Page 53 of Sinner’s Game

They both turn, and instead of being mortified, Ronan actually smiles. “Brandy, I thought you were asleep. This is Jacey Kane. Jacey, meet Brandy.”

“Nice to see your face,” Jacey says. “Makes it clearer why this guy’s being an asshole,” she adds, gesturing to Ronan.

“Oh.” I have no idea what she means by that. “Thanks?”

She chuckles. “I should go, but it was nice to meet you.” She turns back to Ronan, then wags her finger back and forth, indicating the two of them. “Soon. You and me.”

“Yes, yes.” He shoots an uncomfortable glance in my direction, and I quietly seethe.

“All right then,” she says. And with a quick wave, she disappears from the room.

“Sorry we woke you up,” Ronan says.

“Are you freaking kidding me?” My voice comes out way louder than I’d intended, but really? I mean, really? “I thought this was supposed to be our secret hideaway,” I add, even though I really want to call him out on the Very Big Thing now lingering between us. “But you go and invite her here?”

He tilts his head to the side. “Brandy.” His voice is infinitely soft and oh, so gentle. All of which pisses me off more.

“Don’t Brandy me. I mean, come on, Ronan. I mean, I understand if you regret what happened between us at your house—I mean, I can live with that.” I swipe a tear away, angry with myself for getting emotional. “But to then just back away slowly so that you can hire a call girl for a little—what do you call it?—stress relief? I mean, how do you think that makes me feel when we came this close to… to…”

I can’t finish. The stupid tears are coming with a vengeance, and when he moves closer to me, I actually bat him away with my hands like I’m seven years old or something.

“Hey, Brandy, no. There’s nothing between Jacey and me.”

“Of course not. You pay her so you can avoid those damn strings.”

“Not her. Not ever.”

I want to call bullshit, but when I look up, I see the truth in his eyes. I wipe my nose with my sleeve. “But then what was she—”

“She works for Saint’s Angels.”

“She—really?” I blink, wrapping my head around that as I wander toward the sofa. “So she’s not really a prostitute?”

“She is, actually. Her choice. But she doesn’t think anyone should be forced into that life. She started helping us. Mostly feeding intel when she hears rumors about trafficking, that kind of thing. She’s also served some time for cyber crimes, and she’s proven to be a big help when we need some hacking done.”

I sit, curling up in the corner, the robe pulled modestly over my leg. “Was that why she was here? Bringing intel?”

“Something like that. I didn’t know she’d be coming tonight. I would have given you a heads-up.”

“It’s okay.” I can’t quite meet his eyes, and I’m sure I’m blushing when I say, “I’m sorry I flew off the handle. I had no right.”

“Yeah,” he says. “I think you did.”

My heart flutters. “Really?”

He sits beside me, then takes my hand. The robe shifts, revealing my knee. “Really.”

“Oh.” I swallow, my pulse feeling suddenly prominent in my throat.

“What’s in Los Angeles?”

“You heard that?”

“I thought your trip was to Chicago. The trip you cancelled, This the same? She found someone you were looking for?”

“It’s not that big a deal.”

That’s what he says, but he doesn’t look at me as he speaks.