Page 159 of Penny For Your Thoughts

Diem’s face crumpled. “Are you kidding? You’re the sexiest man alive.”

“I think that honor went to Jonathan Bailey.”

“I don’t know who that is.”

“He’s an actor. Have I taught you nothing?”

Diem cradled my head against his chest. His heart beat a tattoo beneath my ear. “I was so worried about you.”

“You’re the reason Luke didn’t get away. Unfortunately, it had nothing to do with my cunning skills as a PI.”

“What do you mean?”

“You called the police. You told me not to, then you went and did it anyway. They arrived as I was chasing him, and they saw him hit me. He put me flat out. Fucking hurt like a bitch. You know what’s weird? I didn’t see birds like in the cartoons. Sparkles and fireworks, yes, but no birds. I always thought there would be birds. What a rip-off.”

“I’m signing you up for self-defense.”

“It wouldn’t have helped. He surprised me. Lay in wait around a corner. Thenbam. Sneaky asshole.”

I closed my eyes, exhaustion hitting like a truck. Whatever they’d given me for pain had made me sleepy. My thoughts swam. My headache became a dull pulse behind my eyes, no longer ailing.

Diem threaded his fingers through my hair, continuously kissing my head over and over, whispering that he loved me, that I was an idiot, that I was never allowed out of his sight again. No more crazy plans. Desk work from here on out. And I love you, Tallus. I love you, I love you, I love you.

I smiled and soaked up the attention, even as I drifted on a cloud.

“I didn’t think the police would believe me when I told them what Luke was up to,” I murmured, hardly able to form sentences any longer. “But they arrested him for assault and said it would give them time to look into things. I sent them after Aaron. Said he had proof.”

“You did good.”

“Are you mad?”

“No. Scared, Tallus. I was scared.”

“I’m okay, D. Kind of sleepy.”

He squeezed me tighter.

“Aaron? What happened to Aaron?”

“They took him in. I gave him a line of bullshit, and he believed me. He had no idea that without those files, the police probably wouldn’thave been able to press charges. I convinced him to flip on Luke. I told him it was his only way out.”

I chuckled. “He believed you?”

“Yep.”

A sudden thought hit, and I jolted into a panic. “Darcy?” The world tilted and wobbled, and I clung to Diem to steady myself. “Where’s the kid? Is he okay?”

“I’m here. I’m okay,” said a voice from outside my line of sight.

I squinted at the opening in the curtain but saw only a blurry, indistinguishable impression of a person. “Darcy?”

“Yeah. You’ve got blood on your fancy shirt.” He stepped forward, but his image wasn’t any clearer.

I whimpered, examining the stain I’d discovered earlier, then fingered the fresh hole in my trousers. “My pants are ruined too. I fell in my stupid shoes when that asshole made me run on gravel.” I peered at Diem, whose expression remained pinched with worry. “I’m a failure as a PI.”

He brushed his knuckles delicately over my cheek, avoiding my busted nose. “You’re an amazing PI, but I suggest buying yourself proper running shoes for the future. The job is physical at times and requires random bouts of cardio.”

“I can’t run for shit. Shoes won’t help.”