Page 46 of Sinner’s Game

“Okay. No problem. I must have gotten my wires crossed.”

“No worries. Do you want to schedule time to talk about the Expo? It’s coming up so fast. I’ve ordered a ton of flyers and some display stands, but I’m wondering if—”

“I’ll email you a time, okay? We’re, um, in the middle of something right now.”

“Oh?” Her voice rises in pitch, and I’m sure my cheeks are burning. “No problem. I’m just really psyched about the Expo. I want it to be perfect for you.”

“Yeah. I’m psyched, too,” I say, trying to muster all the excitement I’d felt just yesterday. Somehow, the Expo seems significantly less important than it did just twenty-four hours ago.

We end the call, and I lean back against the couch again. “So that’s it. He talked to someone who said they were my assistant. And somehow, that person knew that I was going to be in the Arts District. How?”

“The cameras, I presume. Whoever we’re looking for was watching you. If you made plans with Ellie, they might have read your lips.”

“I really don’t like this,” I say, voicing the understatement of the century.

“Neither do I. Someone’s setting you up. A man who’s willing to hire a criminal seen on a busy street talking with a woman who’s suspected of killing her landlord. It doesn’t look good.”

“Suspected,” I repeat. “I’m not a suspect. Am I?”

“Not to Lamar. But I suspect you’re high on the official list.”

“Oh, God…” I stand and start to pace. “And he has my business card, and if he does email me back, then it looks even worse.”

I turn, then come up short when I find him right there. Without thinking, I put my arms around him, gratified when he does the same and pulls me close. His body is hard and warm, and I feel safe. Like how could anything hurt me if this man is protecting me?

Except that’s just an illusion, and he won’t always be at my side.

I pull away, feeling awkward, knowing that I want more from Ronan than he’s willing to give. I bend my head, then talk to the floor. “I should call Lamar. Fill him in.”

“What? No. Not yet. The less he knows, the less he has to lie.”

I shake my head, looking up. “We have to tell him something. I need a place to stay tomorrow night. I’m not going back to my place yet. I’m not even sure I’m allowed to.”

He frowns as he stares at me, his eyes full of confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“Well, I can’t stay here. Maybe it’s okay with you, but I don’t want to be alone. And Lamar needs to know about my double if he’s going to be the one looking out for me. Right?”

His expression stays blank, and I exhale, exasperated. “You’re leaving tomorrow, remember?”

From the way he reacts, you would have thought I’d shoved a knife in his gut. “Shit.” He drags his fingers through his short, blond hair, making a few tufts stand on end in a way that makes him look even more like a Hollywood action hero. The kind who gets the bad guy … and the girl.

I swallow, not liking the direction my thoughts are going, and liking even less the thought that he’s going away.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he says.

I shake my head, the words not processing. “You talked to Tamra. Changed today’s trip to tomorrow. I heard you.”

“And now I’m canceling it. It’s held for years. It can hold a little longer.”

There’s a shadow in his eyes when he speaks, and I step toward him. “What was the trip for?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Ronan, I—”

“I said it doesn’t matter.” His voice is sharper than I’ve ever heard it, cutting off my protests.

He grips me by the shoulders, then meets my eyes. I see heat there and determination. “I’m not leaving your side,” he adds, making my heart flutter. “End of discussion.”