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“I’m not at liberty to discuss that either, sir. Parts of the investigation are still ongoing.”
“But you’ve already determined Ms. Banks is innocent?”
“Mr. Holmes, I really can’t say anything beyond the statement we’ve already issued that indicates Ms. Banks won’t be charged with a crime. When the case goes to trial, the prosecution will lay out its case. Then you and the rest of the public will hear the details. Until then, I’m afraid I can’t offer you any other information.”
“But—”
“No. You want answers. I don’t blame you. But I have a lot of victims to look out for,” he points out. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
The line goes dead.
With a snarl, I smash the button on my phone and resist the urge to hurl it into the windshield. I don’t need another goddamn dead end.
The next twenty minutes of traffic, coupled with an impromptu rain shower, don’t brighten my mood. Sure, I had a great night with Bethany. I’d like to have more. But I’d like to do it with a clear fucking conscience. I don’t know how or if I can make that happen.
I shove the key in the lock, surprised to find Ash standing in the kitchen, chowing down on some Cheerios.
“Hey! Have a good night?” he asks with a waggle of his brows. “Since you didn’t come home, I figured something good happened.”
I pocket my phone, rake a hand through my mussed hair, and intentionally ignore his question. “I didn’t expect you to be here.”
“After work last night, Montana and I came here for a while. But early this morning, we decided that we’ve scratched our mutual itch, so she left about seven, waved sayonara…and we’re done.”
“You cool with that?”
“Yeah. She was fun, but there was nothing else between us.”
I get that. “You know Samantha likes you, right?”
Ash looks surprised. “Why would you think that?”
“Are you kidding? Every time you left with Montana, she gave you longing looks as you two walked away.”
“Huh. I totally missed that. I must be off my game.” He shakes his head. “But now that I know… She’s cute, not my usual. I might be interested. So what’s going on with you and Beth?”
With a frustrated huff, I plop down on the cheap living room sofa. “Dude, I don’t even know. I’m being pulled in so many different directions… What if she’s guilty? What if she’s not?”
“None of that would matter if you didn’t like her.”
I nod. “I more than like her. I think there’s something real between us. As much as I’ve fought it…”
“You didn’t expect to give a shit about the enemy.”
“Yeah, and she’s not at all what I expected. Besides being fucking sexy, she seems really sweet.”
“Got any ideas what to do next?”
“Keep searching for information wherever I can, I guess. But it looks like I have to be patient until something gives.”
I hate this plan, especially since I worry what Bret will do. He’s not going to let our fight this morning go. And what happens if Bethany finds out I’ve been less than honest? She’s been burned. She finds it hard to trust. She’ll hate me if she learns the truth before I’m ready to tell her.
“Wish I had something brilliant to say, but you’re right,” Ash says.
I nod. “Maybe day drinking is the answer. Vodka is sounding wise right about now.”
He barks out a laugh. “I don’t know, man… I’ve asked tequila for advice, and when I’ve listened, it’s been shitty.”
“Good point.”
With that, Ash tosses on a clean tank, says he’s out to the gym, then disappears. I spend most of the day either Googling, napping, or pondering. Finally, it’s time to head to the bar. After a quick text to Bethany, she assures me that Griff is giving her a ride to work since he’s already headed in that direction. I arrive a few minutes before our shift. Despite all the doubt and uncertainty, the anticipation of seeing her again is way stronger. Excitement tightens my gut.
Right or wrong, I want to be near this woman. I want to see her smile. Hell, I want to give her reasons to smile—and not just for the sex, though that’s amazing, too. I want her to smile because she’s with me.
God, I have it bad.
When I duck into the bar, I expect to see Bethany setting her purse down, grabbing a tray, and wiping tables clean as she gets ready for what’s sure to be another busy night of tourists partying their way through a holiday week in paradise. Yesterday’s hangovers are a memory now, and a lot of these visitors know they only have another day or two here, so they’re likely planning to make the most of them.
What I don’t expect to see is Bethany sitting in the quietest corner of the place, holding hands with a stranger.
