”

“I do.” My knuckles whiten around the steering wheel.

“Do we need him? Can’t we find another cover?” As she bites her lower lip, I mull it over, weighing the pros and cons.

“We could, but it would set us back. Parkhaven might use the time to hide behind even more LLCs. It’s not like my father to give a shit one way or another, as long as it’s not costing him. Something’s not adding up.”