Page 9 of Arranged Devotion
“But you can torch his vehicle and drag me back to your place for questioning?”
“That’s within my parameters.”
“Screw this.” I turn away, afraid and angry and deeply confused, but sure about one thing. “I need to talk to my dad.”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
“Why the hell not?! You’re making it sound like Kieren did something wrong at work.”
“Because if he knows you and I spoke—“ Liam pours a third drink and refills my glass too. “He’ll wonder how and why. And I’m generally not disposed toward lying to my bosses.” He slides the glass toward me. “Don’t storm off.”
I glare at him, seething. “Are you threatening to tell my dad what we did?”
“I’m being straight with you. Sit down and finish this glass. Besides, it’s not safe yet.”
“You said the cameras were off. The cops don’t know who we are.”
“No, they don’t, but other people likely saw you enter and leave. They’ll have a vague description. You need to stay off the streets tonight.”
“Tonight?! As in,all night?”
“Looks like we’re having a sleepover.”
CHAPTER 3
REGAN
My jaw drops as he impatiently gestures at the whisky. “Come back. Sit down. Sip this. You’ll feel better.”
“Stop trying to get me drunk. I’m not staying over here. There’s no way.”
“So you want to go back to your father’s place smelling like gasoline and smoke?”
I hesitate, because he’s got a good point. I’ve been staying in my childhood bedroom ever since I caught Kieren balls deep in Vera in our bed, and it’ll be hard to hide my nasty smelling clothes from my parents. Even if neither of them have so much as seen a washer and dryer in decades.
“I’ll get a hotel room.”
“And risk some clerk ratting you out? A girl comes in, stinking like a barbecue, dressed like a cheap ninja?—“
“Hey!”
“They’ll call the cops in a second. You’ll rot in prison. Drink the whisky, stay here, shower, let me wash your clothes, and you can leave in the morning.”
Shit. Shit, shit, shit. I look toward the door, panic rising again, but I don’t move.
What if he’s right? What if it’s safer to spend the night here and let him do the laundry before I go back in the morning? Nobody at home will question that. I’m a grown ass woman, I can come and go as I please.
But staying here, with Liam…
“What will I wear? While you’re doing wash?”
The look on his face is utterly infuriating. “I’ve got shorts and shirts. Don’t worry about that.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“I suppose I feel guilty. I didn’thaveto light the car on fire, but you looked like you needed it.”
I bark a laugh, march over, and snatch the drink. My third of the night, which is three more than I normally have. “You burned the car for me?”
