Page 176 of Forever Defiant
“Hey,” Hadley waved. She was shaking a cover out of the window, airing it. “Does it smell like cat?” She glared at me. “Donotmake one sex reference!”
Dante couldn’t hide his grin as he took a seat, looked around, taking in the pale blue walls, darker blue drapes, and thecompactnessof it all.
“Where’s Noah?” Hadley turned her attention to Dante. “Is he coming?”
His expression didn’t change as he considered his answer. “Noah’s in the dorm.”
Hadley watched him. She didn’t buy the simplicity of his answer, but she let it go. “Cool.”
There was a rap at the door, and Savannah was given the same “it’s open” that we were.
“The window’s open,” she told Savvy. “So, hopefully, you’ll be better this time.”
“I took an allergy pill,” Savvy said, walking in and closing the door behind her. “What’s happened now?” she asked us. “Do I need to be sitting down?”
“Wow, how fucked up are we?” I looked between us all. “In a matter of a few weeks, we’re all completely jaded and trust no one.”
“With cause,” Dante reminded me. He moved to let Savvy sit beside him, his arm automatically going around her shoulders, and kissed her softly.
I eyed Hadley. Should I have done that? I’d walked in and sat on her bed, remembering that last time, the couch only fit the two girls, or in Dante’s case, him and Savvy, but he didn’t mind being up close and sharing her personal space.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Hadley demanded suspiciously.
And that was why Dante gave his girl a hug and a kiss, and I kept my distance from mine. I was never sure what I was going to get with Hadley. I grinned at her as her eyes narrowed on me with suspicion, and I realized this was one of the reasons I mightjust be crazy about her. Her unpredictability would keep me on my toes.
“Are you going to speak, or smile at me all evening?”
I started to laugh. Yep, she was definitely going to make it worth the effort.
“We need to find Briar,” I told her, loving her reaction to the fact that I never told her why I was grinning and knowing it would piss her off. “As I said, I saw her after, well, you know, the incident, and she walks around most of the time with a camera or her phone in her hand. I think it’s too much of a coincidence not to put two and two together.”
“Oh, I had someone to reach out to about her,” Hadley said, coming to sit beside me. “I hadn’t got to that yet.” She looked over at Savvy. “I was drafting my piece about you. Is there any chance I can see your work shed?”
Savvy looked apprehensive and failed to hide it. “My sanctuary?” she squeaked uncertainly.
“Is that what you call it?” Hadley asked, leaning forward. “Interesting.”
“Is it?” Savvy turned to look at Dante. “Is that interesting?”
“Calm down,” he soothed her. “You can say no. Hadley will understand.” The look he shot Hadley told her that she would understand whether she wanted to or not.
“I wasn’t going to touch anything,” Hadley grouched. She leaned into me, and I wondered if she knew. My arm went around her, and I squeezed her waist.
“You never mess with a place someone describes as a sanctuary.” I gave Savvy a wink, and she smiled back, the tension easing in her shoulders. “One thing at a time. Can you ask your contact what we need to know about Click-Happy Briar?”
“Remember, she could be innocent,” Dante murmured.
“Do we find Briar first, or go to Chattanooga first?” Hadley asked us all. “They’re both very important, and I’ve thought about it until my head hurts. Which one is the priority?”
“The one sending me images of you on your knees,” I growled. “Not acceptable, not at all.”
She turned to face me. “Are you worried about my honor?”
Yes.“Hell no, I’m worried they didn’t get your good side.”
She went to slap me, and I grabbed her hand, kissing the back of it. “Shh, stop.” I leaned into her, dropping my voice to whisper in her ear. “Only I should get to see you like that, baby.”
Her eyes searched mine for an untruth, and when she didn’t find one, she leaned forward to brush her lips against mine. “I might keep you,” she murmured against my mouth.
