Page 39 of Jay Bird

Her mouth opened and then closed again as she struggled to speak. Finally, she said. “Are you serious?”

Jay Bird shrugged. “Yeah.”

She stared at him like he had just suggested she remodel Buckingham Palace.

“What do you like?”

“I don’t care.”

“Everyone has preferences.”

“If I had preferences, you wouldn’t have spent the afternoon insulting my furniture. Just pick out what you like or think would look good.”

That seemed to surprise her even more.

“Jay Bird, you shouldn’t give a woman you barely know unrestricted decorating authority.”

“Why?”

“I could order pink curtains.”

He considered that for just a second. “Okay, no pink curtains.”

Willow laughed. “See? Preference.”

“Fine. We’ll talk about it tomorrow,” he said, conceding. “Actually, that reminds me. We’re having visitors tomorrow.”

Willow’s smile faded.

“I’m telling you now because I don’t want anyone showing up without you knowing.”

She visibly relaxed a little. “Who?”

“My commander, Derek, and a friend of his named Tink.”

“Your commander?”

Shit. He almost forgot she had no clue what he did for a living.

“Yeah. We’ll get to that in a minute.”

Her brows lifted, but he continued.

Tink used to serve with Derek. He owns a security company now, although that’s a pretty basic description of what he does. He’s good at finding things people don’t want found.”

Willow tightened her hands around her glass. “What kind of things?”

“Information. Records. People. Digital trails.” Jay Bird kept his voice calm. “Derek said he has some information that might help you get your life back on paper. Identification, accounts, whatever happened after you disappeared.”

Willow stared at him. “He already did that?”

Jay Bird smirked. “That’s Tink.”

“But he doesn’t even know me.”

“He knows enough.”

She slowly shook her head. “I don’t know how I’m ever going to repay all of you.”