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“Give me a minute.” I scurried down the hall to my bedroom. “Make yourself at home,” I hollered behind me.
I’d pulled on a pair of slacks and was buttoning my blouse when I heard another knock, followed by muted conversation. I slipped on a pair of heels and walked down the hallway to join Paxon and, I assumed, Lynx.
“Hello. Who are you?” I asked the man seated on my sofa.
He stood. “I’m Decker Ashford, ma’am,” he said with a Texas drawl.
“Emerson Charles,” I responded and then looked at Paxon, who offered no explanation. I readdressed the stranger. “I’m sorry, I know you told me your name, but why are you in my apartment?”
“Decker is part of a team we’re working with to locate Saint and Dr. Benjamin,” Paxon told me as though he’d suddenly come out of a fog just as there was another knock at my door.
“Would you like to get that?” I snapped at him, feeling annoyed that he hadn’t bothered to notify me in advance of the meeting he’d obviously called in my apartment.
“Uh, sure.”
I walked over to the kitchen, leaned against the counter, and picked up one of the cups of coffee, not really caring if it was intended for me or not.
When he opened the door, Lynx walked in, looking as sheepish as Paxon should have. “Emerson,” he said, nodding at me. I raised an eyebrow and took another sip of coffee.
“I would offer you gentlemen something; however, I was unaware a meeting was taking place inmy homethis morning.” I glared at Paxon as I said it. I was less impressed with the coffee and bagels he brought with him now that two other people had arrived.
“Look, I’m sorry,” he said, coming closer to me. “I called, but it went straight to voicemail.”
Where was my phone? After yesterday—the longest day of my life—I didn’t remember the last time I saw it.
“Are we expecting anyone else?” I asked, never dreaming we were until I saw the look on Paxon’s face.
“Let’s take this over to Saint’s apartment,” Lynx suggested.
“I’m curious why you didn’t meet there in the first place.” I was being a bitch—I knew that—but I didn’t appreciate being blindsided this way.
Paxon looked at Lynx, but neither spoke.
“Oh, for God’s sake,” I muttered. I set my coffee on the counter and went in search of my phone. It wasn’t on my nightstand or my dresser. I checked my purse, but no luck there either. I folded my arms and tapped my lips with my finger, trying to recall the last time I saw it. When I looked up, Lynx stood in my doorway, holding up his cell phone.
“I just got a message from Stephen. Nora found a mobile on the counter this morning and wondered if it might be yours.”
I dropped my arms and fisted my hands. Could this day get any more infuriating? Wait. Forget that thought. As early as it was, I had no business tempting fate.
“Emerson?”
“I heard you,” I snapped, not looking at him.
“Would you like me to?—”
“No!”
“But you didn’t?—”
“No. Whatever you’re about to offer, my answer is no.”
He held up his hands and walked away. I listened for the front door to close, and when it did, I let out the breath I’d been holding.
“I’m doing this for you, Tommy,” I shouted into the emptiness of my apartment. “And I shouldn’t, because I’m really pissed at you for leaving the way you did, without even talking to me about what happened. Really pissed,” I continued to mutter as I kicked off my heels and stomped down the hallway.
“Why?”
“Oh my God, you scared me to death!”I shrieked and brought my hand to my heart when I saw Lynx standing in my kitchen.
