Calculated Risk (Blackbridge Security 5)

“It’s fine,” she assures me. “Go on.”

“Quinten got me a gun. The stubborn man tried to convince me that I won it at the gun range, but I’m not an idiot.”

“He’s taking care of you. That’s a good sign.”

“He’s trying to fix my problems. That’s what he does. I’m just a problem to solve,” I confess. “When my problems are gone, he’s going to—”

“That man wasn’t watching you just a minute ago because he’s trying to fix you, Hayden. That man is in love with you.”

My heart jolts, wishing it were true, but knowing it isn’t.

“He feels obligated to make sure I’m okay.”

“That may be true, but I don’t think it’s for the reason you suspect. He had freaking hearts in his eyes as we walked away.”

“You’re probably confusing it with annoyance. I’ve taken over his condo. I’m sure he’s counting down the damn days until I go back to my own house.”

“You can come stay with me,” she offers.

“No,” I answer immediately. “I… umm… they haven’t caught the other guys involved. The one I shot was only the middleman.”

“And there’s no opportunity for great sex at my apartment. How was the sex, by the way?”

“Amaz—” I clamp my mouth shut as her smile grows.

“I knew it! Good for you. Great sex solves so many problems.” She looks away. “And can cause even more.”

“Is there something you need to tell me?”

She shakes her head, her eyes coming back to meet mine as if she’s forcing herself to not look suspicious. I grab her hands in mine. “Listen, if you’re in trouble, I’m here.”

“There’s no trouble,” she vows. “You’re the one with the exciting life right now. All I’ve been doing is working.”

“You’re lying.”

She frowns.

“I know when you’re lying, and you’ve been doing it for weeks. Is it drugs?”

Her head jerks back. “I’m not on drugs.”

“You looked exhausted this morning. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so disheveled. If you’re addicted to—”

“It’s not drugs,” she repeats.

“But it’s something.”

“I didn’t come here to talk about me.”

“You say you came here to talk to me, but how exactly did you know I was here? How did you know where Quinten lived since you were at his building this morning?”

She looks away, her eyes blinking rapidly.

“You’re seeing a man there,” I surmise. “God, Parker, tell me he isn’t married.”

Her eyes snap back to mine. “I’d never. You know that. Not after what my mom went through. I could never be the other woman.”

“You’re addicted to a man.” She swallows. “Is he a good guy? Tell me he’s not a criminal.”

She huffs. “There’s no guy.”

“Are you in trouble?” I ask again, hating that she’s refusing to open up to me. We tell each other everything. Or at least we did until recently. I’m not innocent in this either. I haven’t been as forthcoming with her about what I feel for Quinten. Opening my mouth and confessing those feelings will make everything real, and that will only make the pain in my chest worse when it’s over.

“It’s stupid and I don’t want to talk about it.”

“But you’re here to get help?”

“I’m here to talk to you,” she insists.

“You didn’t know I was going to be here. I saw that in your eyes when you walked in. Are you here to hire Blackbridge?”

“I’m—” She gives me a weak smile. “Things are fine. Are you sure you’re okay?”

I sigh, praying she’ll open up when she’s ready. If I keep hounding her, it’s only going to take longer for that to happen. Parker has always been stubborn, and I let the subject drop because honestly, I have a lot going on right now as well, and I can only focus on my own issues.

“I’m okay. Being around Quinten helps.”

“He seems like a nice guy.”

“Jude is really nice, too,” I say, thinking the shy, quiet man would be great for my friend. If anything, maybe he’d be able to get her to slow down in life.

“Who?”

I tilt my head to the side.

“Jude, the man you studiously avoided looking at when you walked in. You know what? Never mind.” She’s too distracted right now to listen to anything I have to say.

Her phone chirps with a text. “I have to go, but I hate leaving you.”

“I’ll be fine,” I assure her as I walk toward the closed office door.

“Because you have Quinten,” she adds.

I give her a wry smile. She has a lot more faith in that situation than I’m able to muster myself but arguing the point right now isn’t the time.

We leave the office, agreeing to get together once this situation blows over. I smile when I look up and see Jude walking our way.

“Jude, you remember my friend Parker.”

Parker holds her hand out to him. “Parker Maxwell.”

“Jude Morris,” he says with a sly grin on his face that makes a million questions come to mind. “But we hug around here.”