Page 40 of Trigger Happy

Another story I stole off a subreddit. Here’s to hoping Bobbi never sees my ass. It’s a risk, lying to her, but if I open up, maybe she will too.

“You win.” She laughs, continuing down the hallway.

She doesn’t say anything else, and I want to pester her with follow-up questions but I don’t want to seem overly interested if it’s something she’s trying to hide.

“Here you go,” she says, opening the bathroom door. “There’s extra towels and hand soap in the cabinet.”

She turns around, leaving me alone. The second she’s gone, I slip inside the restroom, close the door, and pull out my phone to look up the coordinates. It’s just a point on Mt. Meek.

I guess that means we’re hiking tomorrow.

After sharing the location with Lawton, I press my palms flat against the marble countertop, staring in the mirror. My cheeks are flushed from the memory of Lawton’s touch.

I splash cold water on my neck. “Don’t let him get to you. It’s fake. All of it.”

The hand placement. The warmth in his voice. It means absolutely nothing. It’s just Lawton playing his part, and he’s better at this than me, apparently, because I shouldn’t be feeling like a broken oven.

Once my body’s appropriately calmed down, I step into the hallway. There’s a door slightly ajar down the hall. Bobbi’s gone. Everyone’s sipping after-dinner drinks in the autumn breeze, so I have a few minutes to snoop. I could fake an upset stomach from the smoked salmon crostini if needed. I glance over my shoulder, checking for any signs of people.

The hallway’s empty.

I stride toward the door, nudge it open, and poke my head inside. It’s an office.

My eyes automatically catalog the room, searching for anything suspicious between the polished wood desk, cowhide rug, and bespoke grandfather clock, but all I find is a giant safe in the corner.

A tingle of excitement prickles through me.

I pull up my encrypted Notes app. When I stole Bobbi’s phone, I also copied all her saved passwords. I’m on my third attempt at trying to open the safe when a short, rhythmic noise thumps behind me, freezing me to the spot.

Footsteps.

My heart vaults to my throat, and I spit out a curse, but it’s fine. I have an excuse at the ready.

“Bobbi’s wondering if you’re all right. You’ve been in here a while,” Lawton drawls, sauntering into the office with his hands stuffed in his pockets. “I made up something about the unpasteurized cheese not sitting right, but I want to know what fun you’re getting up to in here.”

I never thought I’d be relieved to see him, but the feeling tidal waves over me. “I found a safe.”

His mouth lifts at one side as he leans against the doorframe. “I can see that.”

“Except it’s locked. I’m running through her password combinations,” I say, trying the fourth one on my list. “Oh, and guess what? Bobbi has coordinates tattooed on her wrist.”

“Hell yeah. Where to?”

“Did you not see my message?” I punch in the numbers. “It’s a place on Mt. Meek, so I hope you packed hiking boots.”

He steps closer, effectively caging me between him and the giant steel safe. Heat rolls off him, but I grit my teeth, refusing to let him know he’s getting to me. I can’t tell with him what’s real, what’s fake, what’s a joke.

“You sure sounded convincing out there,” I mutter. “I didn’t know you remembered that gala.”

“You think I’d forget about the only time you looked at me like you wanted me?” he says, breath coasting over my neck.

A shiver rolls over me. Don’t let him get to you. I punch in password number five. “No one’s watching us. You don’t have to pretend.”

“I’m not,” he says, almost sounding angry. At himself, at me, at the world, who knows? “I meant it when I said I couldn’t look away.”

He brackets my shoulders with his palms on the safe, so I’m trapped between him and the metal.

“Really?” I roll my eyes. “So you didn’t even look away when that cartel leader smashed that waiter’s head into the roulette table?”