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My Craving

Page 30

by Wendi Varner

She pulls out her phone and hands it to me.

DOES PHILADELPHIA’S MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR HAVE A SECRET LIFE? DUNCAN MURPHY SPOTTED LEAVING LOCAL KINK CLUB.

I skim the article. Most of it is worthless speculation, but the photos below get my attention. The first shows me leaving The Velvet Collar. Annoying, but hardly catastrophic.

The second was taken through the open limousine door. Nash is leaning against the frame with his face hidden by the shadows and angle, while I’m clearly visible inside. The more incriminating parts have been blurred, but the photograph still leaves very little to the imagination. I zoom in. Alessia pinches the bridge of her nose while Kieran starts laughing.

“Are you seriously zooming in?” Kieran asks.

“I’m trying to figure out where the photographer was standing.”

That makes him laugh harder. “This is why people think you’re a psychopath.”

“I am a psychopath.”

“Fair point.”

I study the angle again. Whoever took the picture was either waiting in exactly the right place or got very lucky, and I don’t like either possibility.

“What happened to your shirt?” Alessia asks.

Several buttons are missing in the photograph, leaving most of my chest exposed.

“A planned accident.”

Kieran nearly chokes, and Alessia stares at me like she’s reconsidering every decision that led her to my office this morning. “I don’t even know where to begin with that answer.”

“Then don’t.”

She takes the phone back. “As your sister, I’m obligated to point out that this article already has more than two million views and ask whether you’re having a midlife crisis.”

“I’m not.”

“Fine.” She crosses her arms. “Then tell me who the man in the photograph is.”

“Nash Campbell.”

Kieran frowns. “I don’t remember him having blue hair.”

“He doesn’t.”

Alessia and Kieran exchange the look they usually share shortly before one or both of them start interfering in my life.

“Was he also at The Velvet Collar?” Alessia asks.

“Yes.”

Her attention shifts to my computer, where Nash’s background report is still open. “And how long have you been investigating him?”

“I didn’t say I was.”

“You left his background report open on your computer, Duncan. How many times have you read it?”

“That isn’t relevant.”

Kieran laughs. “More than five?” I don’t answer, which only makes him laugh harder. “Oh, this is fantastic.”

Alessia ignores him. “Why are you so interested in Nash?”