Because I Can (Necklace Trilogy 2)

And yet, she’s not with that other man either. Unless Tyler and this other man, the one who gifted the necklace, are not the only two men in her life.

Dash is suddenly with me, settling on the floor beside me, the earthy male scent of him drawing me in, much like the man in the suit did Allison.

“Hey,” he says softly. “You’re absorbed in your work I see.” His gaze lands on my computer screen and shifts sharply back to me. “You’re obsessed with her.”

“I just feel connected to her, Dash. We share a name. We share the same job. We’ve lived in the same house. Plus, she has a cat, and I’ve been wanting a cat. She was in a bad relationship that took over her life and she lost her parents, which hits home because I’m terrified of losing my mother.”

“And you know all of this how?”

I indicate my MacBook screen. “Her Instagram.”

“You’ve been reading her Instagram for the past two hours?”

Two hours? I think, frowning. Have I? I glance at the clock, stunned to realize that apparently, it has been two hours. “I guess I have,” I say. “I suppose my resignation and inability to talk to Tyler and work things out, has me a bit confused on what to do with the auction. Tyler did agree to a meeting, but not until Monday morning, no sooner. I tried. It was all done by text message. He won’t take my calls.”

Dash studies me, just studies me, seconds ticking by, and just when I can’t take it anymore, he says. “People obsessed with other people’s lives, aren’t happy with their own.”

“It’s not about being unhappy.” I cover his hands with mine and close my fingers around him, holding on. “It’s about the role she played, to bring me right here, to you. She made my life better, Dash. And after last night’s break-in, I can’t help but have her on my mind.”

There’s a beat before he says, “Tyler and I need to have a little chat anyway, about a lot of things. He may well know where she’s at and why she left. That would end your worry for Allison.”

He pushes off the ground and sits on the couch, removing his phone from his pocket, but before he can punch in Tyler’s number I warn, “He won’t answer.” I try to get up only to fall back down. Dash offers me his hand and helps me up and I sit next to him. “He wouldn’t take my calls but when I texted him a promise that I won’t desert the charity, he changed his tone. I think.”

“You think?”

I grab my phone and tab to the messages and then offer Dash my phone. “It’s easier if you read it yourself.”

Dash accepts my phone, glances at the exchange, his lips pressing together as he does, his disapproval evident before he hands it back to me. “As I said, he and I need to have a little chat, sooner than later.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means he’s playing one of his typical head games.”

I don’t know what that means, but I don’t doubt he’s accurate. This is Tyler we’re talking about.

He tabs through his phonebook and hits Tyler’s number, but of course, Tyler won’t answer. Only he does. And quickly. “Tyler,” Dash says dryly. “I think we both know we need to talk.”

Tyler replies with something, and Dash says. “Hmm yes. I’m sure my best interest is exactly what you have in mind. I’ll see you there.” He disconnects. “I’m going to see him.”

I settle back on my knees in front of him, and my hands settle on his legs. “Because of me?”

“Because of him, but I will I make my position on you clear, yes.”

“Which is what?”

“I won’t have him use you to get to me. You’re off-limits.”

“I can handle myself, you know that, right?”

His hands cover my hands. “You also shouldn’t have to navigate the shit show between me and him. That’s wrong. Besides, my working relationship with Tyler is becoming too fucking much to manage.” He stands and takes me with him again. “When I get back, how about dinner and a movie here at the apartment? Chinese maybe?”

“That sounds perfect,” I say. “Yes. Please. Are you going to fire Tyler?”

“I already fired Tyler. The next step is to leave Hawk Legal and that means I fire my sister. And her commission is the only way I can give her my money. She won’t take it otherwise. The problem is that Tyler’s smart enough to figure that out. He believes I’m stuck with him, which gives him the license to pull last night’s stunt. He forgets how resourceful I am. Where’s the necklace?”

“My purse, why? Are you going to take it to Tyler?”

“I’m going to show it to Tyler again. You said he blinked when he saw it. Let’s see if he’ll blink again.”