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“So, how are other things at Ashby Manor? Besides the murders, that is.”
I shrugged and sipped my soda. “They’re fine, I guess. I mean, I feel like I don’t belong anymore. Like an employee or something. I like my job, and Ava is a little angel, but I feel unwanted there. Well, except for Cal.”
Shit, should I have said that?
“I mean babysitting and all.” I added quickly. It was more honest than I planned, but Jameson was easy to talk to. “I think maybe it’s time I get out on my own.”
“You mean leave town?” He sat up a little taller and his brows dipped in concern.
“No, nothing like that. I like my job as a booker for the outcall business because I can do it from wherever and the pay is great. But maybe a little apartment in Glitz is just what I need to regain some independence. Plus, when I find Molly, she’ll need a place to stay until she’s on her feet again.”
“You make enough money to get more than a little apartment, Maddie. You have to think of your safety, especially after what happened with Molly, who you still have to find.” He sighed and sat back when the waiter returned with our food. “I can help you look for her.”
I shook my head. “I appreciate that Jamie, really, I do. But you’re new on the job, and I don’t want you getting into any trouble on my account. I’ll see how much a private investigator will cost and if it’s too expensive, I’ll do it myself, which is what I should have done from the beginning.”
Why had I let Kat Ashby fool me into thinking they could help me? Why had I left it up to them without argument? Because I was broke, young, and hungry when I met Kat. The money and prestige must have fooled me.
“Why don’t you ask Calvin? He’s got impressive computer skills from what I hear.”
“He’s on thin ice for not keeping a leash on Bonnie, his pet, rather than his wife. So, whatever I ask him will likely make it back to the family. Yeah, I’d rather not go to him with this. I’m on my own here, as usual.”
Jamie opened his mouth to say something and I held up a hand to stop him. “As it should be. Molly is my sister, and if anyone is going to get into danger or trouble for looking, it should be me. I got this.”
Jamie put his fork down and folded his hands over his plate. He gave me a look that I can only say pierced my heart. “Unacceptable, Maddie. We’re friends and if you ever find yourself in trouble, call me. Always. Anytime. Any day. Got it?”
“Damn.” I said, wide-eyed. A shiver zipped through me at his deep and commanding tone, and I worked hard to push down the wave of attraction that came over me. “Got it.”
“Good.” His stern expression transformed into a smile. “Now let me have some of those fries.”
“Get your own damn fries.” I smacked his hand and he faked an injured frown.
“You can have a bite of my steak,” he teased. “It’s juicy and rare.” He wiggled his brows, and I laughed.
“Fine. Hand Bessie over.”
Jamie barked out a laugh and shook his head. “Bessie?”
I nodded. “I’m trying to give up meat, and it helps to give it a name.”
He laughed again. “You’re crazy, you know that, right?”
“I do. Now hand her over.” He slid his plate across the table, and I did the same with my chili fries. We ate our fill of all the plates on the table, laughing and joking while we did it.
“Oh jeez, how am I gonna make it out of here now?”
“You can crash at my place if you want.”
I scoffed. “And give Jana more false hope? No way.” The woman was determined to match us despite his lack of interest, and I didn’t want to give myself any false hope. “When are you moving out anyway?”
“This weekend. You still want to help?”
“Yeah, I’ll be there, as long as pizza is still on the table?”
I had nothing better to do and I was curious to see what it was like to move into a shiny new place that no one else had ever lived in before.
“Do I need to pick you up?”
“Nope.” My mind wandered to what his new condo might look like. “Does the new place have parking?”
“Yep.”
“Cool. Keep your phone on in case I get lost.”
“I can pick you—”
“Jamie! No. You have a double murder case to work on and I’m not interfering with that. I can drive over.”
“Maddie, don’t be—”
“Right?”
His broad shoulders fell, and he nodded. “Fine. Right. Okay?”
“Perfect. Thank you.”
After a short argument, I paid the bill and left, thinking about Jameson on the way home, and how odd it was that we became friends after the failed attempt at a one-night stand.
