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Chapter 1
Morgan remained silent on the drive from the police station to her apartment.Jameson, her ex and a pain in the ass detective, had insisted on driving her—despite all of her protesting.That didn’t mean she had to speak to him on the drive though.
She had nothing to say to him.They hadn’t had anything to say to each other in a year.He hadn’t cared about her since she’d walked out on him.She hadn’t heard from him until Brooklyn, her best friend, witnessed her boss being murdered—well, thrown over a balcony to land in the parking lot…semantics.Her first thought had been for Brooklyn to get to Jameson.
Morgan hadn’t been in town to help her, so she’d suggested Brooklyn go to Jameson’s precinct.He may have been a shitty boyfriend, but he was a hell of a cop.If anyone could keep Brooklyn alive and safe, it was him.Jameson was a highly decorated detective for the Billings Police Department.
He had checked in with her a few times to let her know Brooklyn was safe, but he’d never disclosed where she was.It had sucked not talking to her best friend.They were used to talking every day.She hated not knowing where Jameson had stashed her or who with.Even Brooklyn wouldn’t tell her where she had been, though Morgan had put two and two together when Brooklyn confessed that she had fallen in love with Drake, Jameson’s brother, and was going to alter her time between the city and a cabin in the woods.
It sounded horrible to her, but whatever made Brooklyn happy.
Now Brooklyn was back, and Morgan’s kidnapper and Brooklyn’s would-be attacker was caught.Life could get back to normal, and Morgan could go back to ignoring Jameson.
Just a few more minutes left in his company, then they could go back to pretending the other didn’t exist.
Morgan stared out the window of Jameson’s car as she watched the houses go by.It was well past dark, and the only light was the occasional streetlamp and light from a neighbor’s porch.
Not that she needed light to know where she was.She had lived here for several years.Morgan had fallen in love with the neighborhood when she and Brooklyn had driven past it while in college.As soon as they could afford it, they’d moved off campus and found an apartment.Brooklyn had since moved out, but Morgan stayed.She had no reason to leave.
Her work was conveniently within walking distance—she hadn’t planned that but wasn’t going to complain.Shops and anything else she needed were located nearby.
The apartment was nestled around older homes and mature trees that provided shade in the heat of summer.Morgan loved the historic feel here.There was even a park down the way that she walked through sometimes just to get out of the office.
She was an estate agent, so she could work from anywhere except when needed for a showing.She had already called her boss and explained why she hadn’t been at work for the past few days.Well, glossed over it.He didn’t need all of the details.
Morgan informed him that she had extended her stay in Florida to visit her brother because he’d gotten mysteriously ill.Gary, her boss, had suggested she take an extra few days off and come back next week.Morgan had declined.She didn’t want time off.She didn’t want to dwell on what happened, but she had learned from it.
She would be more aware of her surroundings from now on, but she wasn’t going to start adding extra locks to her doors.Nor hide under her covers fearing someone would come for her.Morgan wasn’t the hide-and-cower kind of woman.One thing she planned on doing tomorrow was getting pepper spray.
She wasn’t a fan of weapons and didn’t want to have to carry one around and hope she didn’t hurt herself while trying to protect herself in the process.Pepper spray seemed a good alternative.It was small enough that she could discreetly hide it in her purse.
Jameson pulled up to the curb in front of her building.Morgan was anxious to get inside.She was just anxious to get away from him.Too many memories.Too much water under the bridge between them.
“Thanks for the ride,” she mumbled and opened her door.
“Wait.”
She didn’t.She heard Jameson curse and get out of his side and jog around to hers.She kept going up her stairs, Jameson matching her steps.“What?” she asked, stopping just outside the building.Jameson almost bumped into her from her sudden stop, but he backpedaled to keep a reasonable distance between them.Smart man.
“I’m coming in with you,” he said as if it should be evident.Not to her, it wasn’t.
“No, you’re not.” If he tried some ‘you’re a delicate flower’ bullshit, she just might have to punch him.He knew her inside and out.He knew there wasn’t a delicate bone in her six-foot body.She may be lean, but a stiff wind wouldn’t knock her over.
“Morg, I just want to walk you up to your door and make sure you arrive safely.”
The man could be as stubborn and pigheaded as she was.Another reason they hadn’t been right for each other.Neither would ever admit when they were wrong.
“Fine.” The sooner she got this over with, the better.
She unlocked the door and led the way up to her third-floor apartment.It was just left of the stairs with a view of the street.
Many might complain about that since it was on a road which meant hearing traffic, but the walls were sturdy and the glass thick so she didn’t hear anything.
She unlocked her door and let it swing wide open so he could see inside.Her place was neat and organized as she’d left it.She was a minimalist, and the apartment was compact.You could see everything but the bedroom and bathroom.
“See?As you can see, no one is waiting inside.The apartment is fine, I’m fine.Unless you feel the need to check under the bed for the boogeyman?” she quipped, folding her arms across her ample chest, glaring at him.
“I’m good,” he replied dryly.Jameson was used to her snarky attitude, and it didn’t faze him.Which sucked because he wasn’t getting her hint she wanted him to leave.
